Section 8. Basis For Defining Group (Household Composition)

A. Households: The basic assistance unit of the food stamp program is the household. A household is composed of an individual or a group of individuals who customarily purchase and prepare meals together for home consumption. There can be more than one household living in one place. B. Verification of information: (1) Identity: It is mandatory that the applicant's identity be verified. Identity may be established through readily available documentary evidence, or, if this is not possible, through a collateral contact or home visit. Acceptable documentary evidence includes, but is not limited to, driver's license; work or school ID; school records; ID for health benefits or for another assistance or social services program; voter registration card; wage stubs or marriage certificate. Any document that reasonably establishes the applicant's identity must be accepted. No requirement for a specific type of document, such as a birth certificate, may be imposed. (2) Household composition: Information regarding household composition must be verified before certification, recertification, or when a change is reported. If household size or composition becomes questionable, the income support specialist (ISS) must request verification. Findings must be documented in the case file. C. Household composition: A food stamp household may be composed of any of the following: (1) an individual living alone; (2) an individual living with others who customarily purchases food and prepares meals for home consumption separate and apart from the others; (3) a group of individuals who live together and who customarily purchase food and prepare meals together for home consumption; (4) an individual 60 years of age or older (and the spouse of such individual) who lives with 8.139.400 NMAC 2 others and cannot purchase and prepare food because they suffer from a disability considered permanent under the Social Security Act or suffers from a non disease-related, severe, permanent disability; the income of the others with whom such an indivi

meals together for home consumption; (4) an individual 60 years of age or older (and the spouse of such individual) who lives with 8.139.400 NMAC 2 others and cannot purchase and prepare food because they suffer from a disability considered permanent under the Social Security Act or suffers from a non disease-related, severe, permanent disability; the income of the others with whom such an individual resides (excluding the income of the individual and spouse) cannot exceed two hundred percent of the poverty line (Subsection E of 8.139.500.8 NMAC); (5) separate status may be granted on a case-by-case basis to other individuals or groups of individuals who have customarily purchased and prepared food apart from the individual(s) with whom they are now living.