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Chapter: 2400 Budgeting Income Program: RAP 52 2460.0341 Verification of Shelter Obligation (RAP) The applicant’s statement of the shelter is acceptable at application unless questionable. The recipient’s statement of a shelter obligation is acceptable unless at scheduled complete eligibility reviews, whenever a recipient moves, or an increase in shelter obligation is reported that would result in a higher Tier standard being applied, or if the shelter obligation is not questionable . If the shelter obligation is questionable and proof of a shelter obligation is not provided, Tier III is to be budgeted at application or complete review. If proof is later provided, the correct shelter standard will be applied to the TCA budget beginning with the first TCA payment month following the receipt of proof of the shelter obligation.

Recipients who have a shelter obligation are considered to have this obligation even if they are in the process of being evicted.

Tier I and Tier II are budgeted for applicants who have a shelter obligation even if they had no shelter obligation prior to their application for Temporary Cash Assistance.

In stepparent situations, both spouses are responsible for the obligation, whether or not both names are on the lease or mortgage. The monthly amount of the shelter obligation is used in determining which payment Tier applies. When the parent or stepparent payee’s needs are not included in the benefits and he claims that the children are required to share in his or her shelter cost, the shelter obligation of the parent, stepparent, or parent and stepparent (when both are residing together in the home) is included in the budget.

For AGs in which there is a SSI parent, use the shelter obligation of the parent. The shelter obligation of the parent must be verified only if questionable. 2460.0342 Budgeting Three Tier Payment Standards (RAP) The selection of the correct Tier (see Appendix A-5) is based on the circumstances expected for the assistance group for the month. If there is an obligation any time during the month, it will be reflected in the budget for that month.

Example 1: Mrs. B. paid rent of $500 on August 1 and was budgeted Tier I. On August 15 she moved in with her parents and no longer has a shelter obligation. The September benefit must reflect the standards of Tier III, because she had no obligation for the entire month.

If a change in shelter obligation results in prospective ineligibility, the case should be terminated effective the next month in which 10 days notice can be provided.

If an individual makes a change in shelter while the application is pending, use the appropriate Tier for any month the individual incurred a shelter obligation during the pending application period.

Example 2: Ms. C. applied on June 1 but due to her delay, she is not approved until September 2. She paid rent of $55 in June, July and August but moved on August 8 and no longer has a shelter obligation. The July and August benefits must reflect the standards of Tier I. September benefit must reflect the standards of Tier III. 2460.0343 Adding New Individuals to Benefit (RAP) When adding new individuals to an existing assistance group (AG), the eligibility specialist selects the appropriate Tier based on the existing assistance group’s actual circumstances for the month.