section-xvii SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BANK ACCOUNTS

Money deposited into a bank account to which the Work First household has access is income in the month it is deposited. Examples include direct deposit of earnings by an employer; direct deposit of Social Security benefits; child support payments deposited by absent parents; etc. Use the policies in this section to determine how to count the income just as if it were paid directly to the household. This includes money deposited into a joint account by a non-household unit member (such as an absent parent), unless there is an explicit agreement specifying how the deposit is to be divided among the individuals who have access to the account. Unless there is documentation of such an agreement, count the full amount deposited as income in the month it is deposited. EXAMPLE A Work First participant is separated from her husband, who is not included in the Work First budget unit. She has full access to a joint bank account with her husband. Her husband’s pay checks are deposited into the account bi-weekly. The deposits are countable income to the Work First household. Treat the income as a contribution. This is not earned income because the husband is not in the budget unit. 49