4200 - Assistance Planning for the Food Assistance Program - "See Policy Memo #00-12-03 re: "Access to Benefits for Qualifying and Non-qualifying Aliens and Their Families".

 

The following provisions apply when determining food assistance household composition.

 

4210 Household Composition - A household may be composed of any of the following individuals or groups of individuals and separate household status can be granted to:

 

  1. An individual living alone;
     

  2. An individual or group of individuals living with others, provided they do purchase food and prepare meals for home consumption separate and apart from the others;

    NOTE:     This provision applies to any person who has a severe permanent incapacity which renders him/her unable to purchase and prepare his/her own meals, but who has arranged to have his/her meals purchased and prepared separately from those with whom he/she lives.

    If the incapacity is not obvious, it must be confirmed by a doctor's statement.
     

  3. A group of individuals who live together and customarily purchase food and prepare a majority of their meals together for home consumption;
     

  4. An elderly individual and his/her spouse living with others and customarily purchasing and preparing meals with the others if:

    1. Separate household status is requested for the individual or couple; and
       

    2. The elderly individual has a severe permanent incapacity which renders him/her unable to purchase and prepare his/her own meals. If this limitation is not obvious, it must be confirmed by a doctor's statement; and
       

    3. The gross countable income of the remaining household group (excluding the income of the elderly individual and his/her spouse) does not exceed 165 percent of the net income limit for the number of individuals in the remaining household group. To establish this figure, refer to the food assistance allotment tables (F-2) for the current net income limit for the number of individuals in the remaining group then multiply this limit by 1.65. The elderly individual requesting separate household status is responsible for obtaining the cooperation of the individual(s) with whom he/she resides in providing necessary income information.
       

  1. Persons 22 or older living with a parent and they purchase and prepare a majority meals separately.