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Veterans who have unique clothing needs as a result of a service-related disability or injury may receive a supplement to their disability compensation. This stipend should not be considered as income. Children of Vietnam War Veterans living with certain disabilities VA benefits provided to children of Vietnam Veterans (including adult children) who were born with the congenital defect spinal bifida are excluded. Also, effective December 1, 2001, VA benefits to children of female Vietnam veterans born with certain other birth defects are excluded. The monthly monetary allowance is paid at a rate that is based on the child’s level of disability. Payments on a Household’s Behalf Payments made by others on the household’s behalf are excluded, including payments for such items as car and health insurance payments, payments for rent, or payments for other household expenses made on the household’s behalf. If money is given directly to the applicant on a regular basis it is counted as income. Occasional cash gifts, however, are excluded as income. In-kind Payment to the Household An in-kind payment to a household in lieu of payment for work is excluded from income computations, including the imputed value of rent from owner-occupied housing, food or rent received in lieu of wages, items received in barter for rent; or gifts received from an employer. Benefits from Other Assistance Programs In general, the cash and non-cash benefits received by the household from other social services programs are excluded as income. Some of the other assistance program benefits that are not included as income are as follows:

• TEFAP: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost, shall not be considered income for the purpose of determining eligibility for the Energy Assistance Program.

• Child Nutrition Programs The value of food provided under National School Lunch Act or other child related commodities distribution programs are excluded as income. • Elderly Nutrition Programs The value of food such as congregate dining and home-delivered meals are excluded. The value of elderly nutrition programs such as congregate dining, home-delivered meals, Senior Citizens Service Employment Program (Title V), and Experience Works (formerly Green Thumb) may not be treated as income or benefits for eligibility purposes under the EAP.