506 Assistance Unit Composition

Effective Date - Oct 1, 2011

506 Assistance Unit Composition

Child Care - ARW, Chapt. 1, Purchase of Service

Determine which persons in the household are to be included in the assistance unit.

A. Find one assistance unit when:

1. Two parents, each with an eligible child(ren), are married to each other; or

2. Two parents who are not married to each other, each with a child(ren) of their own and a child(ren) in common; or

3. Three generations are included in a POWER payment from the POWER program and the minor parent is under age 18.

B. Find more than one assistance unit when:

1. Two parents who are not married to each other, each with an eligible child and there is no child in common; or

2. A mother or father with her/his own child(ren) lives in the same household with a son or daughter with her/his own child(ren) and all three generations are not included in the same POWER payment.

C. Understand all siblings living in the same household must be included in the same assistance unit with their parents regardless of the marital status of the parents.

SNAP - 7 CFR 273.1, .16 and .17

Determine whether persons living in a household constitute one assistance unit or separate assistance units in order to determine eligibility and benefit level.

D. Consider the following to constitute one assistance unit:

1. An individual living alone;

2. An individual or group of individuals who live together and customarily purchase food and prepare meals together;

3. An individual living with non-relatives, but customarily purchasing food and preparing meals separate and apart from the others such as but not limited to:

a. A roomer for whom the assistance unit furnishes lodging but not meals;

b. An individual who resides with an assistance unit to provide medical, housekeeping, child care or other similar personal services.

4. An individual and spouse, when applicable, living with and purchasing and preparing meals with others can be separate if:

a. If the other parent comes in to apply for SNAP and wants to include the child in his/her SNAP household, the parent that has the child 51% or more of the time will be allowed to put the child in his/her SNAP household. No duplication of benefits is allowed.

5. A child who resides with his/her parent (regardless of the percentage of time) as long as that parent says the child lives there.

E. Deny separate assistance unit status to the following persons living together:

1. A child(ren) under age 18 under parental control of an adult assistance unit member, including a non-parent;

2. A natural, adopted or step-child(ren) 21 of years of age or younger living with her/his parent(s), including when her/his spouse and/or her/his child(ren) are living in the home;

3. A spouse living with a spouse;

4. Parents living together with a child in common;

5. A boarder, including a foster child/individual where payment is made through a private agency or organization, i. e., Casey Foundation;

6. Individuals who live together and customarily purchase and prepare meals together.

F. Deny participation in any assistance unit to a resident of a public institution, except the following:

1. A resident of federally subsidized housing for the elderly;

2. A narcotic addict or alcoholic, who resides at a facility or treatment center for the purpose of regular participation in a drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program, must apply using an authorized representative designated by the facility/center;

3. An elderly/disabled individual who is a resident of a group living arrangement (see Appendix 1);

4. An individual(s) temporarily residing in a shelter for battered women and children;

5. A resident of a public or private nonprofit shelter for homeless individuals.

G. Deny separate assistance unit status to a boarder but allow her/him to participate in the assistance unit providing board at their request.

1. Determine if the individual is considered a boarder by:

a. Ensuring the amount paid for meals is distinguishable from the amount paid for lodging;

b. Considering a person furnished both meals and lodging but paying less than a reasonable amount as a member of the household and not a boarder.

2. Allow children and adults placed in foster care by a state, federal or local governmental agency to be considered as boarders and excluded from the assistance unit unless otherwise requested.

H. See Section 507 for treatment of excluded, disqualified or sanctioned individuals.

POWER - ARW, Chapt. 1, Section 8, W.S. 42-2-104

Determine which persons in the household are to be included in the assistance unit.

I. Find one assistance unit and pay only one performance payment when (also see Section 507):

1. Two parents with at least one child in common, whether married or not; or

2. Two parents, each with an eligible child(ren), are married to each other; or

3. Three generations are eligible and the minor parent is under age 18; or

4. A caretaker relative is applying for her/his child(ren) and/or a child(ren) of one or more relatives; or

5. A caretaker relative is applying for a child(ren) of one or more relatives.

J. Find two assistance units and pay each a performance payment when:

1. Two unrelated caretaker relatives live in the same household; or

2. Siblings are caretaker relatives and live in the same household with their child(ren) and are at least 18 years of age; or

3. A mother or father with a daughter's or son's child(ren) and a second daughter or son with her/his own child(ren) live in the same household and the daughter or son is at least 18 years of age; or

4. A mother or father with her/his own child(ren) lives in the same household with a son or daughter over age 18 or emancipated with her/his own child(ren).

K. Two-Parent Assistance Unit/Married Couple

1. Determine eligibility for a two-parent assistance unit/married couple prior to determining eligibility for a single-parent assistance unit/caretaker relative unit (See Section 507).

2. Find the POWER assistance unit ineligible for the single-parent assistance unit/caretaker relative unit when noncompliance with the Pay-After-Performance requirements are not met.

L. Single-Parent Assistance Unit/Caretaker Relative

1. Determine eligibility for a single-parent assistance unit/caretaker relative when it is verified the non-custodial parent(s) is not living in the home and cannot be counted on to function in the planning for the physical care, guidance and maintenance of the child(ren).

2. Find the case eligible when the caretaker relative of a child(ren):

a. Gives the reason for the absence of the non-custodial parent and return is not expected within 30 days;

b. Names the non-custodial parent; and

c. The preponderance of evidence indicates the non-custodial parent is not in the home; or

d. When joint custody exists, the applicant or recipient has provided proof of being the primary caretaker.

e. The absence was not caused solely for the performance of active duty in the Armed Services of the U.S.; or

f. The absence was not caused solely by reason of employment, school, training or to receive medical treatment.

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