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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

10/25 VOLUME V, PART VI, PAGE 3

4. Special Consideration for Elderly and Disabled People (7 CFR 273.1(a)(2)(ii))

Normally, everyone who lives together and who purchases and prepares meals together must be a household for SNAP purposes. However, separate household status may be allowed for a person who is 60 years of age or older and who has a permanent disability, as recognized under the Social Security Act, or one who has a non-disease-related, severe, permanent disability. Separate household status will also be allowed for the spouse of an elderly, disabled individual and children under the age of 18 for whom parental control is exercised. The gross income of the remaining household members may not exceed 165% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, as listed below:

Household Size 165% Limit Household Size 165% Limit 1 $2,152 6 $5,934 2 2,909 7 6,690 3 3,665 8 7,446 4 4,421 each additional

5 5,177 member +$757

Do not count the income of the elderly, disabled person and spouse for this calculation. The elderly, disabled person is responsible for obtaining the cooperation of the other individuals in providing necessary income information to the local department of social services.

The key factor in determining whether a disability qualifies a household for separate status under this provision is the inability to purchase and prepare meals. Assessment of a disability under the Social Security Act, as well as other disability programs, is based on an inability to work. The BPS must not automatically assume a disability constitutes an inability to purchase and prepare meals apart from others.

No specific verification is required if it is obvious to the BPS that the person in question could not purchase and prepare meals. However, when the inability to purchase and prepare meals is not obvious, the BPS should request a statement from a physician that the person is unable to purchase and prepare meals separately.

Note: This section does not apply to elderly or disabled individuals whose food is usually purchased and prepared separately from others by someone else.

5. Residing Together Determinations

In some situations, it may become difficult to determine separate household status for people who live together in the same house. Consider factors, such as, but not limited to the following, to determine separate household status:

a. If there are separate, identifiable units within the dwelling, separate households probably exist.

b. If common facilities, such as a kitchen and/or a bathroom are shared, separate households probably do not exist.

TRANSMITTAL #36