loading…
loading…
loading…
FS Non-recurring lump sums are countable against the asset limit in the month the lump sum is received. Lump sums and accrued benefits which are to be treated as assets and not income include the following: • lottery winnings, • income tax refunds, • inheritances, • lawsuit settlements, • insurance settlements, • refunds of security deposits for rent or utilities, • retroactive unemployment compensation benefits, • retroactive TANF benefits, • retroactive SSI benefits, • retroactive OASDI (Social Security) benefits, • retroactive railroad retirement benefit, and • retroactive veteran's benefits. Retroactive OASDI (Social Security) benefits are excluded assets for 6 months. While retroactive TANF and SSI benefits are considered assets, the assets of individuals receiving TANF or SSI are not considered when determining countable assets for the household. If all household members receive TANF or SSI, the household is categorically eligible for FS and does not have to meet the asset test. If some members of the household do not receive TANF or SSI, the assets of those members who do are excluded so the receipt of retroactive TANF or SSI will not affect their eligibility (see Section 1.27: SSI and Public Assistance Benefits in this Part). Annuities and lottery winnings that are paid on an annual basis must be averaged as income over a 12-month period. Example 1 Ms. Williams and her two children receive TANF and FS. Between January and August, she received a TANF benefit of $200. IMA discovers that her TANF benefits were miscalculated for the eight-month period and that she should have received $275 each month. In September, she receives a payment of $600 to offset her underpayment for the eight-month period in addition to her $275 regular TANF benefits. The group's FS benefits were calculated correctly between January and August based on the income Ms. Williams actually received (that is, based on a TANF benefit of $200). The $600 underpayment is treated as an asset, not as income, in the month received. The group receives TANF and is categorically eligible for FS; therefore, the additional assets cannot make her ineligible for FS. The group's FS benefits are not adjusted for the January-August period, and the group is not charged with an overpayment. Example 2 Ms. Johnson and her two children received TANF and FS from January through April. She found a job in April and stopped receiving TANF. She continues receiving FS. In June, Ms. Johnson is awarded a $300 TANF underpayment based on a prior Department error. The $300 is considered an asset in June - but the family is also considered to be a TANF recipient in June and, therefore, categorically eligible for FS. Thus, in June, the family is not required to meet the FS asset test.