Designating a Head of Household

A. The local office shall allow a household to select an adult parent of children (of any age) living in the household, or an adult who has parental control over children (under 18 years of age) living in the household, as the head of household provided that all adult members agree to the selection. The household may make this designation each time the household is certified for participation but may not change the designation during a certification period unless there is a change in the composition of the household. B. The local office shall not use the head of household designation to impose special requirements on the household, such as requiring that the head of household, rather than another responsible member of the household, appear at the local office to apply for benefits. If the household is not able to select its head of household, or an eligible household does not choose to select its head of household, the local office may make a reasonable determination of the head of household with an understanding that the head of household is usually the household member who has the most knowledge of the household's financial circumstances. If the only adult living in the home is not eligible for SNAP nor required to be included in the household, they can be designated as the head of household and apply on behalf of the unemancipated minors in the home.