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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 210 HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

2 Section 210 Change #20-2021 November 1, 2021 A. Individuals who live together and purchase and prepare their food together, regardless of the relationship to each other; B. Spouses living together regardless of whether they purchase and prepare their food together. 1. Spouse refers to individuals who are currently married to each other under applicable State law. 2. Divorced individuals are no longer considered spouses and are not required household members unless they meet a different requirement within this section. 3. Unmarried couples who live together and do not have common children are not required to be included in the same FNS unit. North Carolina does not recognize common law marriage. If an unmarried couple moves from a state that recognizes common law marriage, then a couple married under the common law of that state must be treated as having a legitimate marriage in North Carolina. C. A child 21 years of age and under living with his/her natural, adoptive, stepparents unless the conditions in 210.04 G. are met. 1. Children must be included in the FNS unit with their natural or adoptive parent(s) even if another household member has legal custody. 2. If the household consists of a natural parent and an adoptive parent, the child must be included in the FNS unit with the adult who exercises parental control. D. A child (other than a foster child) 17 years of age and younger who lives with and is under the parental control of a household member other than his/her parent. NOTE: For purposes of this provision, parental control exists if a child, age 17 or younger, is financially or otherwise dependent on a member of the household. 210.04 SEPARATE HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS Individuals that are not required or excluded FNS household members may be a separate FNS unit from other household members if they state they purchase and prepare food separately from others in the home or will do so upon receipt of FNS benefits. Separate household members include:

A. An adult child age 22 and over living with his/her natural, adoptive, or stepparent.