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Page 3 of 6 § 10:71-5.3 Income exclusions (1) He or she is enrolled in a course or courses of study and attends to the extent required for continued enrollment. Specifically, a person must attend: (A) A college or university at least eight semester or quarter hours weekly; or (B) A secondary school at least 12 clock hours weekly; or (C) A course of vocational or technical training (other than at a secondary school, college, or university) designed to prepare the student for gainful employment involving shop practice, at least 15 clock hours a week; or without shop practice, at least 12 clock hours per week; or (D) Less than the appropriate requirements in (a)15i(1)(A), (B), and (C) above, if it is determined that there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student and he/she is pursuing a course of study comparable to the requirements of (a)15i(1)(A), (B), and (C) above. (2) A student shall be considered in regular attendance if he or she is engaged in home study provided by a secondary school, college, university, or governmental agency, and a home visitor or tutor supervises the study or training. For purposes of this section, government- sponsored courses in the various self-improvement and anti-poverty programs are considered to be for the purposes of preparing the student for gainful employment. (3) A student shall be considered in regular attendance during normal vacation periods if he or she is in regular attendance in the month immediately preceding and immediately following the vacation period. (4) A student shall be considered to be in regular attendance for the month in which he or she completes or discontinues his or her school or training program. 16. Benefits provided under the State's Lifeline Utility Credit Program shall be excluded. 17. Interest on or appreciation in value of burial funds excluded from consideration as resources at N.J.A.C. 10:71-4.4(b)9 shall be excluded from income. 18. The first $ 20.00 per month of income, other than income received as a VA pension based upon need, shall be excluded. This exclusion shall be applied first to unearned income, and any remaining amount of exclusion then applied to earned income. In the determination of countable income of a couple, this $ 20.00 exclusion is applied to the combined income of both. 19. Earned income, in the amount of $ 65.00 per month plus one-half of the remaining sum, shall be excluded. In the determination of countable income of a couple, this exclusion applies to the combined earned income of both. 20. In the case of blind persons only, all expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of income shall be excluded. 21. In the case of blind or otherwise disabled persons, the amount of money which is needed to achieve an approved plan of self-support shall be excluded. i. In order for this exclusion to apply, the plan of support must have been approved, in writing, by the Division of Vocational and Rehabilitation Services or the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The plan must also be current. History HISTORY: As amended, R.1983 d.167, effective June 6, 1983.