S-Corporation - A “S-Corporation” is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its owners. Corporations are guided by a group of officers (board of directors). Corporations are owned by their stockholders, who share in the profits and losses generated through the firm’s operations. It confers a special tax status to shareholders and operates like a partnership.  Income from an S-corporation is taxed at the individual level.  The income is passed through to the shareholders based on each shareholder’s pro rata share.  


Seasonal Farmworker - An individual who accepts seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state. See also Migrant Farmworker.


Semi-monthly - Occurs twice a month.


Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - An employment-based job training program for older Americans providing training for low-income, unemployed seniors.


SFSNAP - State Funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program


Shared Households - Two or more households living together and sharing shelter expenses. The households do not have to share all shelter expenses for it to be a shared shelter situation. The households only need to indicate they live together and share a shelter expense. Individual expenses may be divided, households may pay designated expenses, or one household may pay a set amount toward any or all shelter expenses to another. However, the combined total of the shared portions cannot exceed the actual cost incurred for the housing unit.


Significant Return - The ownership interest in an asset, after deducting the cost to sell the asset and the amount owed on the asset, is more than $1,500.


SIV - Special Immigrant Visa


Social Security Benefits (SSB) - Common name for RSDI benefits paid by the SSA.


Social Security Number (SSN) - An identifying number established for an individual by the SSA. The number is used to:

  • prevent duplicate participation in State and Federal programs, and 
  • to obtain income and asset information through computer matches.


Sponsor - An individual who signed an Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, I-864A, or similar agreement on behalf of a non-citizen as a condition of the non-citizen’s entry or admission into the United States as a permanent resident. 


Sponsored Non-Citizen - A non-citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. under the condition they have an individual (sponsor) who signs an Affidavit of Support to guarantee financial support of the non-citizen.


SSA - Social Security Administration


Stable Income - Income received in a fixed amount from the same source on a regular schedule.


State Administered General Assistance (SAGA) - A cash assistance program for individuals who are unable to work due to a documented medical condition, or for certain other non-medical reasons.


State Data Exchange (SDX) - Verifies Supplemental Security Income (SSI).


State Supplement Program (SSUP) - A cash assistance program for elderly or disabled individuals to help meet basic living costs.


State Verification Exchange System (SVES) - An on-line query with the Social Security Administration to verify:

  • 40-qualifying work quarters information
  • Black Lung payment
  • Citizenship
  • Social Security income
  • Social Security numbers
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)


Strike - A refusal to work organized by a group of employees as a form of protest, usually in an attempt to gain concessions from their employer.


SUA - Standard Utility Allowance


SUA$ - Annual energy payments of $20.01 for households:

  • whose heat is included in their rent, or
  • have no current heating/cooling obligation.


Receipt of the SUA$ qualifies the household to receive the SUA.


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, assistance helps low income individuals and families stretch their food budget to put 3 healthy meals on the table every day. 


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - A Federal cash assistance program to help elderly or disabled individuals with little or no income meet basic needs.


Surrounding Property - Property the house is on and all other property, not separated by property owned by someone else. Surrounding property also includes property separated by a public road or other right-of-way.


Suspected Intentional Program Violation (SIPV) - Suspected IPV pending a final IPV determination. IPV is established by:

  • an administrative disqualification hearing,
  • court adjudication,
  • the individual signing a disqualification consent agreement, or
  • the individual signing a waiver of their right to an administrative disqualification hearing on the official Agency waiver form.


Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) - The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system is a service that helps determine the immigration status of benefit applicants and their eligibility for SNAP benefits.