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Title 7: SNAP Page 22 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter G: Case Maintenance Common Changes in Household Circumstances Revised September 27, 2024 Household Moves Common Changes in Household Circumstances This section contains information regarding how to handle specific changes that may occur. Household Moves Legal reference: 7 CFR 273.3, 273.12, and 273.13 Policy: Households are not required to report when they move. However, if you become aware of a new address, you must determine if there has been a change in shelter or utility costs. You do not need timely notice to cancel a household’s SNAP case when the household reports it moved to another state. Do not close SNAP in Iowa based on information from another state saying that a client has applied there. The client needs to contact us to request closure so they can receive benefits in the other state. Procedure: Shelter and utility expenses need to be verified when a household reports a move, regardless of whether or not the household reports a change in expenses. Request verification of expenses at the new address. If the household does not provide the information, remove the previous expenses. If later provided, they can be used for future months. See 14-B(5), Canceling Ongoing Benefits: Due to Move for system entries when a household moves out of state. Household’s Mail is Returned Legal reference: 7 CFR 273.12(c), 273.13 Policy: When the post office returns a household’s mail, no action is taken. A household is not required to report a move, and information from the post office is not considered verified upon receipt. Unless the household contacts you to report an address change, do not take any action. Procedure: When mail is returned by the post office, but you haven’t had contact from the client, hold this information until recertification. At that time you will need to clarify the situation with the household. This is true regardless of whether:  the post office returns the mail with or without a forwarding address, or  the new address is in Iowa or out of state.