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Example A group of three receives a lump sum of $3,000 and also has earnings of $200 (after disregards) in the month. Its need standard is $712. Consequently, the group is ineligible for four months and $352 is considered available income in the 5th month (3,000/712 = 4 with 352 remaining). Recalculate the period whenever a group reapplies for assistance before the end of the period or whenever the group requests it. The period of ineligibility will be shortened if: • the need standard increases, • the number of people in the group increases, • the lump sum becomes unavailable to the group for a reason beyond its control, or • the group incurs and pays for medical expenses. 'Unavailable' means that the funds are no longer in the possession of the group. 'A reason beyond the group's control' means that the funds were either stolen or spent for any of the following: • back rent or mortgage after threatened with eviction; • repair or replacement of essential appliances such as stoves or refrigerators; • funeral or burial expenses for a spouse, child, or parent; • travel costs related to the death of a spouse, parent or person in that role, or child; • overdue utility bills after threatened with cut off; • court judgments including legal fees; • repair of motor vehicle essential for employment; • replacement of essentials lost due to fire, flood, or other natural disaster or theft; and • essential repairs to owner-occupied homes. The following should be used to recalculate a period of ineligibility. • Determine the number of months of ineligibility already used. • Multiply the number of months of ineligibility already used by the need standard originally used to calculate the period to arrive at the amount of income already used. • Subtract the amount of income already used, any unavailable portions of the original lump sum, and any medical expenses from the original income used to calculate the period to arrive at a revised income amount. • Determine the need standard for the current group, adding new members if any and excluding original members now absent. • Divide the revised income amount by the need standard. The result is the number of remaining months of the ineligibility period. Any remainder is considered available income in the month following the final month of ineligibility. If the calculation results in no period of ineligibility, assistance begins with the date of re-application or request for re-calculation. No underpayments exist for prior months. A person who joins the group, such as a newborn, may not establish a separate group. Instead, re- calculate the period of ineligibility.