2300 Financial Eligibility

Financial standards of eligibility for TEFAP are based upon a household's total gross monthly income. The income eligibility standards are established by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. These standards are to insure that only persons who are in need of food assistance because of inadequate household income receive commodities. Kansas has established the maximum allowable gross income at 130% of the federal poverty level.

2301 Income Definition

All money received or expected to be received by household members will be considered income for TEFAP purposes. There are two types of income, earned and unearned.

2301.1 Earned income shall include any of the following when received by household members:

1. All gross wages and salaries for services performed as an employee.
   
   
2. The adjusted gross taxable income from any self-employment business. Any business expenses allowed by IRS, including depreciation, will be allowed for TEFAP participation purposes.
   
   

2301.2 Unearned income shall include:

1. Assistance payments from state, federal, or federally aided public assistance programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF), General Assistance (GA) or other assistance payments based on need.
   
   
2. Annuities, pensions; retirement, veterans, or disability benefits; workers or unemployment compensation; old-age, survivors, or Social Security benefits; strike benefits; or foster care payments for children or adults.
   
   
3. Unassigned child support and/or alimony payments made to the household by non-household members.
   
   
4. Payments from government-sponsored programs, dividends, interest, royalties, and all other direct money payments from any source which can be construed to be a gain or benefit. Even though interest on savings is accrued to an account and not received directly by the household, it still must be considered unearned income.

2302 Determination of Income - Applicants/recipients whose income is at or below state established income standards of 130% of the federal poverty level must, at a minimum, be required to sign the Declaratory Statement of eligibility. (See Exhibit E)

Should an applicant/recipient need assistance in calculating gross monthly household income, or the participating organization have reason to question the Declaratory Statement (see section 2405), the participating organization representative should assist the household with the computations as follows:

2302.1 All income, including income from self-employment, which is received or expected to be received during the month of application shall be determined and applied to the monthly income guidelines in order to determine eligibility. If self-employment income is received less frequently than monthly, it shall be computed in accordance with Section 2302.2. Monthly household income may be determined by considering a full previous month's household income if it can be reasonably expected to remain the same. If only a partial month's income is known and/or applicants receive income more often than monthly (i.e. weekly, biweekly), or if applicants have experienced a change in income, the organization shall consider the actual income the household expects to receive or the organization may convert partial month income figures as follows:

1. Weekly income-multiply by 4.3;
   
   
2. Biweekly (every other week) income-multiply by 2.15;
   or
   
   
3. Bimonthly (twice each month) income-multiply by 2. 2302.2 Self-employment income will be averaged by determining the total adjusted gross yearly taxable income divided by 12. If the self-employment has not been in operation for twelve months or if the past year's income does not reflect income that can be reasonably expected during the current year, an estimate may be established using existing self-employment information. A reasonable estimate of anticipated income may be calculated as stated in 2302.1 above.
   
   

2302.2 Self-employment income will be averaged by determining the total adjusted gross yearly taxable income divided by 12. If the self-employment has not been in operation for twelve months or if the past year's income does not reflect income that can be reasonably expected during the current year, an estimate may be established using existing self-employment information. A reasonable estimate of anticipated income may be calculated as stated in 2302.1 above.

2302.3 Recipients of cash assistance [Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF), General Assistance (GA) or Refugee Assistance (RE)] or food stamp assistance are automatically eligible to receive TEFAP food for home use. Those declaring themselves automatically eligible through one of these programs must verify that they are currently receiving this assistance through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card (Vision card), a current EBT receipt showing eligibility for cash assistance or food stamp assistance during the current month, or a current approval notice for one of the two programs.

2303 Income Standards - The maximum monthly gross income eligibility standards for TEFAP participation  are 130% of the Federal Poverty level.

  

 There will be no variation from, or exceptions to, these stated income standards when determining eligibility for TEFAP. The standards will be communicated to organizations annually as poverty level adjustments are made or as otherwise required by USDA or SRS.