Who do I put on my application?

First, if you ever hear a case manager use the term “AU,” this means Assistance Unit and just means everyone in your Food Stamp or Medicaid case.

There can be more than one Assistance Unit in a house. For example, if you have a roommate, they can be their own Assistance Unit and receive Food Stamps separately from you. Or if you live in a sober living community with 50 other people, you would be your own Assistance Unit.

Great. But who do I HAVE to include?

When I say you have to include someone, that means you are legally obligated to report that person in the home. However, that choice is up to you.

• If you have plans to not list certain people on your application, then you need to erase the paper trail. That person needs a different residential address on everything including their license, pay stubs, W2s, etc.
• Also, shut up about your business. Don’t talk about your Food Stamps even with people you trust. I’ve seen mothers report their sons because the son pissed them off.
• LOCK DOWN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
• Understand that you are accepting potential legal consequences for failing to report.

1. Your Spouse
   •  Even if you and your spouse state that you are separated, you must still include them if they live in the same house as you.
   • What do I do if my spouse won’t help pay bills or financially take care of the children?
2. The other parent of your children if that parent lives in the home.
   • Even if you and the parent of your children or are not married or state you are separated, you still must include them if they live in the same house as you.
   • What do I do if the other parent won’t help pay bills or financially take care of the children?
3.  Your children under the age of 22 who live in your home.
   • This includes biological children, stepchildren, and adopted children.
   • If the biological children of the other parent to your children live in your home, you may include them.
   • If that child has a spouse and/or their own children, they must still be included in your assistance unit.
     • Example: Your daughter, Janet is 19 years old, married to 23-year-old Brad and they have a 2-year-old daughter, Magenta. Because your daughter, Janet, is under 22 years old and lives in your home, you must include her, her spouse, and their child in your Assistance Unit.
     • That means you must also include any income they bring into he home.
     • Once Janet moves or turns 22, you no longer have to include her family.
4.  Children under the age of 18 “under the parental control of an AU member” other than the parent.
   • This basically means if a child under 18 years old lives in your home but is not your child and you act like that child’s parent, then you should include them in your Food Stamp case.
   • This would also include a child you have legal custody of who is not your child.
   • You also do not have to have legal custody, but may be asked to prove the child lives in your home. This include a letter from the parent, school records, etc.

Awesome. Who do I leave off of my application?

1. Your significant other if you are not married and you do not have children together
2. Biological children, stepchildren, and adopted children over the age of 22
3. Foster children
4. Roommates
5. Any household member who is not your spouse, a parent to your child, or your child

Who can you include if you want to:

1. Anyone who lives in your home that you want to include. Remember that you will also have to include any income they have.
2. If you do not want to include a person that is not required to be in your assistance unit, either leave them off your application or state that you purchase and prepare your meals separately.

My Case Manager asked me to verify who lives with me. WTF?

Generally speaking, a case manager will take your statement about who is in your Assistance Unit.

However, if the case manager discovers the information you provide conflicts with other information available to DFCS, you may have to verify who lives in your Assistance Unit.

Examples of conflicting information:

1. Someone in your Assistance Unit listed in another Assistance Unit.
2. Children listed in a Child Support Enforcement case with someone who is not you
3. Child Protective Services
4. Anonymous fraud reports
5. Any other potential source of information not listed

 You can use the following to verify who lives with you:

1. A statement from your landlord
2. A statement from someone who is not in your assistance unit who knows about your situation. For example:
   • Neighbors
   • Friends
   • Family members
3. Any other source you can use to verify including:
   • Your lease if it lists everyone in the home
   • Child custody documents
   • A child’s school records
   • Anything else you can find