Children's Earned Income 430-05-50-20-05-05

(Revised 07/01/18 ML3528)

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To exclude the earned income of a child under the age of 18, that child must be attending elementary or secondary school at least half time and living with a natural, adoptive parent or stepparent, or be under the parental control of a household member other than a parent.

This exclusion continues during school vacations, provided the child's enrollment resumes following the vacation.

School attendance is defined as, attending elementary or secondary school or attending classes to obtain a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). The school must be recognized, operated or supervised by the state or local school district. This includes a student who attends classes through a home-school program recognized or supervised by the state or local school district.

Earnings for these individuals are excluded through the month they turn 18.

In an ongoing case, when a child turns 18, if the household provides current income verification for the child, the child's income must be used to determine the effect on the benefit starting with the month following the child's birthday.

If the child's earnings or amount of work cannot be identified from that of others, the total earnings are prorated evenly among the working members and the child's pro rata share is excluded (i.e. migrants when the contract is for the family unit).