Deeming is a process in which the County Assistance Office (CAO) determines a household’s eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrtion Assistance Program (SNAP) and the benefit amount by counting all or a portion of the income and resources of certain non-household members toward the income and resources of the SNAP household.
Certain individuals living with SNAP h ousehold members are not included in household size when determining eligibility for SNAP benefits, but may have their income and resources considered when determining eligibility for SNAP and the benefit amount.
Some of these individuals may have all of their countable income and all resources counted, while others may have only a prorated share of their countable income and all resources counted when determining eligibility.
The CAO must determine the appropriate non-household members who live, purchase and prepare meals with the household, but are not included in its size, and how to count their income and resources towards the household.
Ineligible non-household members are not eligible to participate as separate households nor as a member of any household.
The following ineligible non-household members are not included in the household size but may have a financial responsibility toward the household:
An individual disqualified for intentional program violation (see Section 555.2)
An individual disqualified for non-compliance with the work requirements (see Section 555.2)
A fleeing felon or a probation or parole violator (see Section 555.2)
An individual disqualified for refusal to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) (see Section 555.3)
An ineligible Pennsylvanian with Employment or Engagement Requirements (PEER) (see Section 555.3)
NOTE: An ineligible PEER is no longer receiving time-limited benefits or is not meeting the federal work requirement or a statutory exemption.
An ineligible student (see Section 514.2)
An ineligible non-citizen or ineligible student non-citizen (see Section 555.3)
NOTE: Verification requirements for individuals whose income and resources are deemed are the same as for any other household member. For information on deeming income and resources of a non-citizen sponsor, see Section 522.3.
7 CFR § 273.4(c)(2)
7 CFR § 273.1(b)(7)
7 CFR § 273.5(d)
7 CFR § 273.11(c)
7 CFR § 273.11(d)
Updated April 8, 2026, replacing March 1, 2012