Age of a Participant
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The age of a participant determines eligibility and benefit amounts.
Policy
Age is an important eligibility factor for the NA and CA programs because age applies to all of the following:
●Eligibility
●Benefit amount
●Income deductions
●Program compliance requirements
The participant is required to list on the application for benefits the date of birth of each budgetary unit(g) member for whom benefits are applied.
For NA, see all of the following important ages and policies related to eligibility and benefit amounts:
●All of the following are age exemptions for the NA Work Requirements:
A participant responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6 is exempt.
A participant under the age of 16 or over the age of 59 is potentially exempt.
See NA Work Requirement Exemptions for complete details about each exemption.
●Participants aged 18 through 49 and enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education(g) are required to meet an NA student work requirement or an NA student exemption to be considered potentially eligible. (See Adult Student Eligibility for NA for when a participant meets the definition of a student.)
●The income of a working dependent child who turns 18 may become countable depending on the income type. (See Dependent Child Income for more information on income types.)
●Dependent Care expenses are an allowable deduction from income when the dependent care is for a child under 18. (See NA Dependent Care for additional requirements.)
●Participants are potentially eligible to receive NA separately from the family they are living with at any of the following ages:
At the age of 18, when living with their siblings who are age 18 or older and do not live with their parents.
After the month of their 22nd birthday, when the participant lives with their parents.
See Determining Budgetary Units for who in a household would be considered a mandatory, optional, or nonparticipant.
●A participant who is over the age of 59 receives special consideration when budgeting and determining eligibility, including all of the following:
A special resource limit
Medical deductions
Not subject to the Gross Income Standard
See Budgetary Units with Special Circumstances for complete considerations and requirements.
For CA, see all of the following ages and related policies that FAA uses to determine eligibility and benefit amounts:
●Benefit cap (BC) exemptions due to a parent’s CA Family Benefit Cap Period (FBCP) for newborns. (See FBCP Exemptions for a list of BC Exemptions.)
●When a child turns two, the maximum dependent care expense amount decreases at the next renewal. (For more information about CA dependent care expense maximum deduction amounts and requirements, see CA Dependent Care.)
●Each child aged six through 15 is required to be enrolled in and attending school or be home schooled. School attendance is included in the CA Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA) that single and two parent budgetary units are required to agree with for CA eligibility. (See PRA School Attendance for all of the school attendance requirements.)
●When a dependent child turns 18 or 19, the child may become a mandatory referral for the CA work program. (See CA Jobs Work Program Requirements for more information about services available with the CA work program.)
●For CA potential eligibility, an application is required to include a dependent child. Based on multiple circumstances, a child may no longer be considered a CA dependent child when they turn 18 or when they turn 19. (See CA Dependent Child and CA Student Criteria for more information about CA eligibility requirements.)
Verification
Date of Birth Verification
For NA and CA, FAA requests age verification when a participant's age is questionable(g), and age is a factor in determining eligibility or benefit amount.
Any of the following documents verify the date of birth for NA and CA:
●Adoption records
●Baptismal certificate before age five
●Bureau of Vital Statistics
●Certificate of Indian Blood
●Certificate of Live Birth signed by a hospital official and a parent
●Certified Birth Certificate issued by the United States (U.S.), state, or local governmental Bureau of Vital Statistics
●Hospital Birth Certificate
●Social Security records
●Tribal Census Card
●Completed Tribal Records Request (FAA-0061A) form
●U.S. Passport
When the previously listed documents are not available, any of the following forms can be used to verify the date of birth for both NA and CA:
●Affidavit Attesting Citizenship for Cash and Nutrition Assistance (FAA-1353A) form needs to be acquired from FAA. See the instructions on the form for completion requirements.
●Child wellness agency records.
●Court order for child support.
●Doctor's statement.
●Family Bible record.
●Federal or state census records.
●Insurance policy.
●Juvenile court records.
●School records.
●Voluntary social service agency records.
When the previously listed documents are unavailable, a participant can use a driver’s license to verify the date of birth.
When the previously listed documents are not available, one of the following can be used to verify the date of birth for CA:
●Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) document assigning a person to an institution of higher learning
●A minister's statement
A participant can receive a birth or death verification from a state vital statistics office. See Vital Statistics Office for address and website information.
NOTE The participant is responsible for requesting, and for all expenses associated with requesting, verification of birth or death certificates from a government bureau of vital statistics.
Legal Authorities
AAC R6-12-205
AAC R6-12-504(21)
7 CFR 273.2(f)(5)
7 CFR 273.9(c)(7)
7 CFR 273.2(h)(1)(i)(C)
7 CFR 273.2(h)(2)
last revised 10/27/2025 effective 09/02/2025