HUMAN SERVICES

A. Work registrants not otherwise exempted are subject to the E&T program participation requirements. Such individuals are referred to as E&T mandatory participants or mandatory E&T participants. Individuals are considered to be meeting the ABAWD work requirement if he or she is …

A. The time spent by the members of a household collectively each month in an E&T work program combined with any hours worked that month in a workfare program must not exceed the number of hours equal to the household's allotment for that month divided by the higher of the applic…

A. Individuals exempt from work requirements may elect to participate in an E&T program to access E&T services. B. A volunteer participant must not be disqualified in an E&T program for failure to comply with E&T requirements. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-14.6 7 CFR §273.7(e)(5) Ad…

A. A nonexempt individual who refuses or fails without good cause to comply with SNAP work requirements or E&T requirements is ineligible to participate in SNAP and will be considered an ineligible household member. 1. The agency must determine whether good cause for the noncompl…

A. Disqualification periods will be imposed for failure to comply without good cause with the work registration/E&T requirements. B. The following disqualification periods will be imposed:1. For the first occurrence of noncompliance, the individual will be disqualified for: a) Th…

A. If the individual who becomes ineligible to participate is the head of a household, the agency will disqualify the head of household permanently and disqualify entire household from SNAP participation for six months. B. The agency will disqualify the household for a period tha…

A. Households are automatically eligible for SNAP based on receiving benefits from another low-income assistance program. B. The following households are categorically eligible for SNAP: 1. Households where all members receive or are eligible to receive TANF. 2. Households where …

A. Categorically eligible households are not subject to:1. Monthly gross income maximums; 2. Monthly net income maximums; 3. Resource maximums. B. Households may exceed the SNAP resource or income limits and still be eligible due to their categorical eligibility status. Notes 18 …

Categorically eligible households are exempt from the following verifications since these factors were considered in their needs based entitlement to TANF and/or SSI: A. Residency; B. Resources; C. Social Security number information other than providing it; D. Sponsored non-citiz…

A. Residents of public institutions who apply jointly for SSI and SNAP benefits prior to their release will not be considered categorically eligible. B. MDHS will only determine such residents as categorically eligible when SSA makes a final SSI eligibility determination and afte…

A. MDHS will base the benefit levels of all households solely using SNAP criteria. B. Benefits will be paid from the time TANF or SSI benefits are paid or the original SNAP application date, whichever is later. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-15.5 7 CFR §273.2(j); 7 CFR §273.2(j)(1)(i…

A. MDHS will apply uniform national resource standards of eligibility that are published every October 1st by USDA to all applicants. B. Exception: Households defined as categorically eligible are not subject to resource limits. C. Households with at least one member 60 years of …

The following resources must be included and verified: A. Liquid resources such as: 1. Cash on hand (including gross lottery or gambling winnings); 2. Money in checking and savings accounts; 3. Saving certificates; 4. Stocks or bonds; 5. Vacation pay; 6. Loans; 7. Accumulated ear…

A. Resources that are jointly owned by separate households will be considered available in their entirety to each household, unless it can be shown by the applicant household that such resources are inaccessible. B. If the household can provide proof that it can only access a por…

Exclude the following list of resources when determining eligibility for SNAP: A. Home and surrounding property (including barns, garages, sheds, workshops and other outbuildings) that is not separated by intervening property owned by others; 1. Public rights of ways will not aff…

A. Fair market value is the current value of the recreational vehicle. B. Equity value is the fair market value minus encumbrances. C. A recreational vehicle may be:1. Counted according to its excess fair market value over $4,650; 2. Counted according to its excess fair market va…

A. Excluded resources kept in separate accounts will have a resource exclusion for an unlimited period of time. B. The excluded resources of students and self-employment households that are commingled with non-excluded resources will keep their exclusion status for the time which…

A. Households will be asked to provide information regarding whether any resources have been transferred within a 3-month period immediately prior to the date of application. B. Households that knowingly transfer resources for the purpose of qualifying or attempting to qualify fo…

Participation in SNAP shall be limited to those households whose incomes are determined to be a substantial limiting factor in permitting individuals to obtain a more nutritious diet. A. Households with an elderly or disabled member must meet the net income eligibility standards.…

A. The gross income eligibility standard is 130 percent of the annual Federal income poverty level. B. The net income eligibility standard is 100 percent of the annual Federal income poverty level. C. The income eligibility limits are adjusted each October 1st to reflect the curr…

Income means all income from whatever source excluding only those items listed in Rule 17.8 Excluded Income. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-17.3 7 CFR §273.9(b) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

Earned income includes the following: A. All salaries and wages from an employee; B. Gross income from a self-employment enterprise, including the total gain from the sale of any capital goods or equipment related to the business; 1. Exception: The costs of doing business are exc…

Unearned income includes the following, but not limited to,: A. Federal or federally aided public assistance program payments such as SSI or TANF; B. Social security benefits; C. Payments received through the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) Distribution Plan; D. Severa…

A. The earned and unearned income from a non-household member disqualified for either an IPV or failing to comply with work requirements is attributed to the remaining household members. B. The earned and unearned income from a non-household member disqualified for failing to pro…

A. Child support payments received by TANF recipients that must be transferred to the Division of Child Support Enforcement to maintain TANF eligibility are not counted as income. B. Exception: Any current payment including the entire child support pass-through payment that is di…

Types of excluded income include: A. Any gain or benefit that is not in the form of money payable directly to the household; 1. In-kind benefits: includes meals, clothes, housing or produce from a garden. 2. Vendor payments: money payment made on behalf of a household by an indiv…

Deductions will only be allowed for the following household expenses: A. Standard deduction; B. Earned income deduction; C. Excess medical deduction; D. Dependent care; E. Optional child support deduction; and F. Shelter costs. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-18.1 7 CFR §273.9(d) Adop…

A. The standard deduction for household sizes one to six is equal to 8.31 percent of the monthly net income eligibility standard rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. B. For households greater than six, the standard deduction is equal to the standard deduction for a six-person …

A. The earned income deduction is twenty (20) percent of gross earned income. B. Excluded income is not subject to this deduction. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-18.3 7 CFR §273.9(d)(2) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. A deduction will be allowed for a portion of medical expenses over $35.00 per month, excluding special diets, incurred by any household member who is elderly or disabled. B. Spouses and others who receive benefits as a dependent of the SSI, disabled or blind recipient are not …

A. A deduction will be allowed for dependent care when payments are necessary for a member of the household to:1. Search, accept or continue employment; 2. Comply with Employment and Training (E&T) requirements; or 3. Pursue education or participate in training that is essential …

A. Mississippi has taken the state option to provide a deduction rather than an income exclusion for legally obligated child support payments (including payments towards child support arrearages) paid by a household member to a non-household member. B. Alimony payments are not in…

A. MDHS must offer a standard homeless deduction to households where all members are homeless and not receiving free shelter throughout the month. B. Note: Homeless households may claim actual costs instead of the standard homeless shelter deduction if they are verified and highe…

A. A deduction will be allowed for monthly shelter expenses in excess of 50 percent of the household's income after all other above referenced deductions have been applied. B. Note: The deduction cannot exceed the maximum shelter deduction provided by FNS unless the household con…

A. Households will receive the appropriate utility allowances in place of actual costs at initial certification, recertification and when a household moves: 1. A standard utility allowance (SUA) that includes heating or cooling;a) This is available to households that incur heatin…

A. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians received approval from FNS to operate a Food and Distribution Program (FDP). B. The Choctaw FDP will operate concurrently with the MS SNAP. C. FNS has the power to determine the amount of any claim and to settle and adjust any claim. Not…

A. The Choctaw FDP will serve all eligible reservation residents, Indian and non-Indian. B. Exception: Off-reservation commodity assistance is limited to Choctaw Indian households. C. A Choctaw Indian household is defined as a household containing at least one (1) person age 18 o…

A. Households choosing the FDP will receive a monthly commodity food package based on their household size. B. The food package is an acceptable alternative to the SNAP benefits. C. The food package will consist of a variety of food from each of the food groups. Notes 18 Miss. Co…

A. Eligible households living on or near the Mississippi Choctaw reservation can choose to receive SNAP benefits or a commodity food package from the FDP. B. Households may switch between receiving SNAP and FDP benefits within a certification period only by terminating their part…

A. Households cannot receive SNAP and FDP benefits during the same month. B. MDHS and the Choctaw FDP will develop a method to detect dual participation. C. At a minimum, lists of currently certified households will be exchanged between the two programs on a monthly basis. The St…

A. Expedited service is available to those households in immediate need. B. Commodities may be distributed within one (1) calendar day after the application date (excluding weekends and holidays) to eligible households who report no income in the current month and for those house…

A. Disqualified members cannot participate in either program until the disqualification period ends and if determined eligible. B. Only the household member that was determined to have committed the IPV can be disqualified. C. The disqualification may affect the eligibility of th…

There are three steps in the application process: A. Completing and filing an application form; B. Being interviewed; and C. Having certain information verified. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.1 7 CFR §273.2(a)(2) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/…

A. Applicants may authorize representatives to act on a household's behalf either: 1. During the application process; 2. Obtaining benefits; or 3. Utilizing SNAP benefits. B. A non-household member may be designated if assistance is needed with the application process provided su…

A. The application date is the date the application is received by MDHS during normal business hours. B. For online applications, the date of application is the date the application is submitted during normal business hours. C. If the application is received outside of business h…

A. A copy of the completed application must be offered to the household member. B. The household has the option to receive a paper copy or a copy in electronic format. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.12 7 CFR §273.2(c)(1)(v) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Ame…

A. Households may use the same application to apply for SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or submit separate applications for each program. B. Another application for SNAP is not necessary if the household is denied benefits for TANF. C. If a joint applicati…