MR #17.20: Clarification of Budgeting Policy on SNAP and TANF Due to Changes to the Client's Case

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12/27/17

Summary:

DHS Policy has updated several sections of the Policy Manual to provide better clarification on how changes to a client's case will impact the TANF or SNAP EDG in IES.

Clients must cooperate in determining their initial eligibility, as well as their continued eligibility.
Clients must always report accurately on all aspects of their application.
When a TANF EDG goes over gross for SNAP, an overpayment will be assessed for the same month as SNAP.
For SNAP, if there is an additional client added to the case with income, the unit must report if the income of all those who are in the unit exceeds the Gross Income Limit for the unit size of the case before this new client was added to the EDG.
For TANF, submittal of a REDE for households in revised manual Mid-Point Reporting (MPR) status after it is due will never cause a loss of earned income deductions. Since budgeting is prospective, always allow all the earned income deductions for each payment month for which assistance is authorized.
If there is a deletion of a SNAP Unit Member that is reported untimely, remove the person from the SNAP calculation for the month to be affected based on their reporting status.
When the SNAP Unit reports untimely that a new member has moved into the unit, add the person to the SNAP calculation for the appropriate month based on the client's reporting status.
When a SNAP Unit reports timely that a new member has moved into the unit, add the new member's income and expenses for the payment month to the unit's income and expenses for the payment month.
For TANF, when employment ends and the change is reported timely, stop budgeting earnings beginning with the payment month following the receipt of the client's last paycheck.
For TANF, when adding someone that is part of the Non-Filing Unit and all eligibility factors are met, start benefits for the client from the date the signed Form 243 is received in the FCRC or the date of the initial eligibility after the date of the written request.
For TANF and SNAP, if a change is reported timely on the Mid-Point Report, the change should be included in the budget for the 7th month of the approval period.
For a Cash overpayment, the overpayment begins the first regular roll month that could have been affected had the customer reported the information within 10 calendar days. When determining an overpayment for a TANF case with earned income, the first day of the 10 calendar day period begins the day the customer receives their first pay. If the case is in Mid-Point Reporting, the customer is not required to report changes within the 10 calendar days.
For SNAP, when there is a reported change that results in a decrease in the issuance amount for SNAP, take the action from the first month possible from the reported date.

Client Cooperation
Impact on the TANF and SNAP EDG when there is an increase in income
Additional Member added to a SNAP EDG with income
TANF EDG in MPR status
Deletion of SNAP member reported untimely
Addition of a SNAP member
Employment ends on a TANF EDG
Adding a Client to a TANF EDG that is a Non-Filing Unit Member
When to Impact a Change that is reported on a MPR for TANF or SNAP EDG
When Overpayments begin on a TANF EDG
Impact on a SNAP EDG when the change reported will decrease the SNAP issuance

Client Cooperation

Clients must cooperate in determining their initial eligibility, as well as their continued eligibility. Clients must always report accurately on all aspects of their application.

Impact on the TANF and SNAP EDG when there is an increase in income

When a TANF EDG goes over gross for SNAP, an overpayment will be assessed for the same month as SNAP.

Additional Member added to a SNAP EDG with income

For SNAP, if there is an additional client added to the case with income, the unit must report if the income of all those who are in the unit exceeds the Gross Income Limit for the unit size of the case before this new client was added to the EDG.

TANF EDG in MPR status

For TANF, submittal of a REDE for households in revised manual Mid-Point Reporting (MPR) status after it is due will never cause a loss of earned income deductions. Since budgeting is prospective, always allow all the earned income deductions for each payment month for which assistance is authorized.

Deletion of SNAP member reported untimely

If there is a deletion of a SNAP Unit Member that is reported untimely, remove the person from the SNAP calculation for the month to be affected based on their reporting status.

Addition of a SNAP member

When the SNAP Unit reports untimely that a new member has moved into the unit, add the person to the SNAP calculation for the appropriate month based on the client's reporting status.

When a SNAP Unit reports timely that a new member has moved into the unit, add the new member's income and expenses for the payment month to the unit's income and expenses for the payment month.

Employment ends on a TANF EDG

For TANF, when employment ends and the change is reported timely, stop budgeting earnings beginning with the payment month following the receipt of the client's last paycheck.

Adding a Client to a TANF EDG that is a Non-Filing Unit Member

For TANF, when adding someone that is part of the Non-Filing Unit and all eligibility factors are met, start benefits for the client from the date the signed Form 243 is received in the FCRC or the date of the initial eligibility after the date of the written request.

When to Impact a Change that is reported on a MPR for TANF or SNAP EDG

For TANF and SNAP, if a change is reported timely on the Mid-Point Report, the change should be included in the budget for the 7th month of the approval period.

When Overpayments begin on a TANF EDG

For a Cash overpayment,the overpayment begins the first regular roll month that could have been affected had the customer reported the information within 10 calendar days. When determining an overpayment for a TANF case with earned income, the first day of the 10 calendar day period begins the day the customer receives their first pay. If the case is in Mid-Point Reporting, the customer is not required to report changes within the 10 calendar days.

Impact on a SNAP EDG when the change reported will decrease the SNAP issuance

For SNAP, when there is a reported change that results in a decrease in the issuance amount for SNAP, take the action from the first month possible from the reported date.