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50. Example 4 – Household with both documented and undocumented immigrants

Adapting the facts in Example 3 slightly, the Lees are undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. in 1995. A second alteration is that the Lees have a child, not the Parks. The child was born in the U.S. The rest of the example remains the same. How does this affect eligibility and the food stamps calculation?

Answer to Example 4

The Parks are eligible for federal food stamps as they are U.S. citizens. The Lees are not eligible for federal or California-funded food stamps, as they are undocumented. Their date of entrance to the U.S. has no bearing on their eligibility since they are undocumented. However, their daughter is eligible since she was born in the U.S. The Parks or either of the Lees may apply for food stamps on behalf of the household, but only 3 of the 5 family members qualify.

Even though the Lees are not eligible for assistance, a pro-rata share of their income is counted towards the eligible household members.

Income and allotment:

  • Step A – Mr. Park’s gross monthly income from work is $688 ($160 x 4.3). Mrs. Park’s gross monthly income from work is $215 ($50 x 4.3). The total gross monthly earned income is $903.
  • Step B – the income from the ineligible household members is added here: Mr. Lee’s gross monthly income from work is $430 ($100 x 4.3). Before pro-rating the $430, the earned income deduction applies: $430 x 20% = $86. The amount to be pro-rated is $344 ($430 – $86). Since there are 5 household members, the pro-rata share is $69 ($344 divided by 5). The eligible members’ total pro-rata share is $207 ($69 x 3).
  • Step C – the gross monthly income is $1,110 ($903 + $207). This falls under the maximum of $1,984 for a household of 3 (eligible household members counted only from now on).
  • Step D – gross monthly earned income is $903.
  • Step E – the earned income deduction is $180 ($903 x .2=180.6)
  • Step F – net earned income is $723 ($903 – $180)
  • Step G – adding the pro-rated income from the ineligible household members, the income is $930 ($723 + $207).
  • Step H – subtracting the standard deduction gives a subtotal of $788 ($930 – 142).
  • Step I – there are no dependent care costs
  • Step J – there are no child support payments
  • Step K – there are no elderly or disabled household members with medical costs.
  • Step L – the adjusted income is $788.
  • Step M – finding excess shelter costs – the total shelter costs are $400, including utilities. The Parks pay the rent. If the Lees contributed a set amount, that would be subtracted. If they paid a portion of the rent, that portion would be subtracted. If they pooled their resources together, the amount would be pro-rated.
  • Step N – the Parks can add $20 for a telephone allowance, since they aren’t claiming the standard utility allowance (which includes the phone allowance).
  • Step O – total shelter costs are $420.
  • Step P – half of the adjusted income is $394 ($788 รท 2=394).
  • Step Q – excess shelter costs are $26 ($420 – $394).
  • Step R – monthly net income is $762 ($788 – $26 excess shelter deduction).
  • Step S – The monthly net income is less than the maximum of $1,526 for a household of 3, so they still qualify.
  • Step T – multiply the household’s net income by 0.3 ($762 x 0.3 = $228.60)
  • Step U – adjusted income is $229.
  • Step V – the household allotment is $297 ($526 – $229).