9000 Reporting Changes, Transfer of Assistance and Reviews

9121 Households Required to Change Report - The following households are required to report certain changes in circumstances within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household. (See NOTE: at the end 9121 for a definition of "becomes known to the household.") The Change Reporting Requirements Chart listed below lists the type of changes that are required to be reported. The boxes marked with an "x" indicate the type of changes that are required to be reported for each category of assistance.

The following households are required to change report:

All TANF cash assistance cases;

Child care cases;

Change Reporting Requirements

TANF Change in the source of income (earned or unearned) When the amount of earned income being counted increases or decreases by more than $100 per month. When the amount of unearned income being counted increases or decreases by more than $50 per month Changes in household composition, including marriage, separation or divorce. Changes in residence, including moving into or from an institution or hospital. When resources reach or exceed $3,000

Child Care Changes to the family’s gross monthly income that would cause the total amount to exceed 85% state median income for a family of its size. Changes in residence, including moving into or from an institution or hospital. Choice of child care provider and/or hours of child care needed/used (other than hours needed for school aged children for times that school is not in session). This includes when child care is no longer being used or has not been used for an entire calendar month for any or all children receiving assistance. When a parent/caretaker experiences a non-temporary loss of employment, or they stop attending (and are not enrolled in) an approved education or training program. This does not include time-limited changes (these are all considered temporary changes): Absences due to the need to care for a family member; Student holidays and breaks; Reduction in work, training or education hours, as long as the parent is still working or attending a training or educational program; Changes in residency within the state; or Cessation of work or attendance at a training or educational program if it is verified that the parent remains employed or enrolled and is expected to resume the activity at some point.

Households may report a change in their circumstances by telephone, in person, in writing, or by use of the Change Report Form. Other changes in circumstances are not required to be reported until review.

NOTE: For purposes of this provision "becomes known to the household" is defined as:

TANF

Change When is the change known to the household? Earned Income/Source of Earned Income Receipt of first pay check or the last day of the month in which income for the month increased or decreased by more than $100. Unearned Income/Source of Unearned Income Receipt of first payment or when payment received has increased or decreased by more than $50. Household Composition The day the person enters or leaves the household, day of marriage, separation, or divorce. Changes in Residence Day person moves. Resources Reach or Exceed Limit Last day of the month in which resources exceeded the limit.

Child Care

Change When is the change known to the household? Changes to the family’s gross monthly income that would cause the total amount to exceed 85% of state median income for a family of its size. When the household’s total gross earned and unearned income increases and exceeds 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) for their household size. For households with an established Guaranteed Eligibility (GE) period, client statement is sufficient that income remains below 85% SMI, unless questionable. Changes in Residence Day person moves. Choice of Child Care Provider and/or Hours of Child Care Needed Changes in child care provider are known on the date the change occurs. When child care is no longer being used, the change is known to the household no later than the first day of the calendar month after child care was not used for an entire calendar month. When a parent/caretaker experiences a non-temporary loss of employment, or education or training program. If a parent/caretaker experiences a non-temporary loss of employment, or education or training program participation for one entire month, the change is known to the household no later than the first day of the calendar month that follows the full month of loss.

9121.1 Processing Changes Reported by Change Reporting Households - When the agency receives information that a change has occurred, the worker shall act on the changes within 10 days after the date the change is reported by taking the following actions:

Document in the case file the reported change, the date the change occurred, and the date the change was reported;

Determine if verification or additional information is required (refer to 1322.1 and 9121.2 );

Contact the household to request needed information or verification as soon as possible;

For cash (including the Work Incentive payment) , and food assistance changes reported outside of the interim report form, determine eligibility and benefits for the issuance month according to the provisions of 7000 . Households reporting changes which would result in an increase in benefits must provide any required verification within 10 days of the date of agency request. No increase in benefits shall be granted if the household does not provide the required verification. If no verification is required or if the verification required is received within 10 days from the date of verification request, the increased benefits are to be granted effective the month following the month the change is reported. If the verification is received after 10 days from the date the verification was requested, the increased benefits would be effective the first month following the month the verification is received. NOTE: For cash (including the Work Incentive payment), see 4100 and 7401 for other provisions regarding adding a person to the plan. Changes resulting in ineligibility or a decrease in benefits shall affect eligibility the first month possible considering timely notice requirements.

For child care, reported changes will only be acted on if: they result in an increase in benefits/decrease in family share for the family, an income increase results in countable income exceeding 85% of the State Median Income, one of the other circumstances listed in 7640 that results in case closure should occur.

Hours of care may not be decreased and family share deductions may not be increased due to a reported change during a 12-month eligibility period. However, benefits may decrease if one of the following occurs:

a change in providers and the rate for the new provider is less than the rate for the previous provider,

a rate change made by DCF,

a change in the provider's eligibility for enhanced rates,

a child’s age change, or

if a family indicates that child care will not be used, either for an individual child or for all children.

Verification requirements of item 4 (a) above also apply to situations which would result in an increase in child care benefits. For households reporting a change in hours of child care needed for school age children due to days out of school (scheduled or unscheduled) for holidays, breaks, teacher in service, etc., no adjustment will be made to the plan hours, as this is accounted for by the system and averaged over the school year. Changes that increase benefits/decrease family share for the family are made the month after reported, except for when reinstating child care or the addition of a new child. When a family receiving child care reports the addition of a child to the household and requests child care benefits for that child, the child must receive a full 12 months of eligibility. The child will be added beginning with the date of request or the date care begins, whichever is later, and the 12 full months will be determined in the same way it is determined for new applications. See KEESM 9374 . In addition, child care plans will be extended for all other children on the case to end in the same month as the last month of the newly added child’s eligibility period, and the family’s eligibility review will be changed to the last month of that newly established Guaranteed Eligibility (GE) period . There is no limit to the number of times a family’s GE period may be extended. When reinstating child care after a closure, see KEESM 1423 .

9121.2 Verification at the Time a Change is Reported - The following chart explains when verification is required for purposes of the Food Assistance Program when a change is reported other than at time of the interim report, 12-month report form or review.

Note: A change that is received, that is not mandatory to be reported per simplified reporting requirements, is over 60 days old from certification and is unclear is to be held until next interim report, 12-month report or review. See KEESM 9122.7 .

Verification Required? Change Reported Benefits will Increase Benefits will Decrease Gross Non-Exempt Income Yes* *Yes Unearned Income Which has changed by $50 or less No No Unearned Income which has changed by more than $50 Yes No Actual Utility Expense(s) (only if using actuals per 7226.3 (3)) Yes No Household Composition Yes No Non-citizen Status Yes No Medical Expenses Yes No Legal Obligation to Pay Child Support Yes No Amount of Legally Obligated Child Support Yes No Dependent Care No,unless questionable No Shelter Expenses (rent, mortgage--including second mortgages, non-occupancy and disaster costs--, lot rent, real estate taxes, and homeowner's insurance) Yes Yes Utility Standards Yes Yes Homeless Shelter Expense No, unless questionable No

If "no" is listed in the chart, verification, if required (per 1322 ), shall be obtained at the time of the next review. In addition, if verification is not required, it can be requested if the change reported is questionable and documented as such. (See 1322 ).

* Verification of non-exempt income (including reductions and loss of earned income) must be obtained at the time a change is reported. Households must be given 10 days to provide needed verification of income. If verification is received within 10 days, benefits shall be increased effective the month following the month the change is reported. If verification is received after 10 days from the date the verification was requested, increased benefits are effective the first month following the month the verification was provided. Changes resulting in a decrease in benefits shall affect eligibility the first month possible considering timely notice requirements. (NOTE: The agency has 10 days from the date the change is reported to timely act on the change. See 9121.1 .) If verification of income is not provided, the case shall be closed allowing for timely and adequate notice requirements.

** If verification of a shelter expense is not provided, benefits shall be determined by allowing the previously verified amount. In other words, the shelter amount is not changed if verification is not provided. For example, verified rent is $200/month. The client reports an increase to $250 and verification is requested but not provided. Benefits must be determined allowing the "old" $200 verified rent amount. See Shelter Changes Chart in the Appendix , Item T-10. If verification of the entitlement to a utility standard is not provided, benefits shall also be determined by allowing the previously verified utility standard.

9121.3 Reserved

9121.4 Notices to Households Subject to Change Reporting - The agency must provide the household with a notice of action that meets the definition of timely and adequate notice, as defined in 1432 , if the household's benefits are being reduced or terminated. If benefits are being increased, only adequate notice, as defined in 1432 , is required.