Page 179

Page | 178 a separate, interest-bearing account, the interest is counted as income in the month received. After the month of receipt, the interest would become a countable resource to the household. Any funds in the combined account are counted as a resource when the six-month period expires.

Money exempt as a resource because it is prorated as income is, if combined with non-excluded funds, exempt for the time over which it is prorated. Examples of this type of income are student and self-employment income which has been prorated.

Income tax refunds keep their 12 month exclusion regardless of if the funds are commingled or not.

9500 VEHICLES

9510 LICENSED VEHICLES

The resource value of licensed vehicles is determined as follows:

A. The total value of the following licensed vehicles is excluded: 1. One vehicle per household is automatically excluded. This typically means a vehicle used for transportation to and from work, school, etc. This does not typically include vehicles used for recreation. If in doubt check with a supervisor.

2. Vehicles used for income-producing purposes are excluded.

 If the vehicle is a condition of employment it is excluded.  Vehicles are not excluded if they are only used for commuting to and from the job site.  Licensed vehicles, which have previously been used by a self-employed member engaged in farming/ranching but are no longer used because the household member has terminated his/her self-employment from farming/ranching will continue to be excluded as a resource for one year from the date the household member terminated his/her self-employment from farming/ranching.

3. Vehicles which annually produce income consistent with their fair market value, even if used only on a seasonal basis.

4. Vehicles necessary for long-distance travel when the travel is essential to the employment of a household member or disqualified household member but not including daily commuting. Examples: Taxis, trucks, fishing boats, vehicles used for deliveries or to call on customers, etc. Question: A customer has one checking account which includes both his self-employment business and his personal account. Since they are not separated, do we count the full balance as a resource? Answer: Yes, if this account was not recently commingled, it is counted in its entirety. If the customer recently combined a personal checking account and a business account, the portion for the business account may be excluded for six months from the date they were commingled. After six months, all funds in the commingled account will be counted as a resource.