The general rule is to charge ISM to a beneficiary when he or she receives food or
shelter, regardless of who is liable for payment of the cost of the food or shelter.
There are numerous exceptions to the general rule. When an exception applies, the
food or shelter a beneficiary receives is not chargeable ISM. Some of these exceptions
result from statutory exclusions (i.e., Title XVI of the Social Security Act, or other
Federal laws that specifically exclude from income, the value of food or shelter received).
Other exceptions result from situations in which the food or shelter received does
not constitute income in accordance with regulations. We do not charge ISM when a
beneficiary receives food or shelter:
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specifically excluded by Federal law, e.g., the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act. For the guide to unearned income exclusions, see SI 00830.099;
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that meets the criteria for exclusion of infrequent or irregular unearned income,
see SI 00810.410;
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that has no current market value; for details on rebuttal rule and procedures, see
SI 00835.320);
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provided under a governmental (Federal, State, or local) medical or social service
program. For information on medical and social services, related cash and in-kind
items, see SI 00815.050 ;
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that is assistance based on need (ABON) from a State, or one of its political subdivisions.
For information on assistance based on need (ABON), see SI 00830.175;
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provided by someone living in the same household whose income is subject to deeming
to the beneficiary. For more information on deeming in kind income, see SI 01320.150;
NOTE: ISM received by a deemor is not deemable income to the beneficiary, unless the deemor
is a sponsor, or an essential person.
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received at school by a child under age 22, not subject to deeming, who receives food or shelter only at school, while temporarily absent from his permanent
LA, e.g., parental household. For more information temporary absence of a child from
a federal LA due to school absence, see SI 00835.042;
NOTE: ISM of food and shelter may still be chargeable based on the circumstances in the
child’s permanent LA. If a child is subject to deeming, charge ISM for food and shelter received at school, if someone other than the deemor
pays for the food and shelter.
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during a temporary absence. For more information on temporary absence from a federal
LA, see SI 00835.040;
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that replaces lost, damaged, or stolen resource. This includes temporary housing.
For more information on cash and in-kind items received for the repair or replacement
of lost, damaged, or stolen excluded resources, see SI 01130.630;
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excluded under an approved plan for self-support. For an overview on plans to achieve
self-support, see SI 00870.001;
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received because of payments made under the terms of a credit life or credit disability
policy. For more information on credit life or credit disability insurance payments,
see SI 00815.300; or
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received during medical confinement in an institution. For more information on food
and shelter received during a medical confinement, see SI 00815.100.