An official State of Texas website.
Revision 21-4; Effective October 1, 2021
TANF, SNAP, Children on TP 32 and Children on TP 56
Resources are assets or possessions that are either countable or exempt, depending on the program and Type of Assistance (TOA). There are liquid and nonliquid resources. Liquid resources are those that are readily available, such as cash, checking or savings accounts, debit accounts, savings certificates, stocks or bonds. Nonliquid resources are those that cannot be readily converted to cash, including vehicles, buildings, land or certain other property. Count the equity value of all resources, liquid and nonliquid, unless otherwise specified or listed as exempt. The equity value is the fair market value (FMV) of an item minus:
- all money owed on it; and
- the cost associated with its sale or transfer.
Count resources of the:
- members of the:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) certified group;
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EDG; and
- child's TP 32 and child’s TP 56 EDG;
- alien's sponsor according to the policy.
- disqualified persons; and
- stepparents in TANF households according to policy.
If payments exempted as resources are kept in a separate account, those payments remain exempt. If the money is placed in an interest-bearing account, the interest must be counted as income in the month received. If the money is combined with money that is countable, exempt the excluded funds for six months from the date the funds are combined. After six months, the total amount of combined funds should be counted as an available resource.
Related Policy
Resources of an Alien’s Sponsor, A-1245
Resources of Stepparents, A-1247
SNAP
Categorical eligibility extends to any household authorized to receive services funded by the TANF program. TANF non-cash (TANF-NC) services consist of various services such as family planning, adult education, prevention and treatment of substance abuse, and employment services. Households must pass an income and resource test for determination of categorical eligibility based on receipt of TANF-NC services.
The resource test consists of the following criteria:
- The household’s countable liquid resources plus excess vehicle value must be $5,000 or less.
- Up to $15,000 of the FMV for the highest valued countable vehicle is exempt. The excess over $15,000 FMV is counted toward the combined resource limit.
- Up to $4,650 FMV for all other countable vehicles is exempt. The excess over $4,650 FMV is counted toward the combined resource limit. Note: Refer to vehicle policy for more reasons a vehicle can be exempted.
Once the recipient is authorized for TANF-NC services based on the initial resource test, all other nonliquid resources are exempt. Regular TANF policy must be followed when determining countable liquid resources within TANF-NC. Most resources are not applicable to SNAP.
Related Policy
Limits, A-1220
Prepaid Burial Insurance, A-1233.2
Vehicles, A-1238
How to Determine Fair Market Value of Vehicles, A-1238.5
General Policy, A-1310
Categorically Eligible Households, B-470
What to Report, B-621
Medical Programs Except Children on TP 56 and Children on TP 32
Resources are not considered a factor in determining eligibility.
Children on TP 56 and Children on TP 32
Resources are considered as a factor in determining eligibility for children on TP 56 and TP 32.
Exception: Do not consider resources when determining a newborn’s eligibility for TP 56 when the newborn’s mother was eligible for TP 56 or TP 32 at the time of the newborn’s birth.
A—1211 Requirement to Pursue Resources
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF
An individual must pursue all resources to which the individual is legally entitled unless it is unreasonable to pursue the resource. Advisors should develop a plan with the individual to pursue the potential resource and allow reasonable time (at least three months) to pursue the resource.
Advisors should use the comment section of Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, to inform the individual of the requirement to pursue the resource, including the time the individual has to pursue it, and the resource is not considered available during that time.
If the individual does not pursue the resource within a reasonable time, the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) is denied.
Exception: The individual does not have to pursue a resource if it would be unreasonable. It is unreasonable to pursue a resource if any of the following conditions exist:
- The cost to the individual to pursue the resource exceeds the potential resource's value or causes the individual financial hardship;
- Pursuing the resource would endanger the individual's health or safety; or
- Legal action is required, but a private attorney or legal service refuses to accept the case. The individual must make a reasonable effort to obtain legal assistance.
SNAP
Individuals receiving SNAP benefits do not have to pursue resources.
Note: Pursuing resources could help an individual become self-sufficient, and individuals should be provided examples of resources they might be entitled to receive.
A—1212 Transferring Resources
Revision 13-2; Effective April 1, 2013
A—1212.1 Penalties for Transferring Resources
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF and SNAP
Households are ineligible if, within three months before application or any time after certification, the household transfers a countable resource for less than its fair market value to qualify for assistance. This penalty applies if the total of the transferred resource added to other resources affects eligibility.
Resources transferred between members of the same TANF/SNAP household do not affect eligibility. If spouses separate and one spouse transfers individual property, the other spouse's eligibility is not affected.
Children on TP 56 and Children on TP 32
Applicants or individuals who transfer resources to qualify for assistance must not be denied.
A—1212.2 How to Determine Intent
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF and SNAP
In determining an individual's intent for transferring resources for TANF and SNAP benefits, staff must consider the following:
- How recent was the transfer of property? A recent transfer may indicate the household transferred the resource to qualify for benefits.
- How did the applicant support the household after transferring the resource? If the applicant was self-supporting or supported by the person who received the property, then the applicant's intent was to have support rather than qualify for benefits.
- How did the applicant transfer the property? If the applicant loaned the property but cannot recover its value after making a reasonable effort, the applicant is eligible.
- Special or unpredictable hardships that prevent the individual from making payments for the transferred resource do not affect eligibility. The supervisor and program manager must approve these situations.
A—1212.3 Length of Denial Period
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF and SNAP
The length of denial must be based on the amount by which the transferred resource exceeds the resource maximum when added to other countable resources.
| Amount in Excess of Resource Limit | Denial Period |
|---|---|
| $.01 to $249.99 | 1 month |
| $250 to $999.99 | 3 months |
| $1,000 to $2,999.99 | 6 months |
| $3,000 to $4,999.99 | 9 months |
| $5,000 and more | 12 months |
Examples:
TANF: A two-person household has $1,250 in a bank account and transfers ownership of a car worth $5,650. The first $4,650 of the car's value is exempt. Add the remaining $1,000 to the other $1,250 resource. Subtract the $1,000 resource limit from the total. Use$1,250 to determine the number of months of ineligibility. According to the above chart, the household is ineligible for six months.
SNAP: A two-person household has $2,000 in a bank account and transfers ownership of a car worth $19,000. Exempt the first $15,000 FMV of the vehicle and add the remaining $4,000 to the $2,000 bank account. Subtract the $5,000 resource limit from the total. Use $1,000 to determine the number of months of ineligibility. According to the above chart, the household is ineligible for six months.
A—1212.4 Beginning the Denial Period
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
TANF and SNAP
The denial period begins in the application month unless the household is already certified when the advisor discovers the transfer.
Once the household is certified, the advisor must send a notice of adverse action and follow adverse action procedures. The advisor must begin the denial period the first month after the month the notice of adverse action expires unless the individual requests a fair hearing and receives continued benefits.