Don't Count Same Child as Part of Two Households

Don't count a child as part of two households if her parents live in separate units at your site and share custody. According to the HUD Handbook, you must count a child in a joint custody arrangement as part of a household if that child is “present in the household 50 percent or more of the time” [HUD Handbook 4350.3, par.3-6(E)(4)(b)]. Ask the households for a copy of their joint custody agreement, which should outline the days and times the child must spend with each parent. Use this information to determine which household the child belongs to for income purposes.