The court ordered an absent parent to pay $400 per month directly to the landlord for half of the participant’s $800 monthly rent.

 

The $400 is not countable as income. It is considered a vendor payment since the court ordered the payment to go directly to the landlord instead of the participant.

 

Deduct the portion of the rent that is paid by vendor payment.

The participant is eligible for a $400 shelter expense deduction.

 

Document the case file on how the decision was made.