4002.1 Potential Resources

Potential resources are resources that a client has claim to, but that the client does not directly possess. Examples of potential resources include a pending claim for RSDI, UC, or insurance benefits, an inheritance that has not been through probate, or a pending property settlement that is the result of a divorce action. The following individuals must apply for Unemployment Compensation (UC): • Individuals whose hours are reduced by their employers; or • Individuals laid off by their employers. These individuals must cooperate with the Department of Labor to determine if they are eligible for UC. Usually, the individual must keep two (2) appointments with DOL before their UC claim is processed. When the Division learns that a client has a potential resource, the worker will establish when the resource will become available and set a control to monitor its availability. The client is required to apply for potential resources and accept them as they become available. When the potential resource becomes available to the client, DSS will redetermine financial eligibility and make appropriate case changes. All potential resources and the time of their future availability must be documented in the case record. Interest or dividends from a potential resource that is not yet available is counted as income. Accrued vacation and/or sick leave is treated as a potential resource when an applicant or recipient requests a leave of absence from employment for a specific period of time. The eligibility worker must request verification of the availability of payment for accrued leave time and require that the client take steps to receive the payment if it is available. The income when received will be treated as earned income if it is paid as a wage. It will be treated as unearned income if it is paid as a disability benefit through an insurance company.