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MS 5650
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Volume 2 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) MS 5650 - R. 12/15/25 – OMTL - 686 Budgeting Income
For the purpose of determining the household's eligibility and monthly benefit, consider the income already received during the month and any anticipated income reasonably certain to be received during the remainder of the certification period.
If the amount of income that will be received or when it will be received is uncertain, do not count that portion of the household's income.
Example: A household is anticipating income from a new source, such as, but not limited to, a new job, Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) grant, Retirement and Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but is uncertain as to the time or amount of payment. These monies are not anticipated unless there is reasonable certainty of the month of receipt and the amount of payment.
Handle specific income listed below as follows:
A. Wages
1. Steady Employment:
a. If anyone in the household is steadily employed, the best practice is to use gross income from all pay periods in the prior two calendar months to determine the amount of income that can be anticipated in the month of application and subsequent months. This includes tips as well as wages.
Example: four semi-monthly gross paychecks of:
$360.25, $325.30, $359.20, and $338.45 = $1383.20 $1383.20 ÷ 4 = $345.80 $345.80 x 2 = $691.60 per month, which the system will round to $692.00 per month.
b. If the individual is unable to provide the prior two months verification but has provided verification that is representative of their ongoing income, accept their verification. Remember year-to-date income can sometimes be used to determine income for missing pay dates.
Example: An individual comes in for a recertification in December and states they are paid weekly on Fridays. The worker asks for all the October and November check stubs, and the individual states they don’t have them all. They have two October check stubs and three November check stubs. They state they work 35-40 hours per week, and the provided check stubs reflect that. The provided verification is representative of their anticipated ongoing income and is sufficient. No further verification is requested.