Page 3

Title 7: SNAP Page 1 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter F: Budgeting Overview Revised September 27, 2024

Overview This chapter details how to determine countable income in order to determine SNAP eligibility and calculate benefits. Policies include:  How to make an income determination by anticipating (estimating) ongoing income and expenses at application, when a household has changes in circumstances, and at recertification,  How to calculate benefits for the certification period. Anticipating Income Legal reference: 7 CFR 273.10(a)(2) and 273.10(c)(1) Policy: Anticipating (estimating) income is the process of making a reasonably certain estimate of the amount of income a household will receive in the future. When determining how much income to budget, count income only if you can make a reasonably certain estimate of the amount and the timing of receipt. Do not count any income if you cannot estimate the amount or are uncertain when it will be received. NOTE: Income may be anticipated even if it is not guaranteed. For example, an employer might state the employee is scheduled 40 hours per week and overtime is not guaranteed, but history shows the employee consistently works overtime. You need to have a conversation with the household to determine if it is reasonable to project overtime income. If additional information is needed, request verification from the household. Comment: See 7-E, Income for each type of income a household receives in order to determine if it is countable or if the income type requires special treatment. For treatment of special income situations, see:  7-I, Migrants and Seasonal Farm Workers when a household has a member who is a migrant or seasonal farm worker.  7-I, Annualized Income and Expenses for self-employment income.  7-E, Contract Income for treatment of contract income.  7-E, Interest Income for treatment of interest income.  7-E, Annuity for treatment of annuity income. The procedures for anticipating income are described in the following sections:  Income in the month received  Past 30 days’ income