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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 4000 7B4800 Vehicles 48B4860 Accessibility of Vehicles

4860 Accessibility of Vehicles SNAP Manual 07/01/01 If the resource value of any non-excluded vehicle makes the household ineligible to receive SNAP benefits due entirely or in part to the countable value of a vehicle, the county office worker must determine if that vehicle is an inaccessible resource. A vehicle is considered to be inaccessible if, as a practical matter, the household would be unable to sell the vehicle for a significant return. This means that unless the household would receive more than $1,500 for the sale of the vehicle, the vehicle would not produce a significant return and would be considered an inaccessible resource. If the estimated return (equity value) assigned to the vehicle is $1,500 or less, the vehicle will not be considered an available resource. None of the vehicle’s value will be counted as a resource. To determine the equity value, the worker will subtract the amount owed by the household on the vehicle from the far market value of the vehicle. See SNAP 4851 for instructions on establishing fair market value. The amount owed on the vehicle will be verified if the information provided by the household is questionable. EXAMPLE: A household owns a 1999 Honda Civic with a fair market value of$9,450. The countable resource value is calculated as $9,450 - $4,650 = $4,800. The worker must determine if the vehicle is accessible by subtracting the amount owed on the vehicle from the fair market value - $9,450 fair market value - $9,000 amount owed on vehicle = $450 estimated return. The countable resource value is $0. If the estimated return on the vehicle is $1,501 or more, only the amount of the estimated return (equity value) would be counted as a resource. EXAMPLE: A household owns a 1999 Honda Civic with a fair market value of$9,450. The countable resource value is calculated as $9,450 - $4,650 = $4,800. The worker must determine if the vehicle is accessible by subtracting the amount owed on the vehicle from the fair market value - $9,450 fair market value - $7,500 amount owed on vehicle = $1,950 estimated return. The vehicle is an accessibleresource. Accessibility will be determined whenever a vehicle is first reported. Thereafter, accessibility will be re-determined only at application, initial, and recertification. Accessibility will be determined only so long as the value of the vehicle makes the household ineligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.