E-8610 Excess Contributions Towards Household Expenses

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

If an ineligible parent's contribution towards household expenses exceeds that ineligible parent's pro-rata share, then the excess amount is allocated equally as a contribution among the parent's children (eligible and ineligible) and eligible spouse (if any). Persons among whom the ineligible parent's excess contribution is allocated (for example, children and eligible spouse, if any) are referred to as the "deeming unit."

 

E-8620 Child Living with Parents and Siblings Only

Revision 11-4; Effective December 1, 2011

If an eligible child lives only with his parent(s) and minor children, no S/M is developed for that child.

Example: John Voss, aged 14, is applying for ME-SSI Prior. He lives with his parents and two younger siblings in a home owned by his parents. John does not personally contribute toward household expenses. There is no S/M because John lives with his parents and minor siblings.

 

E-8630 Child Living in Own Household with Parents and Another Adult

Revision 15-4; Effective December 1, 2015

If an eligible child lives with his parent(s) and another adult in his parent’s(s’) household, the child may receive S/M subject to the maximum of 1/3 FBR + $20. (Any S/M received by the parent(s) or ineligible children is not considered in the eligibility determination when deeming.) Any contribution by a parent of the eligible child toward household expenses that is in excess of the parent's own pro-rata share is divided equally as a contribution among all members of the deeming unit (for example, the ineligible parent's children and eligible spouse, if any).

Example 1: A child, age 14, is applying for ME-SSI Prior. He lives with his parents and two minor siblings in a home owned by his parents. His aunt also lives in the home. The applicant does not personally contribute toward household expenses. Count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M. If the applicant is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the applicant must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. The general household expenses total $1,200 ($200 pro-rata share). One of the applicant’s parents contributes $500 toward household expenses; the other parent does not contribute. The applicant’s aunt pays $700. The one parent’s excess contribution is $300 ($500 contribution – $200 pro-rata share = $300 excess contribution). The $300 is divided equally among the applicant and his two siblings. Thus, $300 divided by 3 = $100 applicant’s contribution. The actual value of S/M received by the applicant is $100 ($200 pro-rata share – $100 applicant’s contribution = $100 actual value of S/M), which is less than 1/3 FBR + $20.

Example 2: Same situation as above, except that both of the applicant’s parents now contribute — one parent contributes $200 and the other parent contributes $300. The applicant’s aunt contributes $700. Count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M. If the applicant is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the applicant must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. The one parent does not have an excess contribution ($200 contribution – $200 pro-rata share = $0 excess contribution). The other parent’s excess contribution is $100 ($300 contribution – $200 pro-rata share = $100 excess contribution). The $100 is divided equally as a contribution among the parents' children in the household. Thus, the applicant’s contribution is $33.33 ($100 excess contribution divided by 3 children = $33.33). The actual value of S/M received by the applicant is $166.67 ($200 pro-rata share – $33.33 applicant’s contribution = $166.67), which is less than 1/3 FBR + $20.

Example 3: Same situation, except that both of the applicant’s parents each contribute $275 ($550 total) and the aunt contributes $650. Count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M. If the applicant is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the applicant must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. The excess contribution for each of the applicant’s parents is $75 ($275 parent's contribution – $200 pro-rata share = $75 excess contribution). The total excess contribution for both parents is $150 ($75 x 2 = $150). The $150 is divided equally as a contribution among all three children. Thus, the applicant’s contribution is $50 ($150 divided by 3 = $50). The actual value of S/M received by the applicant is $150 ($200 pro-rata share – $50 applicant’s contribution = $150), which is less than 1/3 FBR + $20.

Example 4: Same situation, except that one of the applicant’s parents is an SSI recipient and contributes nothing personally toward household expenses. Count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M for the applicant. If the applicant is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the applicant must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. The applicant’s non-SSI parent contributes $500 toward household expenses, and the aunt contributes $700. The contributing parent’s excess is $300 ($500 contribution – $200 pro-rata share = $300 excess contribution). The $300 is divided equally as a contribution among all members of the deeming unit (the three children and the eligible parent). The applicant’s contribution is $75 ($300 divided by 4 people = $75). The actual value of S/M received by the applicant is $125 ($200 pro-rata share – $75 applicant’s contribution = $125), which is less than 1/3 FBR + $20.

 

E-8640 Child Living with Parents in Household of Another Person

Revision 11-4; Effective December 1, 2011

If an eligible child lives with his parent(s) in someone else's household, and the child does not contribute his pro-rata share of household expenses, the child receives S/M valued at 1/3 FBR. (Any S/M received by the parent(s) and ineligible children is not considered in the eligibility determination when deeming.) Any excess contribution by an ineligible parent (for example, contribution in excess of that parent's pro-rata share) is divided equally among the parent's children and eligible spouse (if any).

Example: Rachel Brown, aged 14, is applying for ME-SSI Prior. She lives with her mother and aunt in the aunt's household. General household expenses total $420 ($140 pro-rata share). Rachel has no income, but her mother contributes $200 toward household expenses. The mother's excess contribution is $60 ($140 pro-rata share - $200 mother's contribution = - $60 mother's excess contribution). This $60 is divided equally among the mother's children in the household (Rachel is the only one) and the mother's eligible spouse (there is none). Thus, Rachel's contribution is $60. Since Rachel's contribution of $60 does not equal her pro-rata share ($140) of household expenses, count 1/3 FBR as S/M. No rebuttal is offered.

If an eligible child lives with his/her parent(s) in someone else's household and the child contributes his pro-rata share of either food or shelter expenses, but not both, count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M. (Any S/M received by the parent(s) and ineligible children is not considered in the eligibility determination when deeming.) If the child is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the person must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. Any excess contribution by a parent (for example, contribution in excess of the parent's pro-rata share) is divided equally as a contribution among the parent's children and eligible spouse (if any).

Example: Sonia Barrett, aged 14, is applying for ME-SSI Prior. She lives with her parents and her aunt in the aunt's household. Household food expenses total $350 ($87.50 pro-rata share); household shelter expenses total $500 ($125 pro-rata share). Each of Sonia's parents contributes $150 ($300 total) for food expenses. The parents do not contribute toward shelter expenses. Sonia has no income. Count 1/3 FBR + $20 as S/M. If she is income-eligible, no further development is required. If counting 1/3 FBR + $20 results in ineligibility, the person must be given an opportunity to rebut and show that the actual value is less. The excess contribution for each parent is $62.50 ($87.50 pro-rata share for food + $125 pro-rata share for shelter = $212.50 total pro-rata share - $150 parent's contribution = $62.50 excess contribution per parent). The total excess contribution for both parents is $125 ($62.50 per parent x 2 parents = $125). The $125 is divided equally among all of the parents' children in the home (Sonia is the only one). Thus, Sonia's contribution is $125. The actual value of S/M received by Sonia is $87.50 ($87.50 pro-rata share for food + $125 pro-rata share for shelter = $212.50 total pro-rata share - $125 Sonia's contribution = $87.50), which is less than 1/3 FBR + $20.