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Division/Section Family Support

Chapter No./Name 4 – Economic Stability (ES) Part No./Name B – Eligibility Factors Section No./Name B-600-FITAP-SNAP Income Document No./Name B-660-SNAP Budgeting Effective Date October 1, 2024

6 of 8 EXPECTED TO RECUR, EXCLUDE THE CHECK AND DOCUMENT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THE BASIS OF THE DECISION. FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT INCLUDE A PAY PERIOD IN WHICH THE CLIENT DID NOT WORK DUE TO DEATH IN THE FAMILY OR A PAY PERIOD IN WHICH THE CLIENT WORKED OVERTIME WHICH IS NOT EXPECTED TO RECUR.

EXAMPLE: DURING THE INTERVIEW, THE CLIENT STATES THAT SHE MAKES AN AVERAGE OF $250 A WEEK. THE CLIENT PROVIDES TWO CHECK STUBS, ONE THAT IS FOR $150 AND ONE FOR $200. THE CLIENT MUST BE CONTACTED TO DISCUSS THIS DISCREPANCY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION IF THE CHECK STUBS PROVIDED ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF HER EARNINGS. IF THE CHECK STUBS ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF HER EARNINGS, ADDITIONAL VERIFICATION MUST BE OBTAINED. LITE MUST BE DOCUMENTED TO INDICATE WHICH CHECKS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF EARNINGS. EXAMPLE: DURING THE INTERVIEW, THE CLIENT STATES THAT SHE MAKES AN AVERAGE OF $250 A WEEK. THE CLIENT PROVIDES TWO CHECK STUBS, ONE THAT IS FOR $250 AND ONE FOR $230. THE WORKER DETERMINES THAT THESE CHECK STUBS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CLIENT’S EARNINGS. LITE MUST BE DOCUMENTED TO INDICATE WHICH CHECKS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF EARNINGS.

PAY PERIODS IN WHICH NO INCOME WAS RECEIVED SHOULD BE USED IN THE ESTIMATE IF THESE ARE REGULAR OCCURRENCES IN EMPLOYMENT.

THE WORKER MUST DETERMINE IF INCOME FOR ALL PAY PERIODS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF EARNINGS. THIS MUST BE DOCUMENTED FOR EACH PAY PERIOD PROVIDED THAT APPEARS NOT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE. PAST HISTORY (WITH THE SAME EMPLOYER), WORKER JUDGMENT, OR A DISCUSSION WITH THE CLIENT OR EMPLOYER MAY BE USED TO DETERMINE IF PAY PERIODS ARE REPRESENTATIVE.

IF, DUE TO UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS PAY PERIODS OF LESS THAN WEEKLY, NONE OF THE METHODS DESCRIBED ABOVE GIVE THE MOST ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF MONTHLY EARNINGS:

● USE THE METHOD WHICH GIVES THE MOST ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF EARNINGS, AND

● DOCUMENT THE CASE RECORD TO CLEARLY SHOW THE BASIS OF THE ESTIMATE AND THE REASON THE METHOD CHOSEN MOST ACCURATELY ESTIMATES ANTICIPATED EARNINGS.

IF AN EMPLOYEE ASKS THE EMPLOYER TO HOLD HIS WAGES, COUNT THIS MONEY AS INCOME IN THE MONTH THE HOUSEHOLD WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN PAID. IF, HOWEVER, AN EMPLOYER HOLDS WAGES AS A GENERAL PRACTICE, DO NOT COUNT THIS MONEY AS INCOME UNLESS THE HOUSEHOLD EXPECTS TO ASK FOR AND RECEIVE AN ADVANCE OR THE HOUSEHOLD EXPECTS TO RECEIVE INCOME FROM PREVIOUSLY HELD WAGES. ADVANCES ON INCOME ARE A LOAN IN THE MONTH OF RECEIPT AND INCOME WHEN HELD OUT OF WAGES FOR REPAYMENT.