Get Latest WorkWORLD

Buildings - SNAP (Food Stamps)

In the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamp Program), buildings are a type of real property. Buildings, other than the home, are countable assets. However, if the building is producing income consistent with its fair market value (i.e., the property was leased for a return that was comparable to other property in the area leased for similar purposes), then the value of the building would not be counted. This exclusion does not apply to residents of Hawaii.

In addition, property which is essential to employment or self-employment of a household member is not counted. If the property is not in current use, it may be exempted under this provision as long as the household member expects to resume its use within one year of the date of last use. This exclusion of buildings that are essential to employment or self-employment but are not currently in use does not apply to residents of Arizona, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, New York, South Carolina, or South Dakota.

Also, if the building is used for self-employment farming and the farm operation has ceased to exist, then the building is excluded for one year after the farm operation ended. This exclusion of buildings used for self-employment farming also applies to buildings used for self-employment fishing for residents of West Virginia.

If the building is directly related to the maintenance or use of a vehicle that is used primarily for producing income or necessary to transport a physically disabled household member, it is not counted. This exclusion does not apply to residents of Alaska or Hawaii.

Finally, if the household is making a good faith effort to sell the building at a reasonable price or the building is held in probate, then it is not counted. If you reside in Colorado, buildings and other real property that have an equity value of less than one-half of the applicable resource standard is not counted.

If the building is counted as an asset, then its equity value (fair market value less encumbrances) is used.

Assets that are owned jointly by separate households are considered available in their entirety to each household unless the household demonstrates that the assets are inaccessible. If the household can demonstrate that it has access to only a portion of the building, the value of that portion of the building is counted toward the household's resource level. The building is considered totally inaccessible to the household if the building cannot practically be subdivided and the household's access to the value of the building is dependent on the agreement of a joint owner who refuses to comply.

WorkWORLD™ Help/Information System

   Share/Save: Click the button or link at left to select your favorite bookmark service and add this page.

This is one topic from the thousands available in the WorkWORLD™ software Help/Information System.
Complete information about the software is available at: http://www.WorkWORLD.org