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Food Stamps Income Test - Iowa

Households have to meet income tests unless all members are receiving FIP benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or general assistance. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get food stamps.

(Proof: Applicants must provide proof of the income of all household members. Examples of proof include latest pay stubs or a statement from employer; and benefit letters from Social Security, Veterans Administration, unemployment compensation, or pensions.)

The Desk Aid for program eligibility gives the current gross and net income eligibility standards. Click on Desk Aid and see the gross and net income standards for Food Stamps eligibility.

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Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. For details of the types of income that are included and excluded, see the Iowa Employee's Manual, Title 7, Chapter E, Income, Types of Income.

Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

Calculating Net Income

Deductions are allowed as follows:

·        Earned Income Deduction: A 20 percent deduction from earned income;

·        Standard Deduction: A standard deduction for all households, based on household size;

·        Dependent Care Deduction: A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education--but not more than $200 for each child under age 2 and not more than $175 for each other dependent;

·        Medical Expenses: Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members which are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else;

·        PASS: Income included in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) that has been approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

·        Child Support: Legally owed child support payments; and

·        Excess shelter costs: Shelter costs that are more than half of the household's income after the other deductions. Allowable costs include a Utility Allowance explained below. The amount of the shelter deduction cannot be more than the cap amount unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled, in which case there is no cap.

When an ineligible member is the only elderly or disabled person in household, the shelter deductions is capped as above, no matter who pays the shelter expense. If an eligible member is elderly or disabled, there is no cap for the shelter deduction.

Utility Allowance: A portion of the shelter costs is for utilities that the household pays for in addition to rent or mortgage payments. The amount of the allowance depends on the types of utilities that the household must pay for. (For details, see the Iowa Employees Manual, Title 7, Chapter E, Deductions, Standard Utility Allowances.)

See Also:

·           Food Stamp Eligibility

·           Food Stamp Benefit Levels

·           Food Stamps Rights and Responsibilities

·           Food Stamps and Work

·     Iowa Food Stamp Program Overview

·     Welcome and Introduction to Iowa Benefits

Source: Iowa Dept of Human Services Employees Manual

Title 7

·                                        Chapter E, Income

·                                        Chapter F, Budgeting, Determining Eligibility

·                                        Chapter I, Specific Households and Participants, Ineligible Household Members, Income and Deductions of Ineligible Household Members

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