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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: FS 2 2210.0302 Verification of SFU/AG Size and Composition (FS) Assistance group size and the composition of the SFU must be verified if questionable. However, due to the difficulty in verifying whether or not a group of individuals customarily purchases and prepares meals together and, therefore, constitutes an SFU, the eligibility specialist will generally accept the SFU's statement regarding food preparation and purchasing. 2210.0303 Needs Included (FS) The persons described in the following passages (2210.0304 - 2210.0306) who reside together must be included in the SFU unless they meet an exclusion or exception. All mandatory individuals must be considered in the SFU even if they do not purchase food and prepare meals together. 2210.0304 Parents and Children Included (FS) Parents and their children as defined below are included in the same standard filing unit.

Children under age 22 living in a household with a parent must be included in the same food stamp assistance group as their parent whether or not they purchase and prepare food together.

Natural, adopted, and stepchildren under 22 who are living with a parent must now be included as a member of the parent's standard filing unit even if they are living with a child or a spouse and purchase and prepare meals separately.

Stepparent and stepchild relationships continue as long as they live together (even if the natural parent leaves, gets a divorce, or dies).

Children under 18, other than foster children, who are under the parental control of a household member must be included as a member of the food stamp assistance group of the household member who is acting as the parent or is exercising parental control of the child, even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. 2210.0304.01 Joint Custody (FS) If parents are awarded joint custody of the child and visitation provides for partial residence with each parent, the eligibility specialist must establish where the child is living the majority of the time. A child can only receive food assistance in one assistance group (AG) during a given month. If a child stays with one parent and the parents do not live together, determine where the child lives based on the actual living arrangements:

• If only one parent applies for benefits, the child is included in that household no matter which parent has parental control and financial responsibility; or • If both parents apply and the eligibility specialist determines which parent provides more than 50% of the child’s meals; or • If both parents apply for benefits for a child and have equal custody, and the parents cannot agree on who should receive the benefits on behalf of the child, benefits will be issued to the parent who applies first. 2210.0305 Spouses Included (FS) Spouses must be included in the same food stamp SFU. Consider same-sex married couples as members of the same SFU.

A spouse (defined in Section 741.212(3) of the 2001 Florida Statutes) is a member of a marriage or legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.