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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 134 Example 4 Ms. Rodell operates a retail store. Total proceeds for the month are $3,200. Allowable expenses for the mortgage interest, property tax, insurance, utilities and goods purchased at wholesale total $3,800. Her countable self-employment income is $0. The $600 loss cannot be used to offset any other household income.

11.2.1.5 Boarder and Roomer Income Room and board income includes all direct payments to the household for the boarder’s room, meals and utilities. A boarder is an individual residing with others and paying reasonable compensation to the household for meals or meals and lodging. A roomer is a person who is not a household member but lives with the household for lodging and does not eat with or pay the household for food. A roomer lives in someone else’s home and pays rent to the owner. Payments received by the household from a boarder or roomer are considered self-employment income. ESA must count gross boarder and roomer income minus expenses. For an expense to be excluded, it must be clearly associated with the rental unit, such as expenses the household would not incur without having the boarder or roomer. Shelter expenses paid directly by a boarder or roomer to a third party are not considered income to the household. If expenses are greater than the gross boarder or roomer income, the gross boarder or roomer income should be reduced to $0. Foster care payments are not considered boarder and roomer income. See Section 11.3, Unearned Income, for treatment of foster care payments. Example Ms. Ginsburg charges her boarder $100 per month. The boarder also pays the household’s electric bill of $75 per month, which he pays the electric company directly. The $100 the boarder pays Ms. Ginsburg is counted as self-employment income.

Legal Authority Self-employment income (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.9(b)(1)(ii), § 273.11(a)

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