Biden admin reaches deal to provide 'free' internet plans for low-income households

President Joe Biden's administration reached a deal with 20 U.S. internet service providers to provide free internet access to Americans living in low-income areas Monday.

ISPs such as AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and others agreed to provide "high-speed" internet access for $30 per month. The Biden administration also announced a federal subsidy for low-income households that will pay up to $30 for internet access, effectively making the plan free for qualifying households.

" Persons in family/household Poverty guideline"

https://povertylevelcalculator.com/

Not that I intend to use such welfare, but tell me which is the many definitions of a "household" is precisely correct and precisely conforms to what the Fed precisely defines it as - whatever that is? And how this lack of uniformity does not foster confusion and fraud.

Household: As defined by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes, a household consists of all the persons who occupy a housing unit (house or apartment), whether they are related to each other or not. If a family and an unrelated individual, or two unrelated individuals, are living in the same housing unit, they would constitute two family units (see next definition), but only one household.

Some programs, such as the Food Stamp Program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, employ administrative variations of the “household” concept in determining income eligibility. A number of other programs use administrative variations of the “family” concept in determining income eligibility. -https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/family.html

For the health insurance marketplace, a household is typically defined as the tax filer, spouse, and dependents. Under this definition of household, your spouse has to be someone you are legally married to, and dependents can only be those claimed on your taxes as a tax dependent. When applying for Medicaid you include your spouse and all dependents regardless of whether or not they need health insurance. Some states provide a slightly different definition of household,... - https://eligibility.com/medicaid/who-do-i-include-in-my-household#:~:text=You%20can%20include%20an%20unmarried%20partner%20if%20you,to%20finding%20the%20right%20government%20programs%20for%20you.

What is considered household members? Yourself; Your spouse, if physically residing with you; Your children (under the age of 21 and unmarried) physically residing with you Your other children (under the age of 21 and unmarried) for whom you provide (or are required to provide) at least 50% of financial support based on a child support - https://www.mintz.com/insights-center/viewpoints/2806/2020-03-27-definition-household-member-permanent-residence

Relationship Include in household? Notes
Who to include in your household Dependent children, including adopted and foster children
Yes
Include any child you’ll claim as a tax dependent, regardless of age.
Children, shared custody
Sometimes
Include children whose custody you share only during years you claim them as tax dependents.
Non-dependent child under 26
Sometimes
Include them only if you want to cover them on your Marketplace plan.
Children under 21 you take care of
Yes
Include any child under 21 you take care of and who lives with you, even if not your tax dependent.
Unborn children
No
Don’t include a baby until it’s born. You have up to 60 days after the birth to enroll your baby.
Non-dependent child or other relative living with you
No
Include them only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Dependent parents
Yes
Include parents only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Dependent siblings and other relatives
Yes
Include them only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Spouse
Yes
Include your legally married spouse, whether opposite sex or same sex. In most cases, married couples must file taxes jointly to qualify for savings.
Legally separated spouse
No
Don’t include a legally separated spouse, even if you live together.
Divorced spouse
No
Don't include a former spouse, even if you live together.
Spouse, living apart
Yes
Include your spouse unless you’re legally separated or divorced. (See next row for an important exception.)
Spouse, if you’re a victim of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment
Not required
In these cases, you don’t have to include your spouse. See rules for victims of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment.
Unmarried domestic partner
Sometimes
Include an unmarried domestic partner only if you have a child together or you’ll claim your partner as a tax dependent.
Roommate
No
Don’t include people you just live with — unless they’re a spouse, tax dependent, or covered by another exception in this chart. - https://www.healthcare.gov/income-and-household-information/household-size/
.
Monthly allotment and eligibility are partially determined by the size of the household. Understanding how to determine the size of your household is essential to understanding your eligibility. Different programs define households differently. However, SNAP defines a household as all individuals that live together in one residence and purchase or prepare meals together.

Relationship	Include in household?	Notes
Who to include in your household Dependent children, including adopted and foster children	Yes	Include any child you’ll claim as a tax dependent, regardless of age.
Children, shared custody	Sometimes	Include children whose custody you share only during years you claim them as tax dependents.
Non-dependent child under 26	Sometimes	Include them only if you want to cover them on your Marketplace plan.
Children under 21 you take care of	Yes	Include any child under 21 you take care of and who lives with you, even if not your tax dependent.
Unborn children	No	Don’t include a baby until it’s born. You have up to 60 days after the birth to enroll your baby.
Non-dependent child or other relative living with you	No	Include them only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Dependent parents	Yes	Include parents only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Dependent siblings and other relatives	Yes	Include them only if you’ll claim them as tax dependents.
Spouse	Yes	Include your legally married spouse, whether opposite sex or same sex. In most cases, married couples must file taxes jointly to qualify for savings.
Legally separated spouse	No	Don’t include a legally separated spouse, even if you live together.
Divorced spouse	No	Don't include a former spouse, even if you live together.
Spouse, living apart	Yes	Include your spouse unless you’re legally separated or divorced. (See next row for an important exception.)
Spouse, if you’re a victim of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment	Not required	In these cases, you don’t have to include your spouse. See rules for victims of domestic abuse, domestic violence, or spousal abandonment.
Unmarried domestic partner	Sometimes	Include an unmarried domestic partner only if you have a child together or you’ll claim your partner as a tax dependent.
Roommate	No	Don’t include people you just live with — unless they’re a spouse, tax dependent, or covered by another exception in this chart. - https://www.healthcare.gov/income-and-household-information/household-size/

This means that there may be people physically living in your household, but they are not part of your household for the purpose of eligibility. For example, if you have an adult child over the age of 22 that lives in your home but purchases and prepares their own food, they would not be considered part of your household.

Another example would be if you are renting out a room in your home, and the tenant buys and prepares their own meals, that person would not be considered part of your household. However, it is important to remember that any rent you receive from people living in your home does have to be counted towards your total income. - https://eligibility.com/food-stamps/how-do-you-know-who-is-considered-part-of-your-household

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