4.3.1 Income (General)

7 CFR 273.9(a)

Participation in FoodShare is limited to those food units whose income is determined to be a substantial limiting factor in permitting them to obtain a more nutritious diet. Income is any gain or benefit that can be used to purchase goods and services.

Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

Income of a non-food unit member is not budgeted as income for the food unit. This is true whether the income is earned or unearned. If the income of a non-food unit member is directly deposited into an account jointly owned by a food unit member, the amount received in the account is counted as unearned income for the food unit.

Example 1

Sam and Betty are receiving FoodShare benefits. Sam is a reservist in the army and has been called to active duty in a noncombat zone. He will be living away from Betty. He will now receive army pay which is direct deposited into a joint account that Sam and Betty share. Sam provides verification of the unearned income and does not anticipate any changes. Sam's income is budgeted as unearned income to the food unit for the certification period.

Past and anticipated income is used to estimate the earnings that are and will be received during the certification period.

Past income refers to money that the household has already received and the pay date(s) occured prior to the date of application. Income received during the past 30 days shall be used as an indicator of the income that is and will be available to the household.

Anticipated income is used for the additional pay date(s) past the application date. Do not use past income as an indicator of anticipated income when changes in income have occurred or can be expected during the certification period.

All anticipated income must be reasonably certain to be received during the certification period. To be reasonably certain, the verification source must contain the amount of income and when it is received.

This page last updated in Release Number: 05-03
Release Date: 09/15/05
Effective Date: 09/15/05