The County Assistance Office (CAO) will count all resources not specifically excluded.
Liquid resources are cash and resources that can be easily converted to cash. Countable liquid resources include:
Cash on hand, including in checking and savings accounts
NOTE: Any interest accrued on an individual account is unearned income. If not withdrawn, the interest is added to the resource amount the following month. Dividends earned on a non-exempt account are unearned income even when not withdrawn (see Section 550.3).
Lump sum payments
Funds withdrawn from educational savings accounts when the funds are used for purposes other than educational expenses (see Section 514.3 and Section 540.5)
Readily available amounts from trust accounts
NOTE: Formal trusts with accompanying trust documentation count as a resource (see Section 540.5.)
Stocks, bonds, and savings certificates
Non-recurring payments from retirement plans when an individual chooses to liquidate the funds (see Section 540.5)
Jointly owned bank accounts if the funds are freely accessible and appear to be used without restrictions
Crowdfunding accounts such as GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo
NOTE: The CAO will count the actual value of funds accessible to the household when determining eligibility.
NOTE: Digital wallets are not bank accounts, though they can be linked to them. The CAO will count the money available in digital wallets as a cash on hand resource.
If it is determined the money in a digital wallet was received as a contribution or payment for a product or service, the funds will be treated as income (see Section 550.2) or excluded from the eligibility determination if the contribution or payment meets criteria for an allowable exclusion (see Section 550.5).
NOTE: The CAO will verify the value of the cryptoasset by obtaining written proof from the household, such as a statement or printout of the account.
If the household incurs a loss or gain from selling cryptocurrency, it will be considered income (see Section 550.3).
NOTE: Establishment-specific gift cards are excluded as a resource. The CAO will count credit card gift cards as cash on hand. If such items are regularly received by the household and can be reasonably anticipated, they will be counted as income (see Section 550.2).
540.311 Substantial Lottery and Gambling Winnings
A substantial lottery or gambling winning is a cash prize won in a single game that is equal to or greater than the resource limit for elderly and/or disabled households (see Section 540.1 for the current limit). The amount before taxes or other withholdings is counted as the resource value. For Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants, if the lump sum was paid in a prior month, the remaining amount available to the household is counted as a resource. If multiple individuals shared in the purchase of a ticket, hand, or bet, then only the portion of the winnings allocated to the member of the SNAP household would be counted in the eligibility determination.
Reminder: The resource limit for elderly and/or disabled households serves as the threshold for all applicants and recipients, regardless of household type.
540.312 Reporting Lottery and Gambling Winnings
Lottery and gambling winnings may be reported to the CAO by the household or through Exchange 11 Lottery hits, which are not considered verified upon receipt.
SNAP recipients enrolled in Semiannual Reporting (SAR) must report their winnings by the 10th day of the following month. SNAP recipients not enrolled in SAR must report their winnings within 10 days of receiving the winnings. This requirement applies to all FS 00, FS 41, and FS 42 households, including categorically eligible and expanded categorically eligible households, which are not normally subject to a resource limit.
NOTE: This requirement is not applicable to FS 70 or FS 43 budgets.
540.313 Determining Lottery and Gambling Winnings
The CAO will compare the lump sum payment on its own and when added to other countable resources against the resource limit. Based on the household type and total winnings:
540.314 Verifying Lottery and Gambling Winnings
When a household reports winnings that exceed the resource threshold, whether individually or when added to other resources, the CAO will verify the information by requesting one of the following:
Reminder: The CAO will help the household obtain proof of winnings as stated in Section 578.3.
Based on the verification provided, the CAO will take the following actions:
NOTE: After entering all necessary case information and running eligibility, the budget will pass, and the CAO will need to perform an override. If the household is categorically eligible, a resource override cannot be performed. The CAO will perform a non-financial override using the override reason code ‘901 – Pass to fail system logic deficiency’ Process additional month’ will be set to ‘no.’ After running eligibility, the CAO will progress to the Client Notices screen and select notice 083 option 4, then narrate the reason for the closure.
Reminder: A SNAP household receiving benefits will immediately lose eligibility upon receipt of verified substantial lottery or gambling winnings by any household member.
540.315 Disqualification for Substantial Lottery and Gambling Winnings and Regaining of Eligibility
Households who are disqualified or lose eligibility for excess lottery or gambling winnings remain ineligible until they again meet SNAP resource and income eligibility requirements. This applies to all households, including categorically eligible Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) households, and those certified under expanded categorical eligibility.
NOTE: The next time a household applies and is certified for SNAP, the household will not be considered under categorical or expanded categorical eligibility. The household must meet gross and net income limits as well as resource limits, which the CAO will review manually. If eligible, the household will be certified under regular SNAP rules, and a new certification period will be established. If ineligible, the CAO will need to perform an override as completed when the household was originally found to be ineligible, selecting notice 083 option 2.
Reminder: A new application is not required if the client submits the requested verification within 30 days of the closing.
Once a household has reestablished its eligibility for SNAP under non-categorical eligibility rules and begins receiving benefits, they may be considered eligible under categorical or expanded categorical eligibility going forward.
Non-liquid resources are resources that cannot easily be converted to cash. Countable non-liquid resources include:
The equity value of real property (land, buildings, and mobile homes) unless specifically excluded because the property is used as a home; is income-producing, AND the income is consistent with the property's fair market value; is essential to employment or full self-employment; or verification of the property’s ownership, market value, and efforts to sell it for fair market value, present undue hardship to the applicant/recipient . (see Section 540.5.)
Personal property, including licensed and unlicensed vehicles, boats, aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, and mopeds
Exception: The CAO will exclude licensed vehicles used for income-producing purposes, used as the household’s home, necessary to transport a physically disabled household member, or necessary to carry fuel or water anticipated to be the primary source of heating or water for home use during the certification period (see Section 540.352).
Inaccessible resources are resources the household cannot access or convert into cash. This includes jointly owned resources, property and vehicles (that would net $1500 or less if they were sold), and resources that are not freely accessible or restricted. It also includes resources the household is unaware of having. However, once the household becomes aware that resources are legally available to them, the resources must be counted from that time forward. This is the case regardless of the manner in which the household is informed.
All resources of a disqualified or ineligible household member and a portion of the resources of a noncitizen sponsor and their spouse are considered available to the SNAP household, even if the household member does not share ownership and the owner does not make the resource available. See Chapter 522 to determine how resources are deemed from noncitizen sponsors.
The CAO will consider all countable resources available to the SNAP household from the following ineligible household members:
An individual disqualified for committing an intentional program violation
An individual disqualified for failure to comply with a work requirement
An individual disqualified for refusing to get an SSN
An ineligible noncitizen
An ineligible able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD)
An individual who is violating a condition of probation or parole under a Federal or State law
The household must report the resources of a disqualified person and verify any questionable information.
Reminder: The CAO must not include the ineligible person when determining the resource limit.
Reminder: The CAO must not deem the resources of ineligible students (see Section 514.1).
All vehicles licensed or unlicensed, owned by a household member or an ineligible noncitizen or disqualified household member whose resources are countable, represent a countable non-liquid resource to the SNAP household, unless excluded. (see Appendix A of this chapter )
NOTE: Leased vehicles are not owned. They are excluded from any resource determination.
The CAO will first determine whether a vehicle is totally excluded. If a vehicle is totally excluded, the CAO will not count its value.
The CAO will exclude one licensed or unlicensed vehicle per household, regardless of its use, equity, or fair market value. The CAO will not count a totally excluded vehicle.
7 CFR § 273.8(f)(2)(ii)
Pub L. 106-387 § 847
The CAO will exclude the following licensed vehicles:
Vehicles used to produce income, regardless of income amount. This exclusion applies to vehicles such as taxis, trucks, or fishing boats, even during temporary periods of unemployment.
Example: Recipient X. owns a taxi and operates a taxi service during the week. They also drive their taxi to church on Sunday and to Florida each year on vacation. The taxi is excluded.
NOTE: If the vehicle is no longer used in farming because the household member has stopped farming, the vehicle continues to be excluded as a resource for one year from the termination date.
Vehicles used to produce annual income consistent with fair market value, such as a vehicle with a snowplow. The exclusion continues in temporary periods of unemployment.
Example: Recipient Y. owns and uses a four-wheel-drive vehicle for transportation. In winter they attach a snowplow and clears driveways and parking lots.
NOTE: For the vehicle to be totally excluded, Recipient Y.’s earnings for snow removal must be comparable to those of other persons providing the same services in the same area with similar equipment.
Vehicles used by a migrant or seasonal farm worker to travel from job to job.
Vehicles necessary to carry the primary fuel for heating or water for home use.
NOTE: Vehicles owned by households without heating fuel or water piped into their homes will receive the exclusion without having to meet further tests about the nature, capabilities or other uses of vehicles.
Vehicles necessary for employment-related long-distance travel (not regular commuting to and from work) This exclusion continues during periods of temporary unemployment.
Example: A salesperson’s vehicle.
Vehicles used as the household's home, such as a car or a motor home.
Vehicles necessary to transport a physically disabled household member, including an ineligible noncitizen or disqualified member, whose resources are deemed available.
NOTE: This exclusion is limited to one vehicle for each physically disabled household member. The vehicle does not need to be specially equipped or used primarily by or for the physically disabled person. The physical disability may be temporary (for example, a broken leg), ongoing (for example, a respiratory illness), or require continuing treatment (for example, chemotherapy) and does not have to meet the requirements in Chapter 510.
Vehicles with an inaccessible value that would net $1500 or less if they were sold.
The CAO must evaluate the fair market value of each licensed vehicle that is not excluded.
The CAO will use the wholesale value from an official used-car valuation service to determine the fair market value of a vehicle. Values listed at the following Websites are acceptable:
Edmunds: www.edmunds.com/appraisal/
Kelly Blue Book: http://www-kbb.com
National Automobile Dealers Association: https://www.nada.org/nada/consumer-vehicle-values
Reminder: CAO workers must include in case comments the website that was used to determine the value of each non-excluded vehicle.
The CAO will not increase the basic value by adding the value of low mileage, optional equipment, or special equipment for a handicapped person.
Exception: If the household does not agree with the estimated value, it must provide proof of the vehicle's value from a reliable source, such as a car dealer or a bank.
If the vehicle is not listed on an accepted car valuation website, the CAO will accept the household's estimate of the vehicle's value. If the CAO has reason to question the estimate, and if the value of the vehicle may affect eligibility, the household must get an appraisal from a car dealer or produce other evidence of its value. The CAO will accept a tax assessment or a newspaper or online advertisement that lists the selling price of similar vehicles.
If a new vehicle is not yet listed, the CAO must obtain the wholesale value by other means, such as by contacting a car dealer that sells that type of vehicle.
NOTE: For licensed antique, custom-made, or classic vehicles, the household must provide proof of the value from a reliable source.
If the household owns more than one vehicle, the CAO must appraise each vehicle individually. The CAO will not add the fair market value of two or more vehicles together to reach total fair market value in excess of $4,650.
The CAO will compute the excess fair market value of each licensed vehicle by subtracting $4,650 from its fair market value. The remainder is the excess fair market value and may be counted toward the household’s resource limit.
Example:
|
Vehicle 1 |
|
Vehicle 2 |
||
|
FMV |
$7,390 |
|
FMV |
$4,350 |
|
|
-4,650 |
|
|
-4,650 |
|
Excess value |
$2,740 |
|
Excess value |
$0 |
Important: Do not combine $7,390 and $4,350 before deducting $4,650. Only $2,740 is to be considered a resource, as long as there are no encumbrances (amount currently owed, excluding interest) on the vehicles.
NOTE: If there are encumbrances, the CAO must compute the equity value on the vehicle to determine whether the excess fair market value or the equity value will be used as the resource amount.
The CAO will evaluate remaining licensed and unlicensed vehicles for their equity value unless they are exempt from the equity value test.
The following vehicles are exempt from the equity value test:
One licensed vehicle per adult household member, including ineligible noncitizens and disqualified household members, regardless of vehicle use
Any other vehicle a household member under age 18, including ineligible noncitizens and disqualified household members, uses to commute to and from employment (applies during temporary periods of unemployment) to and from training or education in preparation for employment, or to seek employment.
NOTE: Training or education includes any school attendance that will lead to a high school diploma, including vocational and technical classes.
Example: A two person household consisting of one adult and one student, age 17, has three vehicles. One vehicle is exempted. The CAO must exclude it from the equity value test. However, the CAO must count the excess fair market value for the remaining two vehicles. (see Section 540.354 for computing excess fair market value).
Any vehicle already determined to be excluded from the resource determination
NOTE: Mini motorized bikes are classified as unlicensed vehicles. Enter the value on the vehicle screen.
The CAO will compute equity value by subtracting encumbrances (amount currently owed, excluding interest) from the fair market value.
The CAO will count the equity value (fair market value minus encumbrances) whenever the equity values is over $1,500.
Example: 2020 Mazda 626
|
FMV |
$7,390 |
|
amount owed |
-3,900 |
|
equity value |
$3,490 |
The CAO would count the equity value of this vehicle because it is greater than the excess fair market value determined in Section 540.354.
Reminder: For each vehicle, the CAO must count only the excess fair market value or the equity value, whichever is greater.
Updated March 13, 2026, replacing January 29, 2016