PM 12-02-01: Definitions

WAG 12-02-01.

Use the following definitions when determining eligibility and benefit amount for General Assistance (GA).

• A fiscal month is either a calendar month (i.e., first day of the month through the last day of the month) or the 16th day of the month through the 15th day of the next month. Every case is assigned to a group which is in one of these 2 fiscal months. Eligibility and benefit amount are based on facts from a case's fiscal month. All references to "month" refer to fiscal month.

The following table shows which fiscal month a case is in based on its group number.

• The payment month is the fiscal month that the monthly benefit covers.
• The budget month is the fiscal month from which income and other eligibility factors are used to determine the benefit amount.

  In prospective budgeting, the budget month is the payment month. 

• Prospective determination means reviewing eligibility factors, both financial and nonfinancial, as they are expected to exist in the payment month. It also means computing the monthly benefit amount based on income expected to be received during the payment month.
• The GA Payment Level is the basic level of need, based on Illinois Law. There are different payment levels for Transitional Assistance (GA-TA) and Family and Children Assistance (GA-FCA). See PM 12-01-01 for the GA-TA Payment Level. See WAG 25-03-05 for the GA-FCA Payment Levels.

  The Payment Level is used to determine eligibility and benefit amount. 

• Total Needs is the correct Payment Level for the unit, plus any special needs allowances that the unit may qualify for. See PM 12-01-03 for special needs allowances.
• Best Estimate is a method used for anticipating the amount of income when determining prospective eligibility and payment amount. Best estimate is based on the following:
  • At intake, best estimate is based on the applicant's income from the 30-day period prior to the application unless a change in earnings is anticipated. If a change is expected concerning a client's earnings, best estimate is based on the applicant's statement of rate of pay, hours of work, and number of expected paychecks. For unearned income, best estimate is based on the client's statement of the income to be received.
  • For active clients who report new income: Best estimate for new employment is based on the client's statement of their rate of pay, hours of work, and number of expected paychecks. For unearned income, best estimate is based on the client's statement of the income to be received.