If a household has self-employment income, the average estimated monthly income from self-employment is added to any other estimated household income.
Example: A combined cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household has income from self-employment and income from employment at Burger King. The self-employment income varies from month to month. The County Assistance Office (CAO) estimates that the average monthly total gross income from self-employment is $150. The household estimates it will continue to receive $100 a month from Burger King. The income counted and used to calculate benefit amounts is $150 from self-employment and $100 from Burger King.
When a household with self-employment income reports recent self-employment earnings on a "Semiannual Reporting Form" (PA 564) , that information is used to determine whether the current estimate of self-employment income is accurate.
Updated April 8, 2026, replacing March 1, 2012