110 Household Reporting Responsibilities

Certified households are required to report certain changes within the time frames stated in this section. The changes may be reported electronically, in person, by phone, by fax or by mail. (A) Change Reporting Requirements The following rules do not apply to households subject to the reporting requirements at (1) The following changes must be reported to the Department within ten days of the date that the household receives the first payment of new income: (a) A change in the amount of earned income of more than the amount authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture and posted at www.mass.gov/dta. (b) A change in the amount of unearned income of more than the amount authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture and posted at www.mass.gov/dta. (2) The following changes must be reported within ten days of the date the change becomes known to the household: (a) A change in the source of income, including starting or stopping a job or changing jobs, if the change is accompanied by a change in income; (b) A change in household composition, such as addition or loss of a household member; (c) Changes in residence and the resulting change in shelter costs; (d) A change in countable assets: 1. For noncategorically eligible households with a household member aged 60 or older or disabled, the value of cash on hand, stocks, bonds and money in bank accounts or savings institutions that reaches or exceeds the asset limit authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture and posted on www.mass.gov/dta; and 2. For all other noncategorically eligible households, the value of cash on hand, stocks, bonds and money in bank accounts or savings institutions that reaches or exceeds the asset limit authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture and posted on www.mass.gov/dta; and (e) Changes in the legal obligation to pay child support, including termination of the obligation when a child reaches the age at which child support is no longer legally obligated. (B) Transitional Benefits Alternative (TBA) Reporting Requirements. The TBA household is not required to report or provide verification of any changes in household circumstances until the TBA period has ended. See 106 CMR 365.190 for a definition of TBA households. (1) If the TBA household does report a change during the TBA period, the Department will recalculate the SNAP benefits only: (a) if the change results in a SNAP benefit amount that is less than the current TBA amount, and the TBA household has reported or the Department has learned that a member has moved out of the household and either has reapplied as a new household or is a new member of another household. In this instance the Department will pay the decreased amount. (b) If the change results in a SNAP benefit amount that is greater than the current TBA amount. The Department will: 1. recertify the household; and 2. pay the increased SNAP amount. (2) If the Department receives an income change from another program, such as TAFDC or EAEDC, for the TBA household, the Department will recalculate the SNAP benefits. (a) If the change results in a SNAP benefit amount that is less than the current TBA amount, the Department will continue to pay the current TBA SNAP benefit amount for the remaining TBA period. (b) If the change results in a SNAP benefit amount that is greater than the current TBA amount, the Department will: 1. recertify the household; and 2. pay the increased SNAP amount. (C) Simplified Reporting Requirements (1) Simplified Reporting is required for all Non-Public Assistance (NPA) households with the following exceptions: (a) the NPA SNAP household is also a TBA SNAP household; (b) the NPA SNAP household is a Bay State CAP household; or (c) the NPA SNAP household is an EDSAP household. (2) Certain Simplified Reporting households are required to complete and submit an Interim Report six months into a 12-month certification period. If the household does not submit the Interim Report, the Department will terminate the SNAP benefits. Upon receipt of the Interim Report the Department will recalculate the SNAP benefits, if appropriate. The Department will process Interim Reports in accordance with the following rules: (a) If a household fails to file a complete Interim Report (IR) by the specified date on the IR Notice, the Department will provide the household with a warning notice advising the household that it has ten days from the date the Department mails the notice to file a complete report. (b) If an eligible household files a complete IR during this 10-day period, the Department will provide the household with an opportunity to participate no later than ten days after the household's normal issuance date. (c) If the Interim Report form is not returned 30 days after it was sent or it is returned but mandatory verifications that were requested within that period have not been provided, the client will be sent an Interim Report Closing Notice. (d) If the household files a complete and timely IR that results in the reduction or termination of benefits, the Department will send an adequate notice. This notice will be sent so that the household receives it no later than the time the household's benefits are normally received. (e) If the household fails to provide sufficient verification regarding a deductible expense, the Department will not terminate the household, but will instead determine the household's SNAP benefit amount without the deduction. (3) At any time during the Simplified Reporting period, the household must report the following changes no later than ten days following the end of the calendar month in which the change occurred: (a) The household's income rises above the Gross Monthly Categorical Eligibility Income Standards found at 106 CMR 364.950 or 364.976; and (b) For a household that includes an Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD), when the work hours of the ABAWD Work Program required person drops below 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month. (4) The Simplified Reporting household may report other changes during the certification period. If these changes are reported during the certification period outside of the Interim Reporting or Recertification reporting points, the Department will recalculate the household's SNAP benefit amount and pay the increased, decreased or unchanged recalculated SNAP benefit amount as follows: (a) when the household voluntarily requests that its SNAP case be closed; (b) when the Department receives information considered verified upon receipt about changes in the household's circumstances; The Department considers information to be verified upon receipt when the information is not questionable, the provider is the primary source of the information. Examples of information considered verified upon receipt include, but are not limited to, certain data matches (e.g., Social Security Administration matches showing SSA income), changes in household composition as reported by the household and paystubs from an employer submitted to the Department; (c) when a household member has been identified as a fleeing felon or probation or parole violator per 106 CMR 367.800(D); or (d) when the change is required as the result of the Department clarifying unclear information pursuant to 106 CMR 366.115. (5) If, during the certification period prior to the submission of the Interim Report or following the submission of the Interim Report, the Department receives notice of a TAFDC or EAEDC income change for the Simplified Reporting household, the Department will recalculate the SNAP benefits and pay the increased, decreased, or unchanged recalculated SNAP benefit amount. (6) The Department may clarify unclear information received in accordance with 106 CMR 366.115 and recalculate the household's SNAP benefit amount during the certification period. The Department will recalculate the SNAP benefits and pay the increased, decreased, or unchanged recalculated SNAP benefit amount. (7) In (4), (5), and (6) above, the Department will pay the SNAP benefit amount for the remainder of the certification period unless the Department subsequently recalculates the SNAP benefit amount in accordance with (4) through (6) above. (D) Elderly/Disabled Simplified Application Project (EDSAP) EDSAP reporting households include elderly (age 60 or more) or disabled (regardless of age) household members. Children (less than 18 years old) may also be included in EDSAP households, regardless of disability status. EDSAP households are certified for 36 months and must recertify at the end of their certification period. EDSAP households are not required to complete an Interim Report. During the certification period, EDSAP households must report changes in household composition and whenever any household member begins to receive earned income. (E) Failure to Report Required Changes If a household does not report a required change and as a result receives benefits to which it is not entitled, the worker must establish a claim against the household in accordance with Chapter 367. An individual's benefits shall not be terminated for not reporting a change unless the individual is disqualified through the disqualification process in accordance with Chapter 367.

ualification process in accordance with Chapter 367.