Page 184
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES INCOME
10/24 VOLUME V, PART XI, PAGE 4
1. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
The BAH is considered as earned income for SNAP purposes. The household is also entitled to a shelter deduction. In some instances, the BAH may be listed as income and then all or a portion of the amount deducted on the leave and earnings statement because he or she lives on the base. Use the amount listed to compute the SNAP shelter deduction.
2. Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
The BAS is paid daily in cash or three months in advance by check. The BAS is not considered a part of the wages. The BAS will appear on the leave and earnings statement monthly. The BAS is considered as earned income for SNAP purposes.
3. Clothing Maintenance Allowance (CMA)
The CMA is excluded as income for SNAP purposes. The payment is counted as a reimbursement for the job-related expense of uniforms under Part XI.F.6.
Any amount received by or made available to household members for deployment or service in a combat zone will not count as income for SNAP purposes unless the payment was received before the deployment. This exclusion includes items such as, but not limited to, incentive pay for hazardous duty, special pay for imminent duty or hostile fire duty or certain reenlistment bonuses, or special pay for certain occupational or educational skills.
E. UNEARNED INCOME (7 CFR 273.9(b)(2))
Unearned income includes:
1. Assistance Payments
Assistance payments from federal, federally aided, or state-local public assistance programs, based on need. Examples are:
a. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Note that payments received through the Diversionary Assistance Program as a lump sum are excluded as income. See Part XI.F.9.
b. General Relief (GR)
c. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Income from these assistance programs will count as unearned income even if provided in the form of a vendor payment, unless the provisions of Part XI.F.3 apply that prohibit considering certain vendor payments as countable income. Assistance payments from programs that require the actual performance of work without compensation, other than the assistance payments themselves, count as unearned income.
TRANSMITTAL #35