This memo provides guidance to state agencies regarding exclusion of combat pay given to military personnel while deployed to a combat zone.
The FY 2005 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Agriculture included a provision which excluded from consideration as income in the Food Stamp Program additional pay received by military personnel as a result of deployment to a combat zone. This provision has been extended.
The US Department of Health and Human services published its annual update of poverty income guidelines in the Federal Register of Jan. 24, 2006.
It has recently come to our attention that under PL 104-204 and 106-419, benefits paid by the Veterans Administration to the children of Vietnam veterans born with congenital spina bifida and certain other birth defects are excludable as income for food stamp purposes.
On Dec. 8, 2004, the President signed The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005. This law contains a provision which excludes from consideration as income in the Food Stamp Program additional pay received by military personnel as a result of deployment to a combat zone.
Recent regulatory and waiver policy has been focused on allowing states to simplify the reporting of changes in earned income. There has been increasing interest in addressing reporting and budgeting of certain types of fluctuating unearned income as well.