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Chapter: 2400 Budgeting Income Program: RAP 55 Note: When an individual has just begun or terminated a job in the current month, a full month's income is not budgeted but only that amount received in the month or anticipated to be received. 2460.0600 ROUNDING (RAP) When it is necessary to divide because of averaging or prorating, round the resulting amount to the nearest cent as follows:

Step 1 - Perform the division to three decimal positions; that is, to three positions after the decimal point. Step 2 - If the third decimal position is five to nine, round the amount to the next higher cent. Step 3 - If the third decimal position is four or less, round the amount to the next lower cent (that is, drop the third decimal position). 2460.0700 INCOME CONVERSION (RAP) Most income is received more often than monthly; that is; it is received weekly, biweekly, or semimonthly. Since eligibility and benefit amounts are issued based on a calendar month, income received other than monthly is to be converted to a monthly amount.

The following conversion factors based on the frequency of pay are used.

Weekly income (once a week): Multiply by 4.3. Biweekly income (every two weeks): Multiply by 2.15. Semimonthly income (twice a month): Multiply by 2. 2460.0800 EXPLORING MANAGEMENT (RAP) Management is the comparison of the monthly income received and expenses paid by the applicant or recipient. In exploring eligibility, an applicant or recipient is required at a minimum to explain management.

For RAP an applicant is required to explain management for the month(s) of application and may be required to explain management for months prior to the month of application. A recipient is required to explain management if questionable for the month of complete eligibility review and may be required to explain management during the review period. An application cannot be rejected for failure to provide documentation of expenses paid in months prior to application; however, failure to explain management during the month(s) of application may result in denial of the application if eligibility cannot be determined.

When current paid expenses exceed acknowledged income receipt of income from other possible sources must be explored by the eligibility specialist and verification or documentation secured by the individual, if indicated.

If the applicant or recipient cannot explain how the bills were paid, the case should not be denied or canceled solely on “management”. However, the eligibility specialist must request that the applicant or recipient furnish additional information, that is, pend the case. Failure by the applicant or recipient to provide this information within the pending deadlines will result in the case being denied based on the fact that eligibility cannot be determined.