(a) (1) For a recipient that is an assistance unit that includes adults and children or minor parents and children, the amount of assistance shall be designated as follows:

(i) 75% for the child or children in the assistance unit; and

(ii) 25% for the adult member or members, or minor parent or parents of the assistance unit.

(2) For a recipient that is an assistance unit that includes only adults or a recipient who is a pregnant individual, 100% of the amount of assistance shall be designated for the adult member or members or the pregnant individual.

(3) For applicants to the FIP, the amount of assistance shall be computed by counting no more than 4 weeks of earned income in any month and disregarding 20% of that earned income.

(4) The first $100 of child support collected in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected in a month for two or more children shall pass through to the family and shall be disregarded in computing the amount of assistance.

(5) For eligible recipients who obtain unsubsidized employment, the amount of assistance shall be computed by counting no more than 4 weeks of earned income in any month and disregarding 35% of that earned income.

(b) A recipient who has established eligibility may not lose eligibility solely because one or more wage earners in the family unit works more than 100 hours per month.

(c) Two-parent families shall be exempt from any requirement that the principal wage earner must have worked for a specified time before applying to the FIP.

(d) (1) A child who is living with the child’s parent and a stepparent in a household in which the household income exceeds the State eligibility standard for assistance may receive assistance if:

(i) the requirements of § 5-308 of this subtitle are met; and

(ii) the parent and the child would be eligible for assistance, based on the income of the parent and that parent’s children.

(2) The amount of assistance to be paid under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be computed with regard to the income of the stepparent if the total income of the stepparent equals or exceeds 50% of the official poverty level, adjusted for family size, established under the federal Community Services Block Grant Act.

(e) A dependent child over the age of 17 years is eligible for inclusion in the FIP grant if:

(1) the child is a full-time student in secondary school or the equivalent; and

(2) the education program is expected to be completed in the calendar year that the child attains the age of 19 years.

§5-310. ** CONTINGENCY – NOT IN EFFECT – CHAPTER 229 OF 2002 **

(a) (1) For applicants to the FIP, the amount of assistance shall be computed by counting no more than 4 weeks of earned income in any month and disregarding 20% of that earned income.

(2) The first $100 of child support collected in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected in a month for two or more children shall pass through to the family and shall be disregarded in computing the amount of assistance.

(3) For eligible recipients who obtain unsubsidized employment, the amount of assistance shall be computed by counting no more than 4 weeks of earned income in any month and disregarding 35% of that earned income.

(b) A recipient who has established eligibility may not lose eligibility solely because one or more wage earners in the family unit works more than 100 hours per month.

(c) Two-parent families shall be exempt from any requirement that the principal wage earner must have worked for a specified time before applying to the FIP.

(d) (1) A child who is living with the child’s parent and a stepparent in a household in which the household income exceeds the State eligibility standard for assistance may receive assistance if:

(i) the requirements of § 5-308 of this subtitle are met; and

(ii) the parent and the child would be eligible for assistance, based on the income of the parent and that parent’s children.

(2) The amount of assistance to be paid under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be computed with regard to the income of the stepparent if the total income of the stepparent equals or exceeds 50% of the official poverty level, adjusted for family size, established under the federal Community Services Block Grant Act.

(e) A dependent child over the age of 17 years is eligible for inclusion in the FIP grant if:

(1) the child is a full-time student in secondary school or the equivalent; and

(2) the education program is expected to be completed in the calendar year that the child attains the age of 19 years.