MANDATORY HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

All mandatory household members who live together must be considered in the same household, even if the mandatory individuals declare they do not customarily purchase and prepare their food together for home consumption. A. Parents and Children 1. A person aged twenty-one (21) years and younger living with their natural or adoptive parent(s) or stepparent(s). A. If the child lives in the same home with both parents, regardless of marital status or whether or not the parents purchase and prepare their food together, both parents must be included in the SNAP household. 2. A child (other than a foster child) under eighteen (18) years of age who is living with and is under the parental control of a household member other than their parent. A. A child under eighteen (18) years of age is considered to be under parental control of an individual if the child is financially or otherwise dependent on that individual member of the household unless emancipated as defined by state law. B. Spouses 1. Spouses refer to: A. Persons defined as married to each other under state law. B. Persons living together who are free to marry and are representing themselves as spouses to relatives, friends, neighbors, or the larger community. 2. In situations where a spouse is in an established residence elsewhere but still contributes financially to the household, the value of the financial contribution will be counted as unearned income to the household in determining eligibility. Please refer to section 4.304.4 for more information. C. Persons aged sixty (60) and older experiencing a disability who live with others whose income exceeds 165% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) 1. Persons aged sixty (60) and older who are also experiencing a disability who are unable to purchase and prepare their own meals and are residing with other individuals whose income exceeds 165% of the FPL must be in the same household. 2. When applying the 165% limit test, the spouse of an elderly person with disabilities is not to be considered a member of their household unless the spouse is the person purchasing and preparing meals. If the spouse is not a member of the household, the spouse’s income and resources are excluded in calculating the household’s eligibility.