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EAP Policy Manual FFY24 Chapter 3 Program Eligibility Requirements Page 36 • Telephone verification of unearned income using the Direct Express automated system is allowable when other methods of income verification are unavailable and when this method can identify the individual household member’s income. • Service Providers must record in the household file the individuals’ unearned income amount, date of deposit, and Service Provider staff initials. • A different verification method must be used if multiple household members receive income on the same card and the income by recipient is not distinguished by the automated Direct Express system. Normally, annual cost of living increases take effect on January 1 each year for both Social Security and SSI recipients. If the applicant’s current benefit amount (January 1 through December 31 of this year) is known and the amount of the cost of living increase is known, the Service Provider can compute the previous year’s monthly benefit amount. Due to inconsistent Medicare Part B premiums and Medicare prescription costs to enrollees, Social Security benefits may only be calculated for the prior benefit year. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Recertification Applications When processing Recertification applications, if no new income documentation is provided, use the prior year’s reported income even if there is a COLA increase. If a household submits recertification-eligible income documentation with only a COLA increase for all household members, use the new income information. Also check the Recert Income Updated checkbox on the household’s Income Information accordion so eHEAT will reset the household’s recertification status for three years. If the household submits recertification-eligible income documentation with a COLA increase for some, but not all household members, treat the application like a recertification application and use the prior year’s reported income for all household members. If there are other changes to income besides the COLA, for example the household now has wages, calculate the household’s income using all of the new income documentation including the new COLA. If the new income is not recertification-eligible, the following year the household will receive a regular Pre-Application. Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits Documentation of UI income is only available online. Online Income Verification details how households can obtain online UI income documentation.