Workforce Services, Employment Development

Section R986-200-235

Unearned Income

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 33296
Filed: 12/30/2009 03:11:32 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to not count the $25 unemployment stimulus payment.

Summary of the rule or change:

Congress authorized a $25 supplemental weekly Unemployment Compensation payment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In November 2009, President Obama signed an executive order providing that the $25 not be counted in determining eligibility for food stamps. For ease of administration and to align the programs, the Department will not count the $25 in determining eligibility for the Family Employment Program (FEP).

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 35A-3-302(5)(b)
• Section 35A-1-104
• Subsection 35A-1-104(4)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This applies to federally-funded programs so there are no costs or savings to the state budget. Very few people receiving unemployment are eligible for FEP assistance so very few people will be impacted by this change. Any increase will be absorbed by current funding.

local governments:

This applies to federally-funded programs so there are no costs or savings to any local government.

small businesses:

There will be no costs to small businesses to comply with these changes because this is a federally-funded program.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There will be no costs of any persons to comply with these changes because there are no costs or fees associated with these proposed changes.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs associated with these changes for any persons because this is a federally-funded program and there are no fees or costs associated with these proposed changes.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no compliance costs associated with this change. There are no fees associated with this change. There will be no cost to anyone to comply with these changes. There will be no fiscal impact on any business.

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Workforce Services
Employment Development
140 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2333

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Suzan Pixton at the above address, by phone at 801-526-9645, by FAX at 801-526-9211, or by Internet E-mail at spixton@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

02/15/2010

This rule may become effective on:

02/22/2010

Authorized by:

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development.

R986-200. Family Employment Program.

R986-200-235. Unearned Income.

(1) Unearned income is income received by an individual for which the individual performs no service.

(2) Countable unearned income includes:

(a) pensions and annuities such as Railroad Retirement, Social Security, VA, Civil Service;

(b) disability benefits such as sick pay and workers' compensation payments unless considered as earned income;

(c) unemployment insurance , except, starting March 1, 2009 and continuing as long as it is authorized by Congress and not counted for food stamps, the $25 supplemental weekly Unemployment Compensation payment authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will not be countable unearned income;

(d) strike or union benefits;

(e) VA allotment;

(f) income from the GI Bill;

(g) assigned support retained in violation of statute is counted when a request to do so has been generated by ORS;

(h) payments received from trusts made for basic living expenses;

(i) payments of interest from stocks, bonds, savings, loans, insurance, a sales contract, or mortgage. This applies even if the payments are from the sale of an exempt home. Payments made for the down payment or principal are counted as assets;

(j) inheritances;

(k) life insurance benefits;

(l) payments from an insurance company or other source for personal injury, interest, or destroyed, lost or stolen property unless the money is used to replace that property;

(m) cash contributions from any source including family, a church or other charitable organization;

(n) rental income if the rental property is managed by another individual or company for the owner. Income from rental property managed by someone in the household assistance unit is considered earned income;

(o) financial assistance payments received from another state or the Department from another type of financial assistance program including a diversion payment; and

(p) payments from Job Corps and Americorps living allowances.

(3) Unearned income which is not counted (exempt):

(a) cash gifts for special occasions which do not exceed $30 per quarter for each person in the household assistance unit. The gift can be divided equally among all members of the household assistance unit;

(b) bona fide loans, including reverse equity loans on an exempt property. A bona fide loan means a loan which has been contracted in good faith without fraud or deceit and genuinely endorsed in writing for repayment;

(c) the value of food stamps, food donated from any source, and the value of vouchers issued under the Women Infants and Children program;

(d) any per capita payments made to individual tribal members by either the secretary of interior or the tribe are excluded. Income to tribal members derived from privately owned land is not exempt;

(e) any payments made to household members that are declared exempt under federal law;

(f) the value of governmental rent and housing subsidies, federal relocation assistance, or EA issued by the Department;

(g) money from a trust fund to provide for or reimburse the household for a specific item NOT related to basic living expenses. This includes medical expenses and educational expenses. Money from a trust fund to provide for or reimburse a household member for basic living expenses is counted;

(h) travel and training allowances and reimbursements if they are directly related to training, education, work, or volunteer activities;

(i) all unearned income in-kind. In-kind means something, such as goods or commodities, other than money;

(j) thirty dollars of the income received from rental income unless greater expenses can be proven. Expenses in excess of $30 can be allowed for:

(i) taxes;

(ii) attorney fees expended to make the rental income available;

(iii) upkeep and repair costs necessary to maintain the current value of the property; and

(iv) interest paid on a loan or mortgage made for upkeep or repair. Payment on the principal of the loan or mortgage cannot be excluded;

(k) if meals are provided to a roomer/boarder, the value of a one-person food stamp allotment for each roomer/boarder;

(l) payments for energy assistance including H.E.A.T payments, assistance given by a supplier of home energy, and in-kind assistance given by a private non-profit agency;

(m) federal and state income tax refunds and earned income tax credit payments;

(n) payments made by the Department to reimburse the client for education or work expenses, or a CC subsidy;

(o) income of an SSI recipient. Neither the payment from SSI nor any other income, including earned income, of an SSI recipient is included;

(p) payments from a person living in the household who is not included in the household assistance unit, as defined in R986-200-205, when the payment is intended and used for that person's share of the living expenses;

(q) educational assistance and college work study except Veterans Education Assistance intended for family members of the student, living stipends and money earned from an assistantship program is counted as income; and

(r) for a refugee, as defined in R986-300-303(1), any grant or assistance, whether cash or in-kind, received directly or indirectly under the Reception and Placement Programs of Department of State or Department of Justice.

 

KEY: family employment program

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [August 26, 2009]2010

Notice of Continuation: September 14, 2005

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-3-301 et seq.