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Volume III | Chapter 9

9188 MISSISSIPPI [ PROGRAM COMPONENTS: COORDINATION OF SERVICES]

Revised 08 - 01 - 12 Income Included The Housing Authority will determine the amount of income to include in their calculation to determine the amount a resident will pay in rent. They will determine the total amount of TANF benefits as well as earnings the individual was receiving prior to entering the training program and arrive at a “base amount,” anything over this would be considered the “incremental amount” and excluded from the calculation. EXAMPLE: A Section 8 family member is receiving $170 per month in TANF benefits. She enrolls in a qualifying State employment training program, such as job readiness, and becomes employed receiving $450 per month. The TANF benefits stop. To determine the incremental amount of earnings and benefits, HUD subtracts $170 (benefits prior to enrollment in the training program) from the $450 (income). The incremental amount is $280. HUD would then determine the income to be counted, $170 and the amount to be excluded, $280. The exclusion could run a maximum of 18 months. Explanation to the Recipient At each application, re-application, reevaluation, TWP intake, and during the job readiness component, the eligibility worker, case manager and/or job readiness trainer will inform the individual about potential HUD income exclusions in determining the rent amount. To be eligible for this exclusion, the individual would have to participate in or have completed a qualifying training program, such as the job readiness training component in the TANF Work Program. All applicants and recipients should be made aware of this possible exclusion. However, this will only benefit those recipients living in public and assisted housing who participate in or have completed an approved training activity. It is possible that the individual would not qualify for the exclusion at the time they are in the county EA office for application, reapplication or reevaluation, but they may become eligible at a future date. It will be the responsibility of the individual to report changes in their household and follow up with the Housing Authority to ensure a proper determination of their rent. The explanation to the individual must be documented in the case record on MDHS- EA900A. The Job Readiness Training Verification form, MDHS-EA-910H, will be used to help recipients, living in public and assisted housing, verify their status in the TWP job readiness training component and employment placements to establish eligibility for the potential income exclusion. It will be the responsibility of the TWP participant to request that a MDHS-EA-910H be completed at the end of the job readiness training component and include the information verifying his/her employment status. If the participant completes the job readiness training component and is employed, the appropriate section of the form should be completed, along with the employment date (unsubsidized), employer’s name, average hourly wage and scheduled hours per week. Should the individual complete the job readiness training component and not be employed, the appropriate section of the form should be completed, along with the end date and the fact that the individual