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Page | 101 6. A resident(s) in a non-profit center for the homeless.

7. An individual 60 years of age or older (and their spouses) who cannot prepare their own meals because they suffer from disabilities considered permanent under the Social Security Act (SSA) or some other permanent physical or mental non disease-related disabilities may be a separate household even if living and eating with others. This rule is limited for those cases where the countable income of the individuals with whom the disabled/elderly person resides (excluding the income of the elderly/disabled individual and his/her spouse) does not exceed 165 percent of the poverty level.

The key factor in determining whether or not a disability would qualify a household for separate status under this rule is inability to purchase and prepare meals. In most cases someone with a disability considered permanent under the SSA can be assumed to be incapable of purchasing and preparing meals. If it is obvious the applicant cannot purchase and prepare his/her own meals as easily as a nondisabled person, separate household status may be granted. However, when the inability to purchase and prepare meals is not obvious, request a doctor's statement indicating that the person is unable to purchase and prepare their own meals.

8. Residents of public institutions who apply for SSI prior to their release from an institution under the Social Security Administration's Prerelease program for the Institutionalized (42 U.S.C. 1383 (j)).

B. The following people cannot be certified separately if they live together:

1. Parents and their children (natural, adopted, or step) under age 22.

2. Children under age 18 who are under the parental control of an adult household member who is not their parent. Foster children or an adult in foster care may be separate household members if the household so designates.

3. Spouses. A spouse is either of two individuals who were legally married in a jurisdiction where the marriage was conducted. A marriage may consist of a man/woman or same- sex couples as long as the marriage was legally performed in that state.

C. Non-household members include the following individuals who reside with the household but cannot be considered household members when determining the household's eligibility allotment. Non-household members who are otherwise eligible may participate as separate households.

1. Roomers - Individuals to whom a household furnishes lodging, but not meals, for compensation.

2. Live-in attendants - Individuals who reside with a household to provide medical, housekeeping, child care, or other similar personal services. The individual(s) must be living in the residence of the individual requiring the personal care to be allowed separate household status. (In other words, the individual requiring the service cannot move into the attendant’s residence for this provision to apply.)

3. Others - Other individuals who share living quarters with the household but who do not customarily purchase food, prepare and consume meals with them. For example, if the applicant household shares living quarters with another family to save on rent, but