Boarders may not participate in the Food Stamp Program.

A boarder is defined as an individual or a group of individuals to whom

a household furnishes lodging and meals for a reasonable monthly

payment.

Note:A roomer is an individual to whom a household furnishes lodging only. Roomers may participate in the Food Stamp Program if otherwise eligible. Roomer payments will be counted as unearned income in the food stamp budget. Any identifiable expenses of furnishing the room will be excluded from the roomer payment prior to counting the roomer payment in the food stamp budget.

The following individuals may not be designated by a household as a boarder:

1.A spouse of a household member. See the Glossary, Appendix B, for

an explanation of a spouse.

**2.Children under the age 18 who are under the parental control of a

household member. See the Glossary, Appendix B, for an explanation

of parental control. This will not apply to household members under

18 who are married or have children of their own. (In this case,

the boarder's spouse and/or children must be included in the

boarder' 5 household.)

3.Children who have reached their 18th birthday but are less than 22

years old and live with a natural, adoptive or step-parent. These

individuals may be boarders only if they have minor children in the

home and/or they are married and living with their spouse. (In this

case, the boarder's spouse and/or children must be included in

boarder's household).

Individuals to whom boarder status may be extended must make a reasonable monthly payment. (See FSC 1624.1 below for determination of a reasonable monthly payment.) If the individual does not make a reasonable monthly payment, he will be included as a household member and all of his income and resources will be considered when determining the household's eligibility. When the boarder is considered a household member, the actual boarder payment will not be shown as income. If the individual does make a reasonable monthly payment, the payment will be considered self-employment income. See FSC 5621 for procedures on handling income from boarders.

The food stamp household may elect to add the boarder household as a household member or members. If the boarder household is added to the food stamp household, all of the income and resources of the boarders will be considered when determining eligibility and food stamp allotment. The boarder payment will not be counted as income.