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conditions must be reviewed before the worker can determine when to start the 6 month period. The household does not have to pass the gross income test to qualify for this disregard.

MISSISSIPPI [BUDGETARY PROCESS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES]

Revised 12-01-17

Budgeting When the Marriage is a Reportable Change (refer to “Reporting Requirements for TANF Households”, earlier in this chapter): If the income of the new spouse in combination with the household s income exceeds 185% of the need standard established at the most recent case review, the marriage would be a reportable change and subject to simplified reporting rules. This means the marriage should be reported no later than the 10th of the month following the month in which the change (marriage) occurred. If the client reports timely, the spouse will be added for the first possible month and the income and resources disregarded for 6 months. If the client fails to report the marriage timely, the worker will determine when the 6 month disregard should have started and if any months remain after adding the new spouse to the case. Only the remaining months would be eligible for the income and resource disregard of the new spouse. Budgeting When Marriage is NOT a Reportable Change: If the income of the new spouse in combination with the household s income does not exceed 185% of the need standard established at the most recent case review, the marriage would not be a reportable change. This means the client does not have to report the marriage until the next case review. The spouse will be added for the first possible month after the marriage is reported and the income and resources will be disregarded for 6 months. Once the worker establishes the time frame for the six month disregard, MAVERICS notice, A706, Marriage Disregard Notice, will be sent advising the PI that the new spouse will be added to the case but that this will not affect the TANF money payment for the appropriate number of months. The worker will code the new spouse with a relationship code of ANW@ and participation code of AOU@ for TANF. (The new spouse and his income would be added to an open SNAP case using the participation code of AIN@.) If the new spouse has income, the worker will use the code ANW@ on the EAIN or UNIN screen. This will allow the income to be disregarded in TANF but counted in an open SNAP case. If the client fails to report the marriage timely, the worker will determine when the 6 month disregard should have started. If any months remain after adding the new spouse to the case, only the remaining months would be eligible for the income and resource disregard of the new spouse. If the client reports the new spouse left the home during the disregard period, the marriage