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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

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ineligible for benefits. For this section, an individual must have a felony conviction as an adult for an offense listed below and is out of compliance with the sentencing. 1) Aggravated sexual abuse under Title 18 United States Code (USC), Section 2241 or a similar state offense; 2) Murder under Title 18 USC, Section 1111 or a similar state offense; 3) An offense under Title 18 USC, Chapter 110 (sexual exploitation and other abuse of children) or a similar state offense; or 4) A federal or state offense involving sexual assault, as defined in Section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 USC 13925(a)).

D. HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD (7 CFR 273.1(d))

The head of the household is designated when applications are filed, whether at initial application, reapplication or recertification. The designation of the head will be made either by the household or by the BPS. Under certain circumstances, as described in Part VI.D.3, the head will be defined as the principal wage earner. Whether designated by the household or by the BPS, the head must be identified in the case file at the time of certification or household change.

Other than sanctions for violations described in Part VI.D.3, no special requirements are to be imposed on the household or its head. The agency may not, for example, require that the head appear at the certification office to apply for benefits rather than another responsible household member.

1. Household Designation

Whenever an application is filed, the household may identify on the application a household member to be the head. Households with parent-child combinations may also designate the head whenever there is a change to the household's composition. The person selected as the head must be included on the Notice of Action at the time of certification or household composition change.

The household may select as head a household member who is an adult parent of children living in the household, an adult who has parental control of a minor child living in the household, or any other adult member. For an adult parent to be selected, there must be at least one natural, step-, or adopted child of any age in the SNAP household unit with an adult parent. For an adult with parental control to be selected, there must be at least one child under 18 years of age who is supervised or otherwise dependent on an adult living in the SNAP household.

2. Agency Designation

If households fail to designate the head by the 30th day for new applications or reapplications or by the verification deadline for recertification applications, the BPS must determine the head. The BPS must also designate the head if the

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