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SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP 330.1 Evaluation of Minor Children Included in the SNAP Household Shared/Joint Custody: ● In shared/joint physical custody situations (court ordered or otherwise) where the children reside with both parties, going back and forth between parents or other relatives (this could also be a shared relative and parent custody issue), determine who has the children at the time of the SNAP program application. ● If the other parent is not receiving SNAP benefits, the parent making the current SNAP application must include or add the children to their household. Once the case is approved, or the children are added to the existing case, eligibility continues until recertification or the children are reported out of the home. These households are simplified reporters and are not required to report the child entering or leaving the households until recertification. For example: If the mother applies and has the dependent children in her physical custody and the father is not on SNAP, the case is processed or updated with the children included. The children can go back and forth to the father’s home for equal time (e.g., three and one-half days a week, every other week or two weeks) each month and this will not cause ineligibility. ● Verify if the other parent is contributing any cash or support for the children included in the SNAP case. If yes, budget the income. Court-ordered custody, child support, cash contribution and residency may be verified by (not all inclusive): ― Court orders for custody/child support. ― Landlord/Customer statements. ― School records. ― Cash contribution statement/Form 2506. ― Investigations and Recovery evidence/home visits. ● If the other custodial party (parent/relative) has already included the children on a current application or are currently receiving SNAP benefits for the children, the children continue to be included in that SNAP household. If both parents, in a shared/joint custody situation, apply for SNAP on the same date, only one parent is entitled to include the children. If the parents will not make a choice or agree to allow the other one to apply for the children, the children will be excluded from both households. The case manager must document the circumstances to support the decision to exclude the children. In shared/joint custody situations, where the parties are unsure as to who should include the children, a determination will be made regarding the primary caregiver, where the children customarily take their meals during the month and, if applicable, who is ordered to pay support for the dependent children. If the parents apply on a different date, whoever applied first is the household to include the children. Division of Welfare and Supportive Services HOUSEHOLD DETERMINATION Eligibility and Payments Manual 330.1 Evaluation of Minor Children Included in the SNAP Household MTL 05/24 Nov 24 A-330