Background

If a household includes a minor who earns income, that income must be recorded in HMIS. If your project receives CoC, ESG, or SSVF funding, minor children’s income must be excluded from household income when determining eligibility. However, this income can still be included in the head of household’s (HoH) income record in HMIS as HMIS data is separate from enrollment eligibility determination.

If Minor Income Is Used For Household Expenses

Absent special instructions from a funder on minor children’s income, follow the guidelines in the HMIS Data Standards:

In the absence of income calculation guidelines provided by a funder, as a general rule, any income associated with a minor used for household expenses and support should be included in the head of households Income and Sources record.

2020 HMIS Data Standards Manual, Page 95

Absent special instructions from a funder on minor children’s income, follow the gui

If Minor Income is NOT Used For Household Expensesdelines in the HMIS Data Standards:

Where the [minor's] income is not relevant for household expenses, it could reasonably be excluded from entry.

2020 HMIS Data Standards Manual, Page 95

When Minors Who Enter Projects With Income Turn 18

HMIS Agency Administrators will receive an automated report whenever a client with an active enrollment turns 18. Clients who turn 18 while enrolled in a project must have an income and sources record created for them upon their 18th birthday, even if the client is not receiving any income. This information should be recorded as a Status Update, not an adjustment to the Enrollment screen.

Below are three scenarios for updating this data in HMIS.

1. If the minor contributed income to the household expenses at entry and that income continues to be used for household expenses:
   • The income should be recorded as part of the HoHs income at Project Start. When the minor turns 18, the minor’s income on the Status Update should be “No Income”. No update is necessary for the HoHs income, unless that client has had other income changes. This will ensure that HoHs are not penalized on the System Performance Measures for what appears to be a decrease in their income. HUD is aware of this discrepancy in the System Performance Measures specifications.
2. If the minor turning 18 contributed income to the household at Project Start and that income is no longer used by the household:
   • The income should be recorded as part of the HoHs income at Project Start, and a Status Update should be created for the HoH that reflects the loss of the minor’s income. A Status Update should also be created for the minor which reflects “No Income”.
3. If the minor turning 18 was not earning income at Project Start and is not contributing income as of their 18th birthday:
   • Create a Status Update for the minor and enter “No Income.”