1110.015.00 Jointly-Owned Resources – DSS Manuals

IM-14 February 23, 2007

Consider resources held jointly by separate EUs or members of EUs as available in total to each EU unless the EU demonstrates that such resources are inaccessible. If the EU demonstrates that it has access to only a portion of the resource, count the value of that portion of the resource toward the EU’s resource level. If a resource is held jointly with a person receiving Temporary Assistance, SSI, SP, or SAB, count only that portion of the resource contributed by the person not receiving those benefits. Consider the resource totally inaccessible to the EU if the resource cannot practically be subdivided and the EU’s access to the value of the resource is dependent on the agreement of a joint owner who refuses to comply.

EXAMPLE: If two people share a savings or checking account as joint tenants, either of them can withdraw any amount without the other’s signature. This resource is held jointly for FS purposes and the total value of the checking/savings account is considered an available liquid resource for each person.

EXAMPLE: If a group of people have an undivided interest in a piece of property, one person cannot sell another’s interest in the property. Even though the resource is contained in one place, it is not a resource held jointly for food stamp purposes because each person has access only to the portion of the interest that belongs to him/her.

Determination of property as a resource is dependent on whether or not the property in question is devisable for separate sale, or if its sale requires the concurrence of all property owners and can be sold as one parcel. It is not practical to subdivide the property if the financial value of the proportionate share would be significantly reduced by the sale of only the subdivision.

If the property can only be sold as one parcel and the other property owner refuses to sell, consider the property inaccessible and exempt the resource value.

If the only property owner refusing to sell is a food stamp applicant or participant, consider that portion of the fair market value less encumbrances as an available resource for the food stamp applicant or participant refusing to sell.

If all the property owners agree to sell, that portion owned by the food stamp applicant or participant is an available resource.

If there is a joint owner who is an EU member, record the other owner on the Joint Owner (FMWA) screen. If there is a joint owner who is not an EU member, the joint owner cannot be entered on the Joint Owner (FMWA) screen. If the resource is a vehicle, real property, or personal property, update the Percent owner field for the EU member to show the percent of the resource owned by the EU member. Record a comment on the appropriate resource screen regarding the other owner.

Always review the Financial Resource Detail Summary (FMWG) screen prior to authorizing a case action to ensure resources you expect to be included are included in the determination. From the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen, press F15=RESOURCE to view the Financial Resource Detail Summary (FMWG) screen. If the resource is incorrect, select the resource and press F6=DETAILS to return to the appropriate screen and correct the inaccurate information.