PM 13-02-00
- Compare gross monthly income to the Gross Monthly Income Standard for the SNAP household size, except when:
- The SNAP household includes a qualifying member whose gross monthly income exceeds the Gross Monthly Income Standard (200% FPL). The SNAP household must meet the Net Monthly Income Standard; or
- Every person in the SNAP household is authorized to receive TANF or SSI, including SSI cases in recoupment or suspension status. See PM 13-01-01-a.
- Determine gross monthly income in IES. Use the SNAP Calculation Sheet (IL444-0683B), if necessary.
For SNAP households whose income is from self-employment and SNAP households with a member paying court-order child support, the gross monthly income amount is minus the allowable self-employment expenses and the court-ordered child support amount. These expenses should be subtracted to get the gross income amount to compare to the Gross Monthly Income Standard.
- If total gross monthly income minus allowable self-employment expenses or court-ordered child support is equal to, or less than, the Gross Monthly Income Standard, or the SNAP household has a qualifying member, compute the SNAP household's net monthly income. Compare the SNAP household's net monthly income to the Net Monthly Income Standard for the SNAP household size (see WAG 13-01-01-b), except:
- Do not compare the net monthly income to the net income standard for categorically eligible units.
- Use the net monthly income amount to determine the monthly benefit amount.
- The net income must be at level where benefits are issued. If the unit's net income is too high to receive a benefit amount the case is ineligible.
NOTE: IES automatically compares income to the standard.
Income Excluded from Gross Income Comparison
Child Support Income Exclusion
All court-ordered child support payments should be treated as an income exclusion from the SNAP household's total gross income when comparing to the Maximum Monthly Gross Income Standard for the household size. It is not allowed as an income deduction in the net benefit calculation.
If eligible, the household's countable income (after the exclusion) is used in the benefit calculation. The same procedure applies for expedited service and the benefits calculation. See WAG 02-08-01.
Example: Mr. T is applying for SNAP and is a one person household. The Maximum Monthly Gross Income Standard for a household size of one is $2,005. His gross monthly income is $2,169. His court-ordered child support is $400 per month. Mr. T verifies his support payments by using his pay stubs received in the last 30 days.
Mr. T's countable income minus the child support income exclusion ($400) is $1,769. Mr. T is gross income eligible for SNAP. His countable income when completing the net income benefit calculation is $1,769 x .80 = $1,416 (round up). A deduction for the child support expense is not allowed in the net income benefit calculation.
| GROSS INCOME CALCULATION |
DOLLAR AMOUNT |
| Total Gross Unearned Income |
$0 |
- Less Noncompliance Amount
|
$0 |
| Total Gross Adjusted Unearned Income |
$0 |
| Total Gross Earned income |
$2,169 |
| Total Earned Plus Unearned Income |
$2,169 |
- Less Allowable Self-Employment Expenses
|
$0 |
- Less Child Support Income Exclusion
|
$400 |
| Total Countable Gross Income |
$1,769 |
Allowable Self Employment Business Expenses
Self-employment income minus the allowable costs of doing business is used in the gross income calculation. The same procedure applies when determining expedited service.
Example: Ms. J is applying for SNAP for herself and her 4-year old child. Ms. J is a self-employed beautician in her home. Her monthly gross income is $2,500 and her allowable expenses needed to operate the business is $1,200.
The Maximum Gross Income Standard for the household size of 2 is $2,712. Ms. J's countable gross income to compare to the Maximum Gross Income Standard is $1,300 = ($2,500 - $1,200). Ms. J is gross income eligible. Her countable income when completing the net income benefit calculation is $1,300 x .80 =$1,040.
| GROSS INCOME CALCULTION |
DOLLAR AMOUNT |
| Total Gross Unearned Income |
$0 |
- Less Noncompliance Amount
|
$0 |
| Total Gross Adjusted Unearned Income |
$0 |
| Total Gross Earned income |
$2,500 |
| Total Earned Plus Unearned Income |
|
- Less Allowable Self-Employment Expenses
|
|
- Less Child Support Income Exclusion
|
$0 |
| Total Countable Gross Income |
$1,300 |
Computing Gross and Net Monthly Income
- Compute the earned income deduction by multiplying total gross earned income by .80 and rounding up to the nearest whole dollar.
- To compute monthly income, drop cents from all figures before and after each calculation, except for individual medical expenses, child support payments, and individual shelter costs.
- When determining actual medical expenses for SNAP units whose expenses exceed the appropriate Standard Medical Deduction, child support payments, and shelter costs, add the individual expenses or payments together and then drop cents.
The following 3 examples show the actual computation of gross and net monthly income. Monthly information used:
Example 1: gross earned income $2,500; TANF $233; dependent care costs $100; rent $1,500; Air Conditioning/Heating Standard $577.
Example 2: gross earned income $2,500; TANF $233; Standard Medical Deduction $185; dependent care costs $100; rent $1,500; Air Conditioning/Heating Standard $577.
Example 3: gross earned income $3,280; unearned income $870; actual medical expenses $600; dependent care deduction $400; rent $1,400; Air Conditioning/Heating Standard $577.
Example 1: 3-person SNAP household, (no sanctioned or IPV or qualifying member)
Gross Income Test (165% FPL)
$2,500 Total Earned Income
+ 233 Gross Unearned Income
$ 2,733 Total income to compare to 3-person gross monthly income standard of $3,419.
The SNAP household is categorically eligible because the total gross income does not exceed the 3-person gross income standard $3,419. Compute Net Monthly Income and use to determine benefit amount only. Do not compare to net monthly income standard.
$2,500 Total Earned Income
x .80 EI Deduction, multiply by .80 (round up)
$2,000 Total Net Earned Income
+ 233 Net Unearned Income
$2,233 Subtotal
- 194 Standard Deduction
$2,039 Total Adjusted Income
- 100 Dependent Care Costs
$1,939 Adjusted Net Income
- 672 Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,269 Net Monthly SNAP Income
Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,500 Rent
+ 577 Air Conditioning/Heating Standard
$ 2,077 Shelter Costs
- 970 = ($1939 Adjusted Net Income divided by 2)
$1,107 Excess Shelter Deduction
$672 is used, as that is the Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction for a unit without a qualifying member.
Example 2: 3 person SNAP household includes a qualifying member
Gross Income Test (200% FPL)
$ 2,500 Total Earned Income
+233 Gross Unearned Income
$ 2,733 Total income to compare to 3-person gross monthly income standard 4,142.
Gross income within Gross Monthly Income Standard. The SNAP household is categorically eligible. Compute Net Monthly Income and use to determine monthly benefit amount only. Do not compare to the Net Monthly Income Standard.
$2,500 Total Earned Income
x .80 EI Deduction, multiply by .80 (round up)
$2,000 Total Net Earned Income
+233 Net Unearned Income
$2,233 Subtotal
-194 Standard Deduction
$2,039 Total Adjusted Income
-150* Excess Medical Expenses
$1,889 Subtotal
-100 Dependent Care Costs
$1,789 Adjusted Net Income
-1,228 **Excess Shelter Deduction
$ 561 Net Monthly SNAP Income
*Standard Medical Deduction
$185 Medical Expense Standard for a Qualifying Member
-35 Medical Deduction
$150 Excess Medical Expenses
**Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,500 Rent
+577 Air Conditioning/Heating Standard
$2,077 Subtotal
-895 ($1789 Adjusted Net Income divided by 2)
1,182 Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,182 is used, since the SNAP household includes a qualifying member and the excess shelter deduction does not have a maximum limit.
Example 3: 3 person unit includes qualifying member
Gross Income Test (200% FPL)
$3,280 Total Earned Income
+870 Gross Unearned Income
$4,150 Total income to compare to 3-person gross monthly income standard of $4,142.
Gross income exceeds Gross Monthly Income Standard (200% FPL). Unit is not categorically eligible. The SNAP household's net monthly income must be within the Net Monthly Income Standard for the SNAP household size to qualify for benefits.
Compute Net Monthly Income
$3,280 Total Earned Income
x .80 EI Deduction, multiply by .80 (round up)
=$2,624 Total Net Earned Income
+$870 Net Unearned Income
=$3,494 Subtotal
$194 Standard Deduction
=$3,300 Total Adjusted Income
- $565 Excess Medical Expenses
=$2735.
- 400 Dependent Care Costs
$2,335 Adjusted Net Income
- - 809 Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,526 Net Monthly SNAP Income compared to Net Income Standard for 3-persons of $2,072.
Excess Medical Expenses
$600 Actual Medical Expenses
-35 Medical Deduction
$565 Excess Medical Expenses
Excess Shelter Deduction
$1,400 Rent
+$577 Air Conditioning/Heating Standard
$1,977 Subtotal
-$1,168 ($2335 Adjusted Net Income divided by 2 rounded up)
$809 Excess Shelter Deduction
$809 is used, since the SNAP household includes a qualifying member, and the excess shelter deduction does not have a maximum limit.
Computing Monthly Benefit Amount
Assign a monthly benefit based on the SNAP household's net monthly income. See WAG 25-03-09 for the Basis of Issuance Table. The minimum full monthly benefit amount for a 1 or 2-person SNAP household is $23.
To determine the monthly benefit for a SNAP household of more than 10 persons, take the following steps:
- Multiply the SNAP household's net monthly income by 30%. Round up to the next dollar if the answer ends in 1 through 99 cents.
Example:
$294.00 Net Monthly Income
x .30
$88.20 = $89.00
- Subtract the whole dollar amount from the maximum monthly benefit amount for the unit's size. Use the table below for the maximum monthly benefit amount for the unit size.
This amount is the SNAP household's monthly benefit amount.
The maximum monthly benefit amounts by SNAP Household size are:
| SNAP Household Size |
Maximum Monthly Amount |
| 1 Person |
$291 |
| 2 Persons |
535 |
| 3 Persons |
766 |
| 4 Persons |
973 |
| 5 Persons |
1,155 |
| 6 Persons |
1,386 |
| 7 Persons |
1,532 |
| 8 Persons |
1,751 |
| 9 Persons |
1,970 |
| 10 Persons |
2,189 |
| Each Additional Member |
+219 |
Income Receipt Date
The 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.
- For earned income, the receipt date is the day the employer makes the check available to the employee, regardless of the date the employee actually takes possession of the check. If the employer normally mails checks, use the date the employee states the check was received, allowing a reasonable interval.
- For Unemployment Insurance (UI) income, the debit card receipt date is 2 days following the mail date in AWVS.
- For stable earned or unearned income regularly received once a month, budget the single payment each month, even if, due to variations in the date of receipt, no payments or 2 payments are received in a particular fiscal month. For stable earned or unearned income regularly received twice a month, budget 2 payments each month, even if, due to variations in the date of receipt, one payment or 3 payments are received in a particular fiscal month.
