201 Household Composition
Overview
The Human Service Zone determines the required SNAP filing unit Required household members whose income and resources must be considered in eligibility determination. All members of the filing unit may not be included in the assistance unit and may not receive benefits. and household composition based on the criteria in this policy.

A number of living situations determine the SNAP household composition.
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An individual of family living alone or in a:
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Housing facility federally subsidized for the elderly.
Note: The individual does not have to be elderly. The requirement is to be a
resident of federally subsidized housing for the elderly.
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Licensed group home that serves no more than 16 residents receiving blind or disability benefits
Note:Blind or disability benefits as defined by SNAP.
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Public or private nonprofit shelter for homeless people.
Note: Residents of a shelter serving meals for the homeless are not considered residents of an institution
A facility which provides an individual with the majority of their meals (over 50% of three meals daily) as part of the facility’s normal services. as long as the shelter is a nonprofit agency. Eligibility is not dependent
A person who relies on another for support. on the shelter being approved by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
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An individual or family living with others but purchases and prepares food separately.
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A group of individuals living together and purchases and prepares food together
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the individual (or couple) is unable to prepare meals because of a permanent disability (as defined by the Social Security Act) or a severe permanent disability not related to a disease; AND,
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the individual (or couple) lives with others whose gross income does not exceed 165% of the poverty level for its household size.
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The following households are ineligible Not qualified to receive benefits because of not meeting one or more of the specified nonfinancial or financial requirements of eligibility. if:
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Any required SNAP household member is on strike.
Exception: If the household was eligible
Having met the qualifications to receive a SNAP benefit by meeting the specified nonfinancial and financial requirements of eligibility. for SNAP benefits the day prior to the strike and is otherwise eligible at the time of application
Filing a signed Application for Assistance via paper application or through the self-service portal of the eligibility system to establish eligibility and assign a review period., the household may be the eligible for benefits. The benefit is not increased because of the decreased income of striking member. Compare the striking member's income before the strike to the striker
Anyone involved in a strike, work stoppage, slowdown or other interruption of operations mutually agreed on by employees. This includes a stoppage because of the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement.'s current income. The higher of the two incomes is countable income
The total of earned and unearned income not excluded by policy, expected to be received by the household for the budget/benefit month. . See Unearned Income 704.
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All members are disqualified; or,
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The household fails to meet financial or non-financial eligibility requirements.

Individuals residing with the household must not be considered household members. The income of the non-household member An individual residing with a SNAP household who is not included in determining the household size. is not considered in determining eligibility unless the non-household member makes money available to other household members. (joint account, pay for board)
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Boarders
An individual to whom a household furnishes meals and/or lodging for compensation. This compensation must be at a monthly rate at least equal to the SNAP allotment for a one-person household. If the household furnishes two meals a day, the compensation rate must equal two-thirds of a one-person allotment. Boarders are ineligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) separate from the household providing the board. Residents of a commercial boarding house are not eligible for SNAP benefits. paying an adequate amount (thrifty food plan) for their meals unless the household requests they be included in the assistance filing unit. Boarders' income and assets are countable when they are included in the SNAP filing unit. Boarder status cannot be granted to spouses or to parents and children under the age of 22 years residing in the same household. See Boarders 203 and Self-Employment Income 705 . Boarder status cannot be granted to individuals under age 18 under the parental control
When a child, under 18 is financially or otherwise dependent upon an adult member of the household, that child is considered to be under the parental control of the adult. of an adult household member.
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Roomers are individuals who receive lodging but not meals for compensation from a household See Undearned Income 702 and Self-Employment Income 705. They may participate as separate households.
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Live-in attendants
Individuals who reside with a household to provide medical, housekeeping, child care or similar personal services. if they purchase and prepare their food separately from the household, they provide medical, housekeeping, childcare or similar personal services.
Note: Live-in attendants may receive benefits separately on their own case.
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Other individual(s) or families living with the household but purchase and prepare food separately.
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Individuals residing in an institution providing more than half of their meals each day as part of the institution's normal services. This includes students living on or off campus, who buy a meal ticket from the institution when the amount of purchased meal ticket equals more than half of their meals each day. It does not matter if the purchase of the meal ticket is required or by choice. If a student eats or purchases more than 50 percent of his/her meals on campus, he/she is considered a resident of an institution and therefore, not eligible for participation in SNAP. The HSZ discusses with the student the number of meals the student anticipates eating/ purchasing on campus and determine whether or not the numbers of meals purchased exceeds 50 percent of three meals daily in any given month.
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Foster children the household chooses not to include in the SNAP assistance filing unit.
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Individuals detained in federal, state, or local correctional facilities or other detention institutions for the majority of the month. NOTE: Individuals on house arrest or living in the home under probation or parole are eligible as long as they meet all financial and non-financial requirements.
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Individuals who have received benefits in another state or commodities from the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

An individual is a household member when the individual is residing in or is anticipated to reside in the household for the majority of the month.

Individuals are required to be included in the SNAP filing unit:
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All household members who purchase and prepare food together must be considered a SNAP filing unit unless specifically excluded based on criteria for Required Household Members Excluded of this manual section.
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The following must be considered a SNAP filing unit even if they purchase food and prepare food separately unless the household member is ineligible per policy “Required Members Ineligible” for SNAP in this manual section.
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Spouses residing together unless otherwise excluded (e.g., ineligible student, probation/parole violator, etc.). Spouses are included in the household when the spouse is in the household for any part of the month. If same sex couples marry in a jurisdiction recognizing same sex marriage, they are considered spouses. Same sex marriage is permissible under North Dakota law. The state of North Dakota recognizes same sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.
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A child (other than a foster child) under 18 years of age who lives with and is under the parental control of a household member other than his or her parent. A child must be considered to be under parental control for purposes of this provision if he or she is financially or otherwise dependent on the member of the household.
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Children under 22 years of age, living with their natural, adoptive or stepparents. Parents and children must be in one SNAP household even if the child under 22 years old has their own children or a spouse living with them.
Note: An individual is considered to be age 22 the entire month in which they turn age 22.
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Children who are living in more than one SNAP household during the month are considered a member of the household providing or are responsible to provide the majority of their meals in the month.
In joint custody cases when a child spends equal time with both parents, the children are included in the SNAP case of the parent that applies first. The 50-50 custody is not based on monthly or daily presence of the child in the parent’s home, but rather the agreement between the parents of equal parenting. The determination of what the agreement is between parents is based on the documented discussion the worker has with the parent (s). Fluctuating days in a month should not be considered, nor should consideration be given if one parent has the child on a birthday or holiday that would increase the presence of the child in a parent’s home more than expected. If only one parent is applying for SNAP benefits, there is not an issue.
If a child or children are included on an application, change Information that is different from what is currently used to determine eligibility and/or benefits. report, simplified report, or application for review
Filing a signed Application for Review via paper review form or through the self-service portal of the eligibility system for SNAP eligibility with the human service zone to determine continuing eligibility and establish a new review period., and they are already receiving SNAP benefits on another case, the household (HH) composition of the NEW household is questionable and must be verified. The new HH must verify conclusively that the child(ren) are in their household and NOT in the household where they are currently receiving benefits. Children cannot be removed from a case unless both households agree to the changed living arrangement OR we have compelling verification
Third-party information or documentation used to establish the accuracy of statements. from a third party – for example, Child and Family Services, school the child attends or a court order.

Disqualified individuals must be excluded from the household’s SNAP filing unit.
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Aliens not meeting the definition of an eligible alien.
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Individuals choosing not to provide a Social Security Number.
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Individuals disqualified due to work registration
The act of signing the application or recertification form attesting to work registration requirements. disqualification. See Good Cause and Unsuitable Employment 302.
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4. Individuals found guilty of Intentional Program Violation (IPV) through the Administrative Disqualification Hearing process through the disqualification timeframe.
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Individuals found guilty in federal, state, or local court of trading SNAP benefits for controlled substances or vice-versa. They are ineligible to participate in SNAP for 24 months for the first offense and permanently for the second offense.
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Individuals found guilty in federal, state, or local court of being involved in the sale or trade of firearms, ammunition, or explosives for SNAP benefits or vice-versa. They are permanently disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits.
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A fleeing felon
An individual will be considered a fleeing felon when a Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity presents an outstanding felony arrest warrant that conforms to one of the following National Crime Information Center Uniform Offense Classification Codes: •Escape (4901); •Flight to Avoid (prosecution, confinement, etc.) (4902); or •Flight-Escape (4999). is determined when a Federal, State or local law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity presents an outstanding felony arrest warrant that conforms to one of the following National Crime Information Center Uniform Offense Classification Codes:
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a. Escape (4901)
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b. Flight to avoid (prosecution, confinement, etc.) (4902); or
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c. Flight-Escape (4999)
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To be considered a probation or parole violator, an impartial party (P&P Officer or other law enforcement officer) must determine that the individual violated a condition of his or her probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law and that Federal, State, or local law enforcement authorities are actively seeking the individual to enforce the conditions of the probation or parole.
Treatment of Assets of the ineligible household member are counted in their entirety to the remaining household member.
Treatment of Income of the ineligible household member is considered available to the remaining household members according to the following:
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Count all of the income of members disqualified because of:
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Sale of controlled substance involving SNAP benefits.
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A fleeing felon charge or conviction, or parole or probation violation.
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SNAP IPV.
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SNAP work Requirement. (except ABAWDS)
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A conviction for attempting to receive duplicate benefits.
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Sales of firearms, ammunition or explosives involving SNAP benefits.
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A conviction for trafficking benefits.
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Count a prorated share of the income and allowable expenses to the following individuals.:
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An individual who fails to meet SSN requirement.
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An ineligible ABAWD.
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An individual who has been disqualified from the food distribution program.
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Note: The 20% earned income
Employee payments received in cash for wages, tips, commissions, or net profit from self-employment activities; the Gross Income is before deductions for personal or employment expenses or garnishments. Net Income is after deductions for personal or employment expenses or garnishments. dedcution is applied to the prorated income earned by ineliglible household member(s) listed under #2.

Law enforcement must be actively seeking the individual, defined as:
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A Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency informs eligibility staff that it intends to enforce an outstanding felony warrant or to arrest an individual for a probation or parole violation within 20 days of submitting a request for information about the individual to the eligibility staff.
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A Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency presents a felony arrest warrant as described in #8 above for a fleeing felon; or,
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A Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency states that it intends to enforce an outstanding felony warrant or to arrest an individual for a probation or parole violation within 30 days of the date of a request from a state agency about a specific outstanding felony warrant or probation or parole violation.
Verification:
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In the case of an individual self-declaring that they are a fleeing felon or probation/parole violator, whether on the application, at the interview, or otherwise, eligibility staff must verify the information from an independent source before accepting the declaration as true since the applicant
An individual who submits an application for assistance under the SNAP program. may not understand the question or law enforcement may not be actively seeking the individual.
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If an eligibility staff member needs to act on an application without determining fleeing felon or probation or parole violator status in order to comply with the application processing time frames, the eligibility staff shall process the application without consideration of the individual’s fleeing felon or probation or parole violator status. This applies to expedited service as well.
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An individual is only a fleeing felon or a parole or probation violator for SNAP purposes if that individual meets the definition. Once the individual is not meeting the appropriate criteria, they may be certified. A new determination of fleeing felon or probation or parole violator would need to be made each time the individual applies.
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The Disclosure provisions are revised to ensure that the Privacy Act provisions, and confidentiality provisions of the Act remain intact for individuals subject to the fleeing felon and parole or probation violator provisions. The law enforcement officer must furnish the eligibility staff with the name of the household member being sought. The provisions concerning the process of providing information to law enforcement officials only applies to legitimate law enforcement officers. Information about potential fleeing felons or parole or probation violators must not be released to non-law enforcement officials, e.g., bounty hunters, reporting possible violations by recipients or applicants.
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Under simplified reporting, if an individual is determined to be a fleeing felon, probation, or parole violator during a certification period
A period of time a household is approved to participate in SNAP., that individual must be disqualified from the program even though it might result in a decrease in benefits.
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In determining the time period for establishing claims for individuals identified as fleeing felons or as probation or parole violators, an individual is not considered a fleeing felon, probation or parole violator until a determination has been made of their status. Therefore, the date of the determination of fleeing felon or probation or parole violator status would be the date from which any claims calculation would be made.

An adult household member may verbally or in writing, under penalty of perjury, declare the status for each household member.
Note: If no adult household members will sign the Self Declaration of Status section on the application or application for review form and will not verbally answer questions regarding eligibility status, the application is denied.
If there is a change in a household member's Self Declaration of Status, the household is required to report it at application for review. If the Human Service Zone (HZA) discovers during the certification period an individual may meet one of the statuses described, the household must be notified of the HZA's knowledge of the information and must be given the opportunity to dispute the information via a 10-day request for information notice. If the household does not respond, the case is closed for failing to provide information necessary to determine household composition and eligibility and/or level of benefits. The HZA provides the household timely notice of adverse action.
Note: Eligibility staff members should not be seeking out information (e.g., initiating contact with law enforcement or parole officers, looking in newspapers, etc.) regarding drug felons or fleeing felons.
An individual is disqualified as soon as the court enters a judgment even if a sentence will be imposed later or never imposed. If the judgment is guilty, the individual remains disqualified even if the sentence has been served. The status only changes if the conviction, judgment, is expunged (removed from the individual's record) by court action.
Note: Individuals convicted for felony possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs after August 22, 1996, may be eligible to receive benefits if the individual is complying with the conditions of supervision or the sentence associated with the felony conviction has been discharged (served) and if the person is actively participating in treatment, if required. Self-Declaration of status is accepted as noted above.
If an individual was 'convicted' and through a court action the reference to the conviction was removed, the individual is no longer considered 'convicted' for SNAP purposes. The individual can reapply and be certified for SNAP benefits if otherwise eligible. A record is considered clear when there is no longer any mention of the conviction on the criminal record. Any action taken against a minor in youth court cannot be considered a felony. A minor is only disqualified if treated as an adult and found guilty.
References: 7 CFR 273.1; 7 CFR 281.1(c); 7 CFR 273.11
Revised: 5/16/2025
Policy last updated in Release 25.1.