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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION INCOME AND RESOURCES FNS 315 SPECIAL BUDGETING

12 Section 315 Change #01-2022 January 11, 2022 In some circumstances foster care payments may continue past the age of 18, those payments are countable as unearned income. Refer to NC FAST HELP for instructions on entering unearned income. 315.18 GAMING PROCEEDS OF THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS This is the distribution of profits from gaming operations on the reservation to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. A. This income is received semi-annually (in December and June) and is prorated over the six-month period covered. B. Tribal members may refuse to accept the per capita distribution by signing a waiver. If this occurs, obtain a copy of the waiver, and do not count the payment as income. C. Some payments made directly into a trust fund administered by the tribe for minors and incompetent adults are also excluded from income. Verify that the trust fund is only accessible upon petition to the tribe and withdrawals are only allowed for medical and educational purposes. See 315.32 Trust Funds and Dividends From Trust Funds, for further details. 315.19 GI Bill Do not count income from the GI Bill with the exception of the monthly housing allowance (MHA) issued through the Post 9/11 GI bill which is effective August 1, 2009. The MHA is countable unearned income. 315.20 INHERITANCE If an inheritance or insurance settlement is paid to the FNS unit member in the form of a lump sum, do not count as income. Treat as a resource. If paid in installments determine if countable as an annuity. 315.21 INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR THE SALE OF A RESOURCE This is money paid to an individual based on a written or verbal agreement (contract) involving the sale of a resource. Budget the payments as unearned income using the terms of the agreement (contract) and the following instructions. Subtract the cost of doing business (interest on a mortgage, property taxes, etc.) from the gross payment amount. A. Prorate the contract income over 12 months if the FNS unit receives an annual payment.