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is, in the manner that allows as many applicants as possible to be eligible), including optional members where helpful. Example Mrs. Payne lives with her two children, Robert and Mary, and her husband. Mr. Payne is neither Robert nor Mary’s father. Mr. Payne works and earns $45,000 per year. Mrs. Payne works and earns $15,000 per year, and neither Robert nor Mary receives any child support or other benefits. Create an assistance unit consisting of Robert and Mary and evaluate their Medicaid eligibility based on the AR program type. If they are ineligible, evaluate their Medicaid eligibility based on the AX program type. Do not include Mrs. Payne in the assistance unit (but code her as “IP”, so her own income is counted). If she is included, Mr. Payne’s income will be deemed available to the assistance unit because spousal income is always deemed available to a spouse applying for Medicaid for him/herself. Step-parent income, however, is not deemed to step-children if the natural/adoptive parent is not in the assistance unit. Therefore, when determining the children's Medicaid eligibility, only Mrs. Payne’s income will be deemed available to Robert and Mary if Mrs. Payne chooses not to be included in the assistance unit. AR: Children under 21, parents and/or step-parents living with children under 21, and caretakers of children under 21 (in households in which the parents are absent) may be included in the assistance unit with the child. Related and unrelated caretakers of minor children may be included in the group. If a child lives in a joint or shared custody situation (that is, child lives with his/her mother two weeks each month and his/her father the other two weeks), only one parent may be in the group. The income and resources of the parent included in the group (or applying on behalf of the child) is included. Only actual income received by the child from the other parent is counted. Foster care parents are not included in the assistance unit. Step-siblings and children-in-common may be included in the group if they so elect. The parent(s) of a parenting minor may be included in the group if it is to the benefit of the household. Similarly, the parent(s) of a pregnant minor may be included in the group. However, SSR shall exclude the parent(s) of a pregnant or parenting minor at their own request or at the request of the minor. If the parents are excluded, their income and resources are not counted, even provisionally. An essential person (see Section 1.6: Essential Person in this Chapter) of a dependent child has the option of being included in the assistance unit. Also, a caretaker relative has the option of being included in the assistance unit, but s/he may only be included if a parent is not in the home. AX: See AR. Note that although the AR program serves children until they turn 21, the AX program serves children only until they turn 19. Children under 19, parents and/or step-parents living with children under 19, and caretakers of children under 19 eligible for Medicaid (in households in which the parents are absent) who are otherwise eligible may be included in the assistance unit. Other types of persons that can be included in the AR group can likewise be included in an AX group. SR: There are no optional group members. QM: See SR. TANFThere are four (4) types of optional group members: