Use income received or anticipated in the month of application to determine eligibility and benefit amount, unless excluded.

Exclude any cash grant received by a refugee under the Department of State or Department of Justice Reception and Placement programs. See 0017.15.30 (Lump Sum Income) for SNAP policy regarding resettlement grants.

Do not consider a sponsor’s income accessible to a refugee solely because the person is serving as a sponsor.

Do not consider any assets remaining in the applicant’s country of origin in determining income.

Disregard half of the gross earned income. Count the remaining amount toward the grant calculation. Participants with earned income are subject to monthly reporting.

Exclude income from VA benefits awarded from 12-1-01 to children of Vietnam veterans for a covered birth defect identified by the VA as associated with the service of these veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam from 2-28-61 through 5-7-75 and performed active military service.


INCOME OF AN INELIGIBLE SPOUSE

When an RCA applicant joins a spouse who is ineligible for RCA and who has income, apply the following calculations:

Earned income:

1.	Determine the spouse’s gross earned income.
2.	Allow 50% earned income disregard from the gross earned income.
3.	Deduct amounts the ineligible person actually paid to people not living in the same household but whom the ineligible person claims or could claim as a dependent for federal income taxes.
4.	Deduct an allocation of $187 for the spouse’s needs. ($437 - $250 = $187).
5.	Deem the remaining income as unearned income to the applicant.

Unearned income:

1.	Determine the spouse’s gross unearned income. (NOTE: do not count the SSI income of an ineligible spouse.)
2.	Deduct amounts the ineligible person actually paid to people not living in the same household but whom the ineligible person claims or could claim as a dependent for federal income taxes.
3.	Deduct an allocation of $187 for the spouse’s needs.
4.	Deem the remaining income as unearned income to the applicant.

RCA units are subject to monthly reporting requirements. Follow MFIP policy in 0007.03 (Monthly Reporting – Cash.)