Policy Effective: April 1, 2004

Each Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household must have a head of household with two exceptions. You do not need to select a head of household when:

The household contains only qualified elderly or disabled individuals with no earned income; OR

All adults are ineligible or non- household members. An individual who lives with the household but who is an ineligible or a non-household member cannot be the head of household. Ineligible members are defined in policy 251 . Non-household members are defined in policy 253 . If all adults are ineligible or non-household members, there will be no head of household.

The selection of head of household is based on the following:

A household with children, of any age, can select an adult parent of the children as the head of household. The household must agree on the selection.

An adult parent is a parent age 18, or older, or is emancipated by marriage or court order. An adult with parental responsibility for a child under age 18, who is not the parent of the child, is considered a parent in determining head of household.

If the household does not select an adult parent of children in the household, the individual who is, or was earning, the most income in the two months prior to the month of selection is the head of the household. This individual is the primary wage earner.

If there is no adult parent of children or a primary wage earner, the household can select any adult to be the head of household.

The household must select a head of household at:

Application

Review

When adding another adult to the household

The head of household is not required to apply for household. Any responsible member may apply on behalf of the household.

Ineligible Non-Citizen as Head of Household - When there is an eligible adult or emancipated minor in the household, that person must apply as the head of the household. Otherwise, an Ineligible Non-Citizen may apply as head of the household on behalf of eligible minor children.