Department of Human Services: Chapter 4: 4.1 thru 4.7

Chapter 4: Determining Countable Income

Introduction 4.1

Income is either countable or excluded. If income is countable, it is considered to be either earned or unearned income.

Countable income is income that is considered in some way when determining whether a group is income-eligible for program benefits. Some or all countable income may be disregarded in some step of the eligibility determination process (see Chapter 6: Income Disregards and Deductions in this Part).

Excluded income means that it is not considered in any amount or in any step of the eligibility determination process.

Income that is paid to a person for the specific benefit of another person is considered the income of the beneficiary rather than the payee.

Countable income is the gross amount unless otherwise noted and includes garnished amounts.

Count and budget all income received that is not specifically excluded. If a customer reports income that is not defined in the IMA Policy Manual, contact the IMA Policy Office for guidance.

Exhibit VI-2: Summary of Earned/Unearned Income summarizes how different types of income are to be treated.

Legal Authority 4.2

AREA/TOPIC	DISTRICT	FEDERAL
Countable and Excludable Income	TANF: D.C. Code 3-205.5-5a; 3-205.10-11; 3-205.13a; 3-205.19; 3-205.22, 3-205.33; 3-205.36-37; 3-205.52; 29 DCMR 5814 GC: See TANF and D.C. Code 3-205.5a.	MA: 42 USC 1396a(l), 1396u-1, 1396a(m), 1396a(r)(2); 42 CFR 435.601-.602, 435.811, 435.831 FS: 7 USC 2014(d)-(f), 2014(h), 2014(k)-(m); 7 CFR 273.9, 273.10(c), 273.11
Child Support	D.C. Code 3-205.19; 3-217.7-8; 29 DCMR 1707-1715 See TANF and D.C. Code 3-205.5a.	TANF: 45 CFR 264.30-31 FS: 7 USC 2014(d), 2014(e)(4); 7 CFR 273.9(b)(2)(iii), (b)(5)(ii), (d)(7)

Adoption Subsidy 4.3

ALL	An adoption subsidy is a payment to the adopting parent(s) of an adopted child who would remain in foster care without the subsidy incentive. There are two types of adoption subsidies: Support subsidy: a payment for ongoing care and support of the child Medical subsidy: a payment for medical expenses due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child.
MA	Children receiving adoption subsidies are categorically eligible for Medicaid. The adoption subsidy is not counted as income for other family members.
TANF	Children receiving adoption subsidies are ineligible for TANF cash assistance. Exclude adoption subsidies when determining the eligibility of the group (which does not include the child receiving the adoption subsidy).
GC	A child receiving adoption subsidies must be excluded from the group. Exclude all adoption subsidies.
FS	Count support and subsidies as unearned income. Exclude a medical subsidy provided that it must be used for medical expenses.

Agent Orange Payments 4.4

ALL

Exclude money received from the Agent Orange settlement fund or other similar funds or government programs.

Veteran's benefits for service-connected disabilities due to Agent Orange exposure are unearned income (see Section 4.56: Veteran's Benefits-Non-Educational in this Chapter).

Americorps 4.5

ALL	There are three Americorps programs. Americorps State and National provides grants to community-based organizations who host part-time and full-time Americorps volunteers. Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a fulltime residential service program that focuses on environmental issues and disaster relief. Americorps VISTA provides non-profit organizations and public agencies with full-time Americorps volunteers who focus on relieving poverty. Exclude all payments to Americorps volunteers who participate through Americorps State and National and Americorps NCCC.
MA	Exclude payments to volunteers who participate through Americorps VISTA.
TANF	See MA
FS	Exclude all Americorps-VISTA payments, if the volunteer was receiving FS, TANF, IDA, GC, or SSI before joining VISTA. If the volunteer did not receive one of the means-tested benefits listed prior to joining VISTA, the Americorps-VISTA payments are countable as earned income. To determine if the customer participates through VISTA, check the District of Columbia registry on the Americorps website (www.americorps.gov).

Capital Gains/Interest/Dividends 4.6

ALL

The term "capital gains" describes the profit from the sale or transfer of capital assets used in a self-employment enterprise. The term 'capital assets' refers to real estate property, equipment, machinery, and other items or goods expected to last at least 12 months.

Count as income the proceeds (net of commissions) from the sale of capital assets in the month received. Count the full amount of the income generated from the sale less commissions paid, even if only a lesser amount is taxed for federal income tax purposes.

Child Nutrition Benefits 4.7

MA	Exclude benefits received under the Child Nutrition Act of 1965 or the National School Lunch Act of 1946.
TANF	See MA.
GC	See MA.
FS	If a child care provider is in the FS group, count payments received under the Child Nutrition Act of 1965 or the National School Lunch Act of 1946 minus the value of meals for the provider's own child(ren) during child care hours as gross self-employment earnings (see Section 4.40: Self-Employment in this Chapter). Self-employment earnings equal gross earnings minus business expenditures. While child nutrition payments are counted as self-employment earnings, the amount the provider spends to purchase and prepare the meals for the children in his/her care are subtracted from these gross earnings.

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