WAG 13-02-00
Budgeting is the method by which the SNAP unit's nonexempt income is used to determine financial eligibility, and benefit amount. Determine eligibility and benefit amount prospectively.
Budgeting Definitions
Use the following definitions when determining eligibility and benefit amount for SNAP.
- Best Estimate is a method used for anticipating the amount of future income.
- Converting Income is a method used for converting income received less often than monthly to a monthly amount.
- Mid-Point Reporting households are TANF units with earnings and SNAP units in any category except:
- SNAP units where all the adults in the unit are qualifying members and the case has no earned income (PM 19-07-01), and
- TANF units with SNAP and the case has no earned income.
- A fiscal month is a calendar month (first day of the month through the last day of the month).
Eligibility and benefit amount are based on facts from a case's fiscal month. All references to "month" refer to fiscal month.
- Income Receipt Date is the date that is used when determining the amount of income received during the month. The income receipt date varies depending on the type of income. See WAG 13-02-00 for specific types of income receipt dates.
- Prospective budgeting 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 payment month is the fiscal month that the monthly SNAP benefit covers. A regular roll monthly benefit is provided on or near the beginning of the payment month.
