For the purpose of determining eligibility for the Food Stamp Program, resources are defined as assets available to the household such as money in bank accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, land or houses that the household could sell. Vehicles are also considered to be resources.

Some assets are totally excluded from consideration as resources. Other assets are considered inaccessible if the household can demonstrate that the asset is not available and will not likely become available.

Households may not transfer resources to become eligible or remain eligible for food stamp benefits.

At initial application and at application for recertification, resources are determined at the time of the interview. If the household's countable resources exceed the limits at the time of the interview, the application will be denied. The household may reapply at any time. When the household reapplies, resources will be re-determined at the time of the next interview. See [FSC 12230] for handling reported changes in resources.

A household's eligibility will be denied or terminated when the value of the household's countable resources (both liquid and non-liquid assets) exceed the following:

• $3,000 for all households with an aged or a disabled (as defined in the [Glossary], definition of Aged/Disabled Household) member regardless of household size; 

          OR

• $2,000 for all other households.

A household where at least one member receives a TEA benefit as specified in FSC 1920 is categorically eligible and the Food Stamp Program’s resource limits will not apply to that household.

If no household member receives TEA benefits, the household is classified as categorically eligible only if all household members receive SSI benefits. If not all household members receive SSI benefits, the entire household is not categorically eligible. However, the individual household members who receive SSI benefits are categorically eligible. This means that any resources solely owned by an SSI recipient are not to be counted when the household’s total resources are determined, but all resources owned by the other household members are to be counted. If the resources owned by household members who do not receive SSI exceed the resource limit, the entire household (including the SSI recipient) is ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program. Co-owned resources will not automatically be excluded under this policy. Instead, the resource will be handled in the same manner as any other jointly owned resource. See [FSC 4910] and [FSC 4601] for instructions.

Resource standards are uniformly applied to all households except those in which all members are recipients of TEA and/or SSI. Except for categorically eligible households, all resources currently held by the household and all resources anticipated to be received during the certification period must be reported at the time of the interview.

01/01/03

A general list of excluded resources is provided below. Each excluded resource is explained in detail in the sections of policy immediately following.

• The household's home and lot.  ([FSC 4410])
• Household and personal goods.  ([FSC 4420])
• Life Insurance policies and pension funds.  ([FSC 4420])
• Certain vehicles.  ([FSC 4840])
• Property essential for the maintenance or use of certain excluded vehicles.  ([FSC 4430])
• Income producing property.  ([FSC 4440])
• Payments that are excluded as a resource by law.   ([FSC 4450]) 
• Resources owned by a SSI recipient in a mixed household.  ([FSC 4300])
• Resources owned by the members of a categorically eligible household ([FSC 4300])
• Earmarked resources.  ([FSC 4460])
• Indian lands and certain payments to Indians.  ([FSC 4460])
• Burial lots, limited to one per household member.  ([FSC 4460])
• Prepaid burial plans to the extent that the funds in such a plan are inaccessible.  ([FSC 4602])
• Inaccessible resources. ([FSC 4500])
• Educational Income ([FSC 4450] & [FSC 4460])

The resource exclusions in [FSC 4410-4580] apply to all eligible household members, ineligible aliens, and disqualified household members:

The home and lot is the household's residence and any surrounding property not separated from the residence by intervening property owned by others. Rights-of-way, such as roads that run through the property surrounding the home, do not affect the exemption. Other structures on the homestead will be evaluated to determine if they can be excluded as described here.

If the other structure is a house (or mobile home) that is habitable (has indoor plumbing facilities, running water and is livable), then the house (not the land on which it sits) will be counted as a resource provided it is not income producing. If the utility company has turned off  the water, the house will be considered as having "running water".

If the other structure is a building that is not a traditional house, it will be considered as an excluded resource i.e., tool sheds, corncribs, woodsheds, barns, etc

If these structures produce income (i.e. rental payments), this income is not excluded, and is treated in accordance with [FSC 5715].

1. Employment
2. Training for future employment
3. Illness of a household member
4. Inhabitability caused by casualty or natural disaster, if the household plans to return to the residence.

Verification of the value of the home and lot must be obtained if the information given by the household about the home and lot affects eligibility and is questionable. All circumstances surrounding this decision must be documented.

4420   Household and Personal Goods/Life Insurance                            10-01-08

The following items will be excluded when determining countable resources:

1.      Household goods such as, but not limited to, appliances, microwaves, lawn mowers, garden tractors, furniture and TV satellite dishes.

2.      Personal effects such as, but not limited to, tools, jewelry and clothing.

3.      The cash value of life insurance policies.

4.      Prepaid burial policies and plans to the extent the funds in such a plan are inaccessible.

NOTE:   Any amount that can be withdrawn (less a $1,500 per person disregard) 

               from prepaid burial plans without a contractual obligation to repay will be  

               counted as a resource for FOOD STAMP PROGRAM purposes. See FSC

               4602.

5.      Livestock.

FSC Manual

10/01/08

4421   Pension or Retirement Funds                                                    10-01-08

Tax-preferred retirement accounts (e.g., IRAs) and employer sponsored retirement accounts are excluded as countable resources in determining FOOD STAMP PROGRAM eligibility. This includes any funds in a plan, contract, or account, described in sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457(b), and 501(c)(18) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the value of funds in a Federal Thrift Savings Plan account as provided for in 5 U.S.C. 8439. It also provides for the exclusion of any successor retirement accounts that are exempt from Federal taxes.

The chart on the following page provides guidance on pension or retirement accounts based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Real or personal property that is directly related to the maintenance or use of a vehicle will be excluded as a resource if that vehicle is excluded as a resource because it is:

1. Annually producing income consistent with its fair market value; or
2. Used primarily (over 50 percent of the time that the vehicle is used) for income producing purposes such as, but not limited to taxis, trucks, or fishing boats; or
3. Used to transport a physically disabled household member.

Only that portion of real property actually involved in the maintenance or use of an excludable vehicle is to be excluded under these provisions.

Example 1     A household owns a one-acre field but only uses 1/4 of that acre to park and maintain equipment for a self-employment enterprise.  Only the 1/4-acre actually in use will be excluded.  If the one-acre tract is worth $1,000, 1/4 of the value is $250.  $250 would be excluded as a resource.  $750 would be counted as a resource.

This method of determining the amount of resource exclusion is not affected by state or local zoning laws or by the household's ability to convert the property to a cash resource.

Example 2     The household in example 1 above declares that the one-acre tract they own is in an incorporated industrial area.  They state that local laws prevent them from selling anything less than the full one-acre tract.  In spite of this, only the $250 amount for the 1/4-acre actually used will be excluded as a resource.  $750 will be counted as a resource.

Income producing property is one of the following.

1. Property that annually produces income consistent with its fair market value, even if only used on a seasonal basis.   (For example, farmland that is rented only during the crop season would be excluded for the entire year). See [FSC 4441] for instructions on determining fair market value.
2. Property that is essential to the employment or self-employment of a household member.   (For example, farmland that is used by a household member to produce a crop of tomatoes that is sold to a cannery would be excluded as essential to self-employment.)
3. Rental homes used by households for vacation purposes at some time during the year so long as the property annually produces income consistent with its fair market value.
4. Work related equipment such as, but not limited to, the tools of a tradesman or the machinery of a farmer, which is essential to the employment or self-employment of a household member.

NOTE: Tools are excluded either as personal property or income producing property.

Property essential to the self-employment of a household member engaged in a farm operation may be excluded as a resource for one year from the date the farm operation is terminated. The exclusion extends to vehicles used in the farming operation ([FSC 4430]) as well as land and machinery used in the operation.

5.  Installment contracts payable to the household. See [FSC 4570] for instructions on excluding installment contracts when the purchaser has defaulted on the agreement.

When a county office worker must determine if property is producing income consistent with its fair market value, the property's fair market value will be based on the prevailing rate of return in the area where the property is located or used.  

Example: A house rented for $200 a month is considered to be producing income consistent with fair market value if similar houses in the same area rent for about the same amount.

When the worker cannot determine whether property is producing income at the prevailing rate of return based upon information furnished by the household, a knowledgeable source may be contacted. A knowledgeable source should, by virtue of his professional experience, be able to determine if the property is producing income consistent with fair market value. (For real property located in Arkansas, the assessed value times 5 will be used as the fair market value. See [FSC 4712] for additional information.) Local realtors, local FHA or Small Business Administration Offices or the tax assessor should be knowledgeable of the value of real property located outside Arkansas. Local car dealers should know the value of vehicles.

The knowledgeable source will be provided with the appropriate information and asked to determine if the property is producing income at the prevailing rate of return. Households that disagree with the assigned fair market value or prevailing rate of return may provide verification of these items.

NOTE: Property excluded as a resource because it is essential to employment does not have to produce income consistent with fair market value. For example, land used by a farmer does not have to produce any countable income to be excluded.

The current list of resources excluded by Federal statute includes the following items.

1. As authorized by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act (P.L. 99-425), the amount of home energy assistance payments or allowances provided directly to or on behalf of a household.
2. Benefits received from the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) under P.L. 92-443, Sec. 9 and P.L. 100-435, which amended Section 77(m)(7) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
3. Reimbursement from the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646, Sec. 216),
4. Payments to Indian tribes as specified below:

• Payments received by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Indian Nation and the Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation from Indian Claims Commission as designated under P.L. 95-433, Sec. 2

• Payments to the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation or any of their members received pursuant to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-420, Sec. 5);

• Payments received from the disposition of funds to the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians (P.L. 94-540);

• Payments received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (P.L. 92-203, Sec. 21(a) and Section 15 of P.L. 100-241, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Amendments of 1987 or the Sac and Fox Indian Claims Agreement (P.L. 94-189); 

• Payments received by certain Indian tribal members under P.L. 94-114, Sec. 6, regarding submarginal land held in trust by the United States.

• Payments of relocation assistance to members of the Navajo and Hopi Tribes under P.L. 95-531.

• Payments to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewas, Arizona (P.L. 97-403);

• Payments to the Blackfeet, Grosventre, and Assiniboine tribes (Montana) and the Papago (Arizona) (P.L. 97-408);

• Per capita and interest payments made to the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Beck Indian Reservation (Montana) (P.L. 98-124, Section 5);

• Per capita and interest payments made to the Red Lake Band of Chippewas (P.L. 98-123, Section 3, 10/13/83);

• Payments to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan (P.L. 99-346, Section 6(b) (2));

• Per capita payments to the Chippewas of Mississippi (P.L. 99-377, Section 4(b), 8/8/86);

• Payments to heirs of deceased Indians under the Old Age Assistance Claims Settlement Act except for per capita shares in excess of $2,000 (P.L. 98-500, Section 8, 10/17/84);

• Payments to the Puyallup Tribe of the State of Washington (P.L. 101-41, 6-21-89); and

• Payments under the White Earth Reservation Land Settlement Act of 1985 to the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota (P.L. 99-264)

• Payments under the Seneca Nation Settlement Act of 1990 to members of the Seneca Nation (P.L. 101-503).

• Funds appropriated in satisfaction of judgements awarded to the Seminole Indians in dockets 73, 151, and 73-A of the Indian Claims Commission (P.L. 101-277)

• Funds distributed or held in trust for members of the Chippewas of Lake Superior (P.L. 99-146).

• Assistance paid under P.L. 95-608, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

• Payments to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation under the Grand Coulee Dam Settlement Act (P.L. 103-436).
• Funds appropriated in satisfaction of judgements awarded to the Seminole Indians by the indian Claims commission (P.L. 101-277)
• Distributions under the Michigan Indian Claims Settlement Act, Section 111, to the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan (P.L. 105-143)

5. Per capita payments of $2,000 and less made under Public Law 98-64 to Native Americans from judgment awards and funds held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior and purchases made with certain per capita payments to specific tribes or bands of Indians.
   
   This exclusion applies on a per person and not a per household basis. It applies individually to each payment regardless of how frequently the payments are made and regardless of the number of months for which the payment is made. When such payments are deposited in a bank or financial institution, the funds remain excluded. The length of the exclusion period will be determined by the type of funds in the account. See [FSC 4960].
   
   The purchase exclusion extends only to purchases of property with funds distributed to Native Americans after December 31, 1981, but before January 12, 1983, under a plan approved by Congress. The exclusion applies to initial purchase only and not to subsequent purchases. Property remains excluded only as long as the person who originally received the exclusion holds the property.   Since more than one per capita payment may have been received during the period from December 31, 1981 to January 12, 1983, the total exclusion allowed for the property may exceed $2,000.
6. Certain payments made to Vietnam veterans and/or children of Vietnam veterans. This includes:
   • Payments authorized under P.L. 101-239, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1989, Section 10405, the Agent Orange Settlement fund or any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No 381 (E.D.N.Y.)
   • Any monetary allowances paid under P.L. 104-102, Section 1805(d), to a child of a Vietnam Veteran for any disability resulting from spina bifida suffered by such child.
   • Any monetary allowances paid under P.L. 106-419, Section 1815 (a), to any individual with one or more covered birth defects if he or she is a child of a female Vietnam veteran.

   
   

7. Payments to U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry and permanent resident Japanese aliens or their survivors under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-383).
8. Federal and other disaster relief payments. This resource exclusion applies to disaster relief payments received from the Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) under P.L. 93-288, Sec. 312 (d) as amended by P.L. 100-707, Section 105 (i) the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Amendments of 1988. (NOTE: Not all FEMA payments are classified as disaster relief.) This resource exclusion applies to Federal assistance provided to persons directly affected and to comparable disaster assistance provided by states, local governments, and disaster assistance organizations. For payments to be excluded, the disaster or emergency must be declared by the President. This resource exclusion also applies to Disaster Unemployment Assistance paid as a result of a major disaster and to Disaster Relief Employment. See FSC 5405, items 16 and 17 for additional information.
9. Payments received through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, P.L. 101-426, Sec. 6 (h) (2), 10/15/90. This law establishes a program to compensate individuals for injuries or deaths resulting from exposure to radiation from nuclear testing and uranium mining in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
   
10. Income amounts necessary for the fulfillment of a PASS (Plans for Achieving Self-Support) under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. See FSC 4460 for additional IDA exclusions
    
11. The value of assistance to children under P.L. 89-642, Section 11(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and P.L. 79-396, the National School Lunch Act.  Under P.L. 100-435 which amended section (17)(m)(7) of this act, coupons that may be exchanged for food at a farmer's market may also be excluded.
    
12. Payments under P.L. 107-171, the Food Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2002, all student financial assistance. See [FSC 1622.3]
    
13. Payments made to individuals because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution under P.L. 103-286.
    
14. Earned Income Credits payments received as a lump sum or as payments under Section 3507 of the Internal Revenue Code by any household member. ) A Federal earned income tax credit received either as a lump sum or as payments under section 3507 of the Internal Revenue Code is excluded for the month of receipt and the following month for the individual and that individual's spouse. Any Federal, State or local earned income tax credit received by any household member is excluded for 12 months, if the household was participating in the Food Stamp Program at the time of receipt of the tax credit and if the household participates continuously during that 12-month period. Breaks in participation of one month or less due to administrative reasons, such as but not limited to, delayed recertification or missing or late reports is not considered as nonparticipation in determining the 12-month exclusion
    
15. Under P.L. 103-22, compensation made to crime victims as authorized by the Crime Act of 1984.
16. Under P.L. 99-576, Veteran's Benefits and health Care Authorization Act of 1996, any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced to comply with this law.
17. Funds, including interest accruing, in an individual development account under the TANF block grant program will be excluded during any period the individual maintains or makes contributions into such an account (P.L. 104-193).
18. Funds, including interest accruing, in an individual development account (IDA) under the TANF block grant program will be excluded during any period the individual maintains or makes contributions into such an account(P.L. 104-193). See FSC 4460 for additional IDA exclusions.
19. Funds in  Department of Housing Urban Development's (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency Program escrow accounts are excluded as resources when determining eligibility for food stamps. When a Family Self-sufficiency program participant has an increase in earnings, the public housing authority increases his or her rent, but deposits the increase in an interest bearing account. When the participant successfully completes the program and can verify that no household member is receiving welfare assistance, he or she receives the funds in the account.  Funds may be withdrawn from the escrow account before completing the program with permission from the housing authority, but only for purposes related to goal of the FSS contract, e.g.-completion of higher education, job training or start up costs of a small business.  Since the funds in the escrow accounts, as well as any funds withdrawn from them prior to completion of the program are not available to buy food, the funds are inaccessible-thus excluded as resources.

Burial Lots

One burial lot per household member will be excluded as a resource.

Cash and Counseling Demonstration

Money received from the Cash and Counseling Demonstration for Medicaid recipients is excluded as a resource. This program provides cash to certain Medicaid recipients so that they can purchase personal care services.

Earmarked Resources

Earmarked resources are governmental payments such as those made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Individual and Family Grant Program or disaster loans or grants made by the Small Business Administration. Earmarked resources must be designated for the restoration of a home damaged in a disaster, and the household must be subject to a legal sanction if the funds are not used as intended.

Educational Income

Educational income will be excluded as a resource in its entirety when received by eligible students. This exclusion includes all federal, state and privately funded educational assistance including VA educational assistance paid under the Montgomery GI Bill. 

Educational Savings

Educational savings/account plans that receive tax-preferred status under the federal tax code are excluded as a resource to the household. 

• Section 529 qualified tuition program, which allows owners to prepay a student’s education expenses or to contribute to an account to pay those expenses.

• Coverdell education savings account, an IRA type of account designed to pay a student’s education expenses. 

Indian Lands

Lands held jointly with the tribe, or lands that can be sold only with the approval of the Bureau of Indian Affairs are considered Indian Lands. Indian Lands are excluded as a resource.  

Individual Development Accounts  

Funds, including interest accruing, in an individual development account under the TANF block grant program will be excluded during any period the individual maintains or makes contributions into such an account (P.L. 104-193).

Under the Family Savings Initiative Act of 1999 (Arkansas Act 1217) households with low income and few assets may accumulate assets by opening an individual development account (IDA). An IDA Program participant must be a resident of the State of Arkansas and a member of a TEA recipient family or a member of a family with income below 185% of the federal poverty level. The family must have a net worth of $10,000 or less disregarding their primary dwelling and one motor vehicle. Account contributions are matched at a rate of $3.00 for each $1.00 contributed by the account holder. Matching dollars may not exceed $2,000 per account holder or $4,000 per household. 

A Family Savings IDA may be used for any of the following reasons:

• Home purchase (limited to qualified first-time home buyers)*

• Business capitalization*

• Post secondary educational expenses*

• Individual retirement account

• Vehicle purchase or repair (if not the sole purpose of the IDA)

(* If Federal TANF funds are used as a match, only purposes 1, 2 and 3 are allowable.)

The value of the IDA is not a countable resource. Matching funds deposited into the account will not be counted as income. (See FSC 5413.1.)

Funds in Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency Program escrow accounts are excluded as resources when determining eligibility for food stamps. When a Family Self-sufficiency program participant has an increase in earnings, the public housing authority increases his or her rent, but deposits the increase in an interest bearing account. When the participant successfully completes the program and can verify that no household member is receiving welfare assistance, he or she receives the funds in the account. Funds may be withdrawn from the escrow account before completing the program, with permission from the housing authority, but only for purposes related to the goal of the FSS contract, e.g. - completion of higher education, job training, or start up costs of a small business. Since the funds in the escrow accounts, as well as any funds withdrawn from them prior to completion of the program are not available to buy food, the funds are inaccessible - thus excluded as resources.

The Good Faith Fund is operating a demonstration program called the Savings for Education, Entrepreneurship, and Down Payment (SEED) Program. The Program helps 3 and 4 year old child and their families save and plan for college. A savings account is opened and initially deposited with $500, which will be matched by $500 deposited by the Good Faith Fund. Any deposits made by the household will be matched dollar for dollar by the Good Faith Fund. Withdrawal from a SEED account requires two signatures – the account holder and a designated employee of the Good Faith Fund. The Good Faith Fund will not permit withdrawal unless there is a documented emergency – e.g., so the child will not be without shelter or medical care. The SEED account will be excluded as a resource and any deposits made by the Good Faith Fund into the child’s savings account will be excluded as income per FSC 5413.1.

Prorated Income

Monies that have been prorated and considered as income are excluded as a resource. For example, annualized or prorated self-employment income is excluded as a resource during the period it is being counted as household income. Refer to FSC 5630 for the procedures for handling self-employment income.

Excluded resources will be verified when questionable. Acceptable verification includes documentation or collateral contacts which establish that the resource is excludable.

The county office worker must document:

1. The type of resource;
2. The status of the resource as excluded; 
3. The reason for the exclusion.

Inaccessible resources are resources with a cash value not accessible to the household. Inaccessible resources include the following:

1. Irrevocable trust funds  ([FSC 4510])
2. Property in probate  ([FSC 4520])
3. Real property for sale  ([FSC 4530])
4. Resources of residents of shelter for battered women  ([FSC 4540])
5. Security deposits  ([FSC 4550])
6. Non-liquid resources against which a lien was placed to obtain a business loan  ([FSC 4560])
7. Installment contracts that are not producing any income  ([FSC 4570])
8. Resources unlikely to produce any significant amount of funds if sold  ([FSC 4580])

Any funds in or transferred to a trust and the income produced by that trust are considered inaccessible if all of the following conditions exist.

1. The funds held in irrevocable trust are either:

1. Established from the household's own funds and used by the trustee solely to make investments on behalf of the trust or to pay the educational or medical expenses of the beneficiary; or
2. Established from non-household funds by a non-household member, and totally unavailable to the household.

NOTE: If the household can petition the court to obtain money from a trust for reasons such as purchasing personal items or paying living expenses, the fund is not considered an irrevocable trust.

2. The trust arrangement will not likely cease during the certification period, and no household member has the power to revoke the trust arrangement or to change the name of the beneficiary.
3. The trustee administering the funds is a:

1. Court, institution, corporation, or organization not under the direction or ownership of any household member; or
2. An individual appointed by the court that has court imposed limitations placed upon the use of the funds.

4. The trust investments made on behalf of the trust do not directly involve or assist any business or corporation under the control, direction or influence of a household member.

The status of the trust account must be verified if questionable.   Acceptable verification of inaccessible trust accounts include:

1. Statements from the financial institution managing the trust describing the terms of the trust; or
2. Court orders or letters from the court describing the terms of the trust.

The county office worker must document:

1. The amount of the trust fund;
2. The name of the person for whom the account is held in trust;
3. The name of the trustee, and the name of the financial institution handling the trust; 
4. The reasons for the decision to consider the trust accessible or inaccessible.

Property that household members expect to inherit following a decision of the court is considered an inaccessible resource.

Property that is in probate must be verified if questionable. Acceptable verification includes:

1. A statement from an attorney; or
2. A legal document, such as a court order.

The county office worker must document:

1. A description of the property the household expects to inherit;
2. When the household expects to receive the property; and
3. If verification is required, why the inaccessible resources were considered questionable, and the verification obtained.

Real property that the household is making a good faith effort to sell at a reasonable price is considered an inaccessible resource.

Verification of real property for sale must be supplied if the status of the property is questionable.   The worker will accept as proof of a good faith effort to sell real property at a reasonable price any of the following:

1. Collateral statements, 

2. Listings from real estate brokers, or 

3. Advertisements in local newspapers.

The worker must document:

1. Information about the property for sale - i.e. number of acres of land, location of house, etc.; and
2. The information used to establish a good faith effort to sell the property at a reasonable price.

Resources are considered inaccessible to residents of shelters for battered women and children if:

1. The resources are jointly owned by the residents and any members of their former household; and
2. The resident's access to the value of the resources is dependent upon the agreement of a joint owner who still resides in the former household.

The county office worker must verify that resources of shelter residents are inaccessible only when questionable. In no instance will the worker request verification if such verification will jeopardize the safety of the resident