Policy                                                            Issuance Number: FSC 01-04

Food Stamp Certification Manual          Issuance Date: 07/01/01

From: Ruth Whitney, Director                     Expiration Date: Until Superseded

Subj: Revised Vehicle Policy

This packet of revised policy includes changes to the following sections of the Food Stamp Certification Manual:  [FSC 4000] and [FSC 16000].

Each section has been reformatted and updated.  A summary of changes to each section of policy follows.

INQUIRIES TO: Betty Helmbeck, Food Stamp Section, (501) 682-8284

1. [FSC 4400] – Policy references were added to the list of excluded resources.
2. [FSC 4430] – This section formerly provided information about excluded vehicles. The information about excluded vehicles was moved to [FSC 4840]. The information formerly in FSC 4431 about property related to the use of excluded vehicles was moved to this section.
3. [FSC 4451] – This section was updated to reflect the current definition of a categorically eligible household.
4. [FSC 4500] – Policy references were added to the list of excluded resources.
5. [FSC 4580] – This section was revised to redefine a significant return as one of $1,500 or less and to state that this policy does now applies to vehicles.
6. [FSC 4610] – Information has been added about a web site that may be used in the process of verifying savings bonds.
7. [FSC 4640] – A sentence has been added to clarify that a KEOGH plan is inaccessible to a food stamp household if it involves a contractual agreement with non-household members.
8. [FSC 4650] – A money market account has been added as a type of checking account.
9. [FSC 4660] – A money market account has been removed as a type of savings certificate.
10. [FSC 4670] – Information was added about using the internet to verify current stock prices.
11. [FSC 4800 ]– Information was added about the process of evaluating vehicles to determine the resource value.
12. [FSC 4810] – This section now contains information about establishing ownership of vehicles.
13. [FSC 4820] – This section now contains information about the treatment of leased vehicles.
14. [FSC 4830] – This section now provides instructions for excluding vehicles owned by categorically eligible households as a resource.
15. [FSC 4840] – This section now provides instructions for applying resource exclusions to vehicles owned by members of food stamp households. This includes one exclusion per household and additional exclusions based on use.
16. [FSC 4850] – This section now provides instructions for determining the countable resource value of any vehicle not excluded under the policy in FSC 4840.
17. [FSC 4851] – This section now provides instructions for determining the fair market value of vehicles. Internet web sites rather than NADA books will be used to establish the fair market value of vehicles.
18. [FSC 4860] – This section now provides instructions for determining the accessibility of any vehicle if the value of the vehicle will make the household ineligible to receive food stamp benefits.
19. [FSC 4870] – This section now contains the Vehicle Desk Guide. This guide has been revised to reflect the new provisions.
20. [FSC 4974] – This section has been updated and the example, which described the transfer of a vehicle, has been revised.

The entire section had to be reissued due to printing errors.