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Energy payments to households such as Section 8/HUD Utilities Payments, LIHEAP payments, and Farmer's Home Administration (FHA) Rent Subsidy Payments, are excluded. EXCEPTION: The portions of public assistance grants (e.g., TANF or General Assistance benefits) paid for the purpose of energy payments are countable unearned income. Montana's TANF program does not include energy payments in the grant amount. However, other states may have this option in their state plan. FEMA FUNDS: Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) funds made to homeless people to pay for rent, food, and utility assistance when there is no major disaster or emergency are countable. FEMA funds provided as rent payments to households facing eviction or payments for food or clothing are countable unearned income if they are received on a regular basis. When FEMA pays the rent directly to the landlord, the amount is considered a vendor payment and is excluded. If the payment is related to a disaster see 'Disaster Relief' in this section. FOSTER CARE: If the household chooses to include the foster child or adult as a filing unit member the foster care income is countable. If the household chooses to exclude the foster child or adult as a filing unit member the foster care income is excluded. All foster care income is assigned to the child or adult who the payment is intended for. GARNISHMENT: The gross income is counted to determine benefits if unearned income is garnished for a purpose not related to an overpayment from the same income source. If income is being reduced to repay over issued income from the same income source see 'Recoupments for Overpayments' in this section. The portion of a military retirement payment paid to an ex-spouse under a divorce decree property settlement is not counted as income to the retiree; the full payment to a retired civil servant is countable income (see 'Veterans Administration' in this section). GIFTS: Monetary gifts to the household such as money received as a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or Christmas presents, are generally excluded. The exclusion is usually due to the inability to prospect the income or gift and is usually excluded as a nonrecurring lump sum or irregular/infrequent payment. Monetary gifts that can be prospected are countable and are not considered nonrecurring lump sums or irregular/infrequent payments.