PM 18-04-00: Changes in the Food Assistance (SNAP and State Food) Household

WAG 18-04-00

 Change Reporting Food Assistance Households

  • A Change Reporting Revised manual textFood Assistance household is a regular roll case that meets the following criteria:
    • All adult members in the Revised manual textFood Assistance household are qualifying members and there is no earned income to budget on the case; and
    • A TANF household with Revised manual textFood Assistance and there is no earned income to budget on the case; and
    • Only when the Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy is in effect, Revised manual textFood Assistance households whose county of residence is in a nonwaived area of the state. These cases are centrally converted from Mid-Point Reporting status to Change Reporting status. A system generated notice, Change in Reporting Requirements, is mailed to the appropriate Revised manual textFood Assistance households to notify them of the change in their reporting requirements. Currently the entire State is waived from implementing the SNAP Work requirement policy through October 2024.
  • Change Reporting Revised manual textFood Assistance households must report the changes below within 10 calendar days of the date they learn about the change. For income-related changes, consider the date the first payment is received (as a result of the change) as the date the customer learned about the change:
    • When they get, change, or lose a job;
    • When monthly earned income changes by more than $125;
    • When the source of unearned income changes, or the amount changes by more than $125. The customer does not have to report changes in any cash benefit from the Department;
    • A change in Revised manual textFood Assistance household size;
    • Revised manual textA change in residence and the resulting change in shelter costs (PM 18-04-04). Provide the customer with the opportunity to register to vote when a change of address is reported in person (PM 22-12-00);
    • For non-qualifying member households who are not categorically eligible (PM 05-07-00), report when total cash on hand, stocks, bonds, and money in a bank or savings account exceeds a total of $3,000;
    • For qualifying member households who are not categorically eligible (PM 05-07-00), report when total cash on hand, stocks, bonds, and money in a bank or savings account exceeds a total of $4,500;
    • For Revised manual textFood Assistance households that receive an income exclusion for child support payments, report when the order to pay child support changes or ends. See PM 13-01-07;
    • A change that reduces the individual's work hours below 20 hours per week, averaged monthly. Currently, the entire State is exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement. See PM 03-25-00.
    • For categorically eligible households (including Revised manual textFood Assistance households receiving TANF and SSI income) and non-categorically eligible households, report substantial lottery or gambling winnings won in a single game as a cash prize more than $4,500. See PM 07-04-21 and PM 19-07-00.

Note: Due to Public Act 98-0114, effective 08/01/2013, assets are no longer considered for the TANF Program. Federal regulations allow for the exemption of vehicles as an asset for Revised manual textFood Assistance if vehicles are exempt under TANF. Categorically eligible and non-categorically eligible Food Assistance households are not required to report or provide information about vehicles.

Revised manual textHouseholds with Pending Food Assistance Applications

  • Households are to report all changes at the eligibility interview. A change that happens after the eligibility interview and before the notice of decision must be reported within 10 calendar days after the date of the notice. When a change is reported by the customer, review the effect of the change on eligibility and benefit amount.

Mid-Point Reporting SNAP Households

During the approval period, Mid-Point Reporting SNAP households are only required to report:

  • When their gross monthly income exceeds the Gross Monthly Income Standard for the household size; and

    Note: The change must be reported by the 10th day of the calendar month after the calendar month that income exceeded the Gross Income Limit. For example, gross income exceeded the limit for 08/2016 the SNAP household must report the change by 09/10/16.

  • When a SNAP household member has received lottery/gambling winnings of more than $4,500.00. See PM 07-04-21 and PM 19-07-00; and
  • When an Abled-Bodied Adult without Dependents (ABAWDs) who is subject to the SNAP Work Requirement time limit when their work hours fall below 20 hours per week; and
  • Complete the SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report when it is received. Must answer all questions and report any changes in circumstances related to the questions asked on the form. Sign the completed form and return by the due date (PM 19-07-07).

A Mid-Point Reporting household is not required to report any other changes, including an address change. However, to be consistent with Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, an address change should be acted upon for medical only cases when the address information is received by a source other than the customer. Revised manual text See PM 19-07-00 for more information.

For income related changes, consider the date the first payment is received (as a result of the change) as the date the customer learned about the change.

Note: When a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) household reports an income change during the approval period that does not exceed the Revised manual textGross Income Standard for Food Assistance, workers are to budget the income reported for the Food Assistance benefits.