MR #22.16: SNAP Policy Clarification- Budgeting the Earned Income of a Child

Illinois Department of Human Services logo

08/03/2022

Summary

As the result of a policy clarification from Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), changes have been made to WAG 08-04-01-g to clarify the procedure to follow when new income of a child is reported.

Existing Income

If the child's income is currently in the system, IES will continue to exclude the child's previously exempt earned income from the SNAP budget until the next Change Reporting SNAP household's redetermination (REDE), or the Mid-Point Reporting SNAP household's interim Mid-Point Report or REDE (whichever occurs first) except for the following condition:

  • A change in the child's status is reported to the Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) during the certification period; and
  • New income has been verified and added in IES with Circumstance Start/Change Date (CSCD) within 30 days of the child's 18th birthdate and the exemption is no longer applicable; then
  • IES will budget the income for SNAP.

New Income Reported

  • IES will budget new income that is verified and the CSCD is within 30 days of the child's 18th birthdate and the child does not meet the exemption requirements.
  • When new income is reported and has been verified, the HSC must review all income on the case to determine if any income has ended previously and to determine if previously exempt income exists for a child. If the income has ended, update with an end-date.
  • If the income continues, the CSCD and Reported On date must be updated in order to budget the income. If a Mid-Point Reporting SNAP household reports the income, but did not verify the income, the HSC must address the change at the next interim Mid-Point Report or REDE, whichever occurs first. The HSC should not send a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) to the Mid-Point Reporting SNAP household. 
  • If a Change Reporting SNAP household reports the income, but did not verify the income, send Form IL444-0267 to request verification. A Change Reporting household is required to report a change in earned income by more than $125 during the certification period.
  • Do not routinely contact a Change Reporting or Mid-Point Reporting household during the certification period for the sole purpose of checking the child's status and/or requesting income verification because a child has turned age 18 and the household has not reported the change on their own.

Manual Revisions

WAG 08-04-01-g

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms reference:

IL444-0267