FAIR HEARING
The hearing conducted by the Department of Human Services Appeals Office to decide disagreements concerning eligibility determinations and benefit amount.

FAIR MARKET VALUE
The price an item would sell for on the open market in a local geographic area. See individual sections in 0015 (Assets) for EXCEPTIONS and provisions.

FAMILY
MFIP : For the definition of FAMILY, see 0013.03 (MFIP Bases of Eligibility),

GA : The following people who live together:

●	An applicant or participant client.
●	The client’s spouse.
●	Any minor child of whom the client is a parent, stepparent, or legal custodian, and that child’s minor siblings, including half-siblings, or step-siblings.
●	The other parent of the client’s minor child or children together with that parent’s minor children, and, if that parent is a minor, his or her parents, stepparents, legal guardians, and minor siblings.
●	If the person is a minor, the minor’s parents, stepparents, or legal guardians, and any other minor children for whom those parents, stepparents, or legal guardians are financially responsible.

FAMILY HOMELESS PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Provides grants to communities to help prevent homelessness, shorten stays in emergency shelters and assist families with securing housing. See 0029.20.09 (Family Homeless Prevention Assistance).

FAMILY PREFERENCE
See 0031.09 (Lawful Permanent Residents).

FAMILY STABILIZATION SERVICES (FSS)
A state funded service track in MFIP. Participants are not included in the TANF work participation calculation and services are provided through a case management model. See 0011.34 (Family Stabilization Services).

FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM ESCROW ACCOUNTS
These accounts created by HUD promote employment and increased savings for public housing residents as a way to save for home ownership. Families may withdraw funds from the escrow account for purposes related to completing higher education, job training, or to meet start up expenses involved in the creation of a small business.

SNAP: Funds in the escrow accounts are not available to buy food; therefore, they are excluded as an asset and as income.

FAMILY SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM
A state-funded program that provides funds to help families provide home care for children under 21 with disabilities. See 0029.03.06 (Family Support Grant Program).

FAMILY UNITY
See 0031.03 (Lawfully Residing People).

FAMILY VIOLENCE
An act or a combination of acts such as: physical harm, bodily injury or assault; the infliction of fear of physical harm, bodily injury or assault; terroristic threats; criminal sexual conduct; interference with an emergency call committed against or committed by a family or household member. See 0005.12.12.09 (Family Violence Provisions/Referrals).

For family violence purposes, a family or household members are:

●	Spouses and former spouses.
●	Parents and children.
●	People related by blood.
●	People who are residing together or who have resided together in the past.
●	People who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time.
●	A man and a woman if the woman is pregnant and the man is alleged to be the father, regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at anytime.
●	People involved in a current or past significant romantic or sexual relationship.

FAMILY VIOLENCE WAIVER OPTION
MFIP : A provision under which participants, who are VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, may be exempt from the 60-month lifetime limit. See 0005.12.12.09 (Family Violence Provisions/Referrals).

FAMILY WAGE LEVEL
MFIP : A standard used for calculating benefits for families with earned income which is set at 110% of the TRANSITIONAL STANDARD.

FARM LOSS OFFSET
The amount a SNAP client’s countable income is reduced because of a net loss in farm income. See 0017.15.33.24 (Self-Employment Income From Farming).
FBR
See FEDERAL BENEFIT RATE below.

FEDERAL BENEFIT RATE (FBR)
The assistance standard the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program uses to determine clients’ eligibility and benefit level. See 0029.06.03 (Supplemental Security Income Program).

FEDERAL MEANS TESTED PROGRAM
Defined by federal agencies overseeing the programs. These include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medical Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and SSI.

FICA
Social Security withholding tax.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
The amount of money which program rules require a legally responsible person to pay toward a PARTICIPANT’s support or cost of care.

FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PERSON
A person legally responsible for the financial support of another person. See 0016 (Income From People Not in the Unit).