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SNAP/TANF Program Policy Manual CHAPTER: 3200 SECTION: 3200.00.00 ASSISTANCE GROUPS (AG) ASSISTANCE GROUPS 3200.00.00 ASSISTANCE GROUPS

This chapter contains the following sections: • Assistance Group Definition (Section 3205). • SNAP Groups (Section 3210). • Cash Assistance Groups (Section 3215).

The program specific sections will discuss policy on mandatory and optional members of the assistance groups, whose needs or expenses must (or may be) included or excluded, and whose income and resources must be counted. 3205.00.00 ASSISTANCE GROUP DEFINITION

The assistance group (AG) is an individual or group of individuals whose income, resources, needs, and/or expenses are considered together in the eligibility determination for an assistance category.

The AG determination is based upon relationship and living arrangement. Within the AG, individuals may be participating or nonparticipating members, depending upon each program's eligibility requirements. Participating members are individuals for whom eligibility for a benefit is considered. Nonparticipating members are those individuals whose needs, income, expenses and/or resources are considered in determining the eligibility and benefit level of the participating members, but who are not eligible for benefit consideration on their own behalf.

Household members who are not, according to specific program regulations, eligible for membership in the AG as participants or non-participants, are excluded from consideration in the eligibility determination; as such, they are also excluded from any requirement to provide personal demographic or financial information to the agency. (See Section 2025.05.00, Verification Requirements.) 3205.05.00 PRIMARY RESIDENCE DETERMINATION

The first step in determining the Assistance Group is to decide who "lives" together. Sometimes this means that the eligibility worker must determine the residence of an individual. The residence of an individual is the address where the individual states to be living. The address can be established by rent receipts, mail received by the individual, employment or benefits records, utility companies, credit bureau, etc. When there is some indication that the individual does not spend any time at this residence, it is important to determine whether the individual has established another residence. If the individual states that there is no other address established for the individual, the individual is considered to reside at the reported address regardless of the number of hours they spend on the premises.