Appendix B: Certification Process Desk Guide

1. Persons who may be granted separate household status:

• A person living alone

• A person living with others who purchases and prepares meals separately from the others

• A group of persons who live together and purchase food and prepare meals together for eating at home

• A resident of federally subsidized housing for the elderly, certain drug or alcoholic treatment centers, group living arrangements, shelters for battered women and children, and shelters for homeless persons

• A person age 60 or older living with others who is unable to purchase food and prepare meals because of a permanent disability, if the income of the others does not exceed 165% of the poverty level

• A parent or parents with children age 22 or older when they purchase and prepare meals separately

• A parent or parents who are elderly and disabled, living with their children age 18 through 21

During the interview

Determine whether the applicant meets the household requirements.

Determine the number of eligible persons to be included in the household.

Do not include ineligible and nonhousehold members.

Requirement

Verify who is in the household, including boarders, if it is questionable

When

At initial application.

When changes occur.

Method

Verify with collateral contacts or signed statements.

Record the household's statement about who is in it

If the statement is questionable, record reasons why it is considered questionable.

File copies of documents used.

Record names of contacts, contact dates, and information provided.

2. Persons who may not be granted separate household status:

• A spouse of a member of the household

• A child under age 18 under parental control of an adult household member

• A child age 21 or younger living with a parent and the child's own child or spouse

3. Ineligible or disqualified household members who may not participate as part of the household or as a separate household:

• Ineligible noncitizens

• Persons disqualified for not providing a Social Security number

• Persons disqualified for intentional program violations

• Persons disqualified for not complying with work requirements

• Ineligible students

• Boarders when the household does not want to include them as a member (Foster care children and adults are treated as boarders.)

• Nonexempt able-bodied adults who have received SNAP benefits for 3 months in an earlier 36-month period and are not meeting a work requirement.

4. Nonhousehold members who may participate as a separate household if they are otherwise eligible:

• Roomers

• Live-in attendants

• Other persons sharing living quarters with the household but not usually purchasing and preparing meals with the household