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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART VI, PAGE 1

A. THE HOUSEHOLD CONCEPT

The BPS must determine the composition of the SNAP household. This chapter describes those who may or may not qualify as household members, and the designation of head of household. For the month of application, the household membership as of the day of application is evaluated, including those persons frequently away from home who are included in the household under the provisions of Part VI.A.6.

No one is permitted to receive SNAP benefits as a part of more than one household in the same month, except for residents of a shelter for battered women and children who were members of a household containing the person who had abused them.

1. General Criteria (7 CFR 273.1(a))

A household is composed of one of the following individuals or groups of individuals, provided they are not residents of an institution, except as specified in Part VII.C, or are not boarders, except as specified in Part VI.B:

a. An individual living alone.

b. An individual living with others who customarily purchases and prepares food for home consumption separate and apart from the others. This includes a disabled individual, who is not a required household member, living with others whose food is purchased and prepared separately by someone else.

If an individual has insufficient income and resources to contribute to the purchase of food, certify the individual as a separate household if the individual intends to purchase and prepare food separately, if eligible for SNAP benefits.

c. A group of individuals living together for whom food is customarily purchased in common and for whom meals are customarily prepared from this food supply by or for all members of the group for home consumption.

Unless there is evidence that contradicts a household's statement, accept the household's word on which household members customarily purchase and prepare meals together, and which members constitute the household for SNAP purposes. Contradictions could include situations where an individual living with others claims to purchase and prepare food apart from the others, but previously the person had been part of the household of the others. Verification in this situation may consist of a signed statement from the applicant and a responsible member of the other household attesting to the separate eating arrangements.

In cases of those without sufficient income and resources who state their intent to purchase and prepare food separate from others in the home after certification, a signed statement may be requested at recertification to verify that the intended separation took place, if the information is questionable.

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