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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 153 Chapter 13 Chapter 13. Determining Household Eligibility and Benefit Level 13.1 Determining Household Eligibility ESA must determine a household’s eligibility for SNAP by completing the following tasks:  Receive all required verification to verify household circumstances (see Chapter 5, Verification). − Note: For households entitled to expedited processing, verification may be postponed except for identity (see Section 7.2.5, Expedited Verification).  Ensure the household meets all the nonfinancial eligibility requirements (see Chapter 8, Nonfinancial Eligibility).  For households subject to asset limits, ensure the household does not have more assets than the appropriate asset limit (see Section 13.2, Determining Assets).  For households subject to the gross and net income limits, ensure the household does not have income higher than these limits (see Section 13.5.2, Income Eligibility). For households determined eligible for SNAP, ESA will calculate monthly benefit amount. Households with three or more members whose calculated monthly benefit amount is zero are not eligible to participate. See Section 13.5, Calculation of Net Income and Benefit Levels. ESA must use prospective eligibility to determine eligibility and benefit levels. 13.1.1 Prospective Eligibility and Budgeting Prospective eligibility is the determination of SNAP eligibility based on actual and anticipated income and other household circumstances. Prospective budgeting is the determination of an eligible SNAP household’s benefit amount based on actual and anticipated income and other household circumstances reasonably anticipated. See Section 13.3, Determining Income, for more information. ESA uses prospective eligibility and budgeting. Return