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Page | 192 10220 DEPENDENT CARE DEDUCTIONS

The amount of actual costs is an allowable deduction for the care of a child or other dependent when necessary for a household member: 1. To seek, accept or continue employment, 2. Comply with employment and training requirements, 3. Attend training or education preparatory to employment. Dependent care expenses are allowed only in the month the expense is billed, regardless of when the expense is paid. Deductions may only be allowed for expenses the household is responsible for. If the expense is paid by a vendor payment or reimbursement fund, the expense is not allowed. The household is allowed the total amount of dependent care expense they are billed and responsible for, as long as the expense is not questionable.

10221 DEPENDENT CARE PAYMENTS ALLOWED AS A DEDUCTION

Unreimbursed dependent care expenses billed to a household directly from the provider for employment, work registration requirements, or training are allowed as a deduction. In addition, transportation costs to and from the care facility, and activity or other fees associated with the care provided to the dependent that are necessary for the household to participate in the care.

10222 DEPENDENT CARE PAYMENTS NOT ALLOWED AS A DEDUCTION

1. Payments made for a household from Child Care Services (CCS) are paid directly to the provider and not counted as income to the household nor is the portion of the dependent care expense paid by CCS allowed as a deduction to the household. 2. If dependent care funds are paid from one household member to another household member, the funds are not income to either household member if they are both included in the same SNAP household. A deduction is also not allowed. 3. Dependent care expenses paid by the household with earmarked educational assistance funds may not be allowed as a deduction. 10223 VERIFICATION OF DEPENDENT CARE COSTS

Verify costs for child or dependent care before allowing the deduction. If the dependent care costs are claimed but not verified, no deduction is allowed.

10300 SHELTER DEDUCTIONS

Households are allowed a monthly shelter deduction for the costs in excess of 50 percent of the household's net income after all applicable deductions have been allowed. However, the maximum (capped) shelter deduction is $744 for all households.

Only the most current bills can be used for shelter costs. Past due amounts are not an allowable expense. Expenses do not need to be in the household’s name but must be incurred by the household and the household must be expected to pay the expense.

Exception: The shelter deduction will not exceed the maximum unless the household includes a member who is over age 60 or a person with a disability. Households with an elderly or disabled individual receive the full amount that exceeds 50% of the household's monthly income after all other deductions have been allowed.