PM 08-04-01-b: Self-Employment

WAG 08-04-01-b.

  • Gross income from self-employment, minus the costs of doing business (allowable business expenses) is nonexempt earned income and is compared to the Maximum Monthly Gross Income Standard for the SNAP household size. Allowable business expenses are deducted from self-employment income when determining if a SNAP household qualifies for expedited services. See PM 02-08-01  and WAG 02-08-01.
  • Gross income includes the total gain from the sale of capital goods or equipment related to business. For the treatment of assets used in self-employment, see PM 07-04-05 and WAG 07-04-05.
  • Self-employment includes, but is not limited to, the following types of activities or jobs:
    • small business;
    • sales (including home sales such as cosmetics, home care products, and home furnishings);
    • farming;
    • dressmaking, child care (including payments from the Child and Adult Care Food Program), home repair, yard work, or animal care;
    • piecework completed in the home;
    • roomers or boarders; and
    • rental income received as a result of a client's management of the property at least an average of 20 hours per week.
  • revised manual textSelf-employment income and expenses may be verified by using the customer's own self-employment records such as, but not limited to business ledgers, invoices, receipts, tax returns or the customer's statement if records are not kept and their statement is the only available source. If the information provided by the customer is questionable, additional documentation may be requested. For budgeting self-employment income see PM 13-02-03 and WAG 13-02-03-a.
  • A SNAP household with self-employment income from day care (including income from the Child and Adult Care Food Program), may choose to use either actual documented costs of meals or the Day Care Meal Standard amounts as a business expense. If the client chooses to use actual documented costs, the expense allowed may exceed the Day Care Meal Standard amounts. If the standard is used, no more than 2 meals and one snack provided daily to each child may be allowed.

Transportation Expenses

The cost of travel necessary for work is allowable. Allow the amount the client claims in their self-employment record for transportation as an expense. The client's record is verification of the expense. If a client uses their vehicle for both personal and business purposes, allow a percentage of the cost for things like repairs, tune-ups, etc., as a business expense. Allow a percentage of the vehicle costs equal to the percentage of mileage that the vehicle was used for business purposes.