(a) Reimbursements for normal household
living expenses such as rent or mortgage, personal clothing, and food eaten at
home, are a gain or benefit and therefore shall be counted as income.
(b) Reimbursements for past or future
expenses to the extent the reimbursements do not exceed actual expenses and do
not represent a gain or benefit to the household shall not be counted as
income. To be excluded, these payments shall be provided specifically for an
identified expense, other than normal living expenses, and used for the purpose
intended. The amount by which a reimbursement exceeds the actual incurred
expense shall be counted as income. However, reimbursements shall not be
considered to exceed actual expenses, unless the provider or household
indicates the amount is excessive. Excludable reimbursements which shall not be
considered a gain or benefit to the household include:
(1) Reimbursements or flat allowances for job
or training related expenses such as travel, per diem, uniforms, and
transportation to and from the job or training site;
(2) Reimbursements for the travel expenses of
migrant workers;
(3) Reimbursements
for out-of-pocket expenses of volunteers incurred in the course of
work;
(4) Reimbursements or
allowances for educational assistance not funded under Title IV of the Higher
Education Act to students attending institutions of post secondary education, a
school for the handicapped, a vocational education program, or a program that
provides for completion of a secondary school diploma or obtaining the
equivalent thereof for educational expenses, provided the reimbursement or
allowance does not exceed the amount used for or made available as an allowance
determined by such school, institution, program, or grantor, for tuition,
mandatory fees (including the rental or purchase of any equipment, materials,
and supplies related to the pursuit of the course of study involved), books,
supplies, transportation, and other miscellaneous personal expenses (other than
normal living expenses such as food, rent, or clothing) of the student
incidental to attending the school, institution, or program;
(5) Reimbursements or allowances to students
for educational assistance funded under Title IV of the High Education Act or
under Bureau of Indian Affairs student assistance programs;
(6) Reimbursements received by households to
pay for services provided by title XX of the Social Security Act (
42 U.S.C.
§1397);
(7) Reimbursements for multiple expenses.
Each expense need not be separately identified as long as none of the
reimbursement covers normal living expenses (reimbursements for normal living
expenses shall not be excluded);
(8) Medical or dependent care
reimbursements;
(9) Clothing
maintenance allowance (CMA) provided to enlisted military personnel;
(10) Any allowance received by the household
from a financial assistance program that is paid no more frequently than
annually for the sole purpose of purchasing clothes for the children when the
children enter or return to school or day care, provided there is no related
reduction in the financial assistance grant for the month in which the school
clothes allowance is received; and
(11) Reimbursements made to the household for
expenses necessary for participation in an education component under the
E&T program.
