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Page | 131 CHAPTER EIGHT: INCOME

8000 INCOME

8100 DEFINITION

In determining the household's eligibility and basis of issuance, the income considered is that income already received by the household during the certification period & any anticipated income the household and the Benefits Specialist are reasonably certain will be received during the remainder of the certification period. If the amount to be received or when it will be received is uncertain, only that portion of the household's income that is certain will be considered.

It is important for the benefit specialist to consider the source of the income and make a reasonable estimation of when it could be expected to be received.

8200 INCLUDED AS INCOME

For SNAP purposes, income includes the following:

8210 EARNED INCOME

A. Earnings All wages and salaries for services performed as an employee.

B. Self-Employment Income If the household has self-employment expenses and does not opt to use actual expenses, self-employment is calculated using the gross income for the business times 45%.

If the business does not report any allowable business expenses or the household opts to use actual business expenses, total gross income from a self-employment enterprise is determined by adding total gross income and capital gain from the sale of capital goods or equipment plus capital assets related to the business plus depreciation minus cost of doing business.

Ownership of rental property is also considered to be self-employment; however, the income received from rental property is considered to be earned income only if a household member is engaged in management of the property at least an average of 20 hours a week. If this criterion is not met, the rental income is counted as unearned income and is not eligible for the self-employment standard deduction for expenses.

Payments from a roomer or boarder are also considered self-employment income.

C. Training Allowances Training allowances from vocational or rehabilitative programs recognized by federal, state, or local governments to the extent they are not a reimbursement, except for allowances received through programs authorized by WIOA.

Example: Applicants for TANF or SSI do not normally receive these benefits during the first month in which they apply for them.