On November 21, 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued final rules amending certain food stamp regulations. The primary changes were to regulations concerning vehicles and noncitizens. A summary of those changes is as follows:

• Any licensed or unlicensed vehicle is an inaccessible resource if its equity value is $1500 or less. Once the vehicle is evaluated, it does not need to be reevaluated until the next recertification. One licensed vehicle per adult household member is excluded from the equity value test. Also, one licensed vehicle is excluded from the equity value test for any household member under age 18 if the vehicle is used to drive to work, school, job training, or to look for work. (see also ACL 01-29 regarding implementation of federal vehicle rules).

• Sponsorship support requirements are extended from three years to lifetime for food stamp purposes. The sponsor's support requirement ends if the noncitizen has 40 qualifying quarters, or becomes a U.S. citizen. The income and resources of the sponsor’s spouse are no longer attributed to the sponsored noncitizen unless the spouse has signed the sponsorship agreement.

• Households with self-employment earnings may now choose between claiming actual costs of producing self-employment income or taking a 40% deduction from gross earned income.

• The face-to-face interview is waived for households containing all disabled or elderly members with no earned income.

These regulations are effective June 1, 2001. Draft emergency regulations are attached to this ACL. However, approved emergency regulation ORD #0301-03 modified these regulations. The regulations in ORD #0301-03 should be cited instead of those attached to this ACL. (See also ACIN I-49-01 that explains the changes to the draft emergency regulations that are incorporated into the final emergency regulations).