7 CFR § 273.1(b)(1) and (4)


Individuals in the following relationships must be included in the SNAP EDG.

Spouses

7 CFR § 273.1(b)(1)(i)


Individuals legally married and living together must be in the same EDG.  

Parents and Children

7 CFR § 273.1(b)(1)(ii)


Children include natural, step and adopted children.


Parents and their children 21 years of age and younger who live together must be in the same EDG even if the children have their own spouse or child who lives in the same household.


Note: The step-parent relationship ends when the natural or adoptive parent dies or is divorced from the step-parent. However, if the child remains under the step-parent’s parental control, the child and the step-parent must be in the same EDG.

Joint Physical Custody 

7 CFR § 273.1(c)


If the child under joint physical custody lives with one parent more than 50% of the time, the child is included in that parent’s household when both parents are applying for SNAP. 


If the primary parent is not trying to apply for SNAP, and there is no dispute, the secondary parent may receive SNAP for the child(ren). 


Children under joint physical custody spending an equal amount of time in each household during a month are included in the EDG: 

  • the parents have agreed upon, or 
  • the EDG that applies first.  


Complete the following steps when an EDG member leaves one SNAP household and moves to another SNAP household:

  1. Mark the individual as “out of the household” on the active case.  Run eligibility and authorize the case.
  2. Use the “Add Individual” case action (or another acceptable case action to add the individual to the new active case).  Complete all mandatory fields.  Run eligibility and authorize the case.


Minor Under Parental Control 

7 CFR § 273.1(b)(1)(iii)


A minor is an individual under 18 years of age. A minor who lives with, and is under the parental control of an adult, must be in the adult’s EDG, even if the adult is not the minor’s parent. 


Parental control means the minor is dependent on the adult for financial or other support. 


Exceptions: 

  • Foster care providers and their foster children, see Foster Children and Adults.
  • Minors living with their spouse or child and with an adult who is not the minor’s parent can be a separate EDG only if they: 
    • do not purchase and prepare food with others, and
    • are not dependent on the adult for financial or other support.

Example: A 17-year old and her 22-year old spouse live with the 17 year old’s aunt.  The spouses are not dependent on the aunt for any support, and purchase and prepare separately from the aunt.  The minor and her spouse can be an EDG without the aunt.

Foster Children and Adults

7 CFR § 273.1(b)(4)


The household may choose to include or exclude a foster child or foster adult who lives with them. If excluded, the foster child or adult is not eligible as a separate EDG, and the foster care payment is not income to the household.