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Title 7: SNAP Page 10 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter D: Resources Excluded Resources Revised September 27, 2024 Homestead Homestead (Cont.) When property owned by someone else divides the household’s property, count that part of the household’s property that is separated from the home and lot by the other person’s property.

Exclude the value of a partially completed home, unless the household owns or is buying a home elsewhere. Exclude only one home at a time, unless the additional home is excluded for a reason listed somewhere else in this chapter.

Exclude the value of a lot upon which the household is planning to build, if the household does not already own or is purchasing a home.

A household may own two houses that are located on contiguous property. Unless the second home is excluded under another policy in this chapter, exclude only the home the household lives in and all surrounding property that is not separated from the home by property owned by others.

Buildings, other than homes, on contiguous property are excluded even if they could be rented. Household Goods and Personal Effects 7 CFR 273.8(e)(2) Exclude the value of household goods and personal effects without regard to their value. “Household goods” are items used in and about the house in connection with home occupancy. They are items used to maintain the home as well as to accommodate, comfort and entertain the occupants.

“Personal effects” are the belongings of household members, including items like clothing, books, grooming aids, jewelry, hobby equipment and similar items. HUD Family Self- Sufficiency Program 7 CFR 273.8(e)(8) Funds held in a family self-sufficiency escrow account are excluded as long as they are held in the account. When a family self-sufficiency escrow account is released to a household, see Nonrecurring Lump Sum in this chapter. Inaccessible Resources 7 CFR 273.8(e) Do not count resources that are inaccessible to the household. Examples of inaccessible resources include: ▪ Security deposits on rental property or utilities.

▪ Property in probate.

▪ The unpaid portion of loans owed to a household.