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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 107 income plus any cash, food, housing or other assistance provided by other individuals, including the sponsor. An immigrant is considered indigent if they are unable to obtain food and shelter, and the sum of the immigrant household’s income and any cash or in-kind assistance provided by the sponsor or others is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level based on the household size. If an immigrant is declared indigent, ESA must count the amount of support provided by the sponsor to the household each month. Each indigence determination is effective for 12 months and may be renewed for additional 12-month periods.  If the household’s income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, it may qualify for an indigent exemption.  Prior to determining an immigrant as indigent, ESA must explain the purpose of the determination to the immigrant and/or authorized representative and provide them the opportunity to refuse the determination.  If the household refuses the determination, ESA will not complete the determination and will deem the sponsor’s income and resources to the immigrant’s household accordingly. 8.6.5.4 Sponsor Liability Sponsors who signed legally binding I-864, Affidavits of Support, are liable for the value of the means- tested benefits received by the sponsored noncitizen if those benefits were received during the period of time the affidavit is in effect. An affidavit of support remains in effect until one of the following events occurs:  Sponsored noncitizen becomes a naturalized citizen.  Sponsored noncitizen can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work.  Sponsored noncitizen permanently leaves the US.  Sponsored noncitizen obtains, in removal proceedings, a new grant of adjustment of status as relief from removal.  Sponsor or sponsored noncitizen dies. 8.6.5.5 Deemed Income From a Sponsor The portion of the monthly income of the sponsor(s) that will be deemed as unearned income to the sponsored noncitizen adult(s) will be calculated as follows:  Add the sponsor’s and spouse’s countable earned income.  Subtract 20 percent from the monthly gross earned income.  Add countable unearned income.  Subtract the 130 percent federal poverty level (see Table 25.3.a, SNAP Monthly Income Eligibility Standards) for the sponsor’s family size, including their spouse and any other Return