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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 5000 5700 Unearned Income 5712 Pensions

5712 Pensions SNAP Manual 01/01/00 A pension is a fixed sum paid regularly under certain conditions to an individual or to that individual’s surviving dependent following years of military service or employment. The following households contain members who may receive pensions: 1. Households with age 60 or older or individual with disabillity members with a prior military service or members who are individual with disability or under age 18 and who are a surviving dependent of a person with prior military service; 2. Households with members retired (by age 60 or older or individual with disability) from a private firm like a factory or a utility company; 3. Households with members who retired from Federal or State employment by reasons of age 60 or older or individual with disability and their surviving dependents if the dependents are age 60 or older, individual with disability or minor children; or 4. Households with members retired from a school, college, or university due to age 60 or older or individual with disability. When a portion of a pension is awarded to an ex-spouse by the court in a divorce or legal separation settlement, the portion diverted to the ex-spouse is excluded as income as long as the payment goes directly to the ex-spouse. EXAMPLE: Mr. G. is in receipt of civil service retirement benefits. The court awarded 49 percent of his retirement to his ex-wife. Mr. G. receives only the 51 percent that the court allocated to him. He receives an annual statement that indicates his total benefit and the wife’s portion of the total amount. Only the portion of the retirement benefits Mr. G. actually receives will be counted in his SNAP budget.

5713 Railroad Retirement SNAP Manual 01/01/00 Railroad Retirement benefits are paid to individuals and spouses covered under the Railroad Retirement Act. An individual may receive both Railroad Retirement and Social Security, if covered under both programs. The spouse of a Railroad Retirement beneficiary may receive a spouse’s pension while receiving Social Security under his or her own record. Railroad Retirement benefits are counted as unearned income. See the Unearned Income Appendix for additional information.