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SNAP 601-1 ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT DETERMINATION Prospective Budgeting Supersedes: SNAP 601-1 (08/10/2022), Bulletin 94 (10/24/12) Reference: 7 CFR 273.10 (c) Overview: Reasonable expectations and knowledge of the household's anticipated financial and non- financial circumstances are used to determine eligibility prospectively for SNAP. EARNED INCOME: Earned income received during the most recent 30 days is used to prospect income that is and will be available to the household during the certification period. However, do not use past income for the certification period if changes in income have occurred or if changes can be anticipated. The past 30 days of earned income will be requested at application, recertification, and simplified report unless a change has occurred or can be anticipated. If income cannot be accurately prospected based on the most recent 30 days of income, additional verification can be requested. Document in case notes the reason for requesting additional verification. CASE NOTE DOCUMENTATION: The eligibility staff member must document sufficient detail in case notes so individuals reviewing the case (Hearing Officers, Management Evaluation Reviewers, Program Compliance Auditors, Claims and Investigations Financial Investigators, Quality Assurance Reviewers, Supervisors, federal audits, etc.) can determine the reasonableness and accuracy of the prospectively budgeted income determination. The case note must list the dates paid, the gross amount of income per pay period, the number of hours worked, and the prospective budgeting method used for the income calculation. If a paycheck is unusually high or unusually low, the eligibility staff member must document the reason the check was unusually high or low by asking the household or the employer (unpaid sick days, unpaid vacation, worked extra because short staffed, etc.). The case note includes the reason the check was or was not included in the income calculation based on either the household or the employer anticipating or not anticipating it to occur again for the prospectively budgeted period. PROSPECTIVELY BUDGETING INCOME: Monthly income anticipated to be received is determined on a case-by-case basis using one or a combination of methods to budget income prospectively. Verification cannot be limited to one specific type or source. Actual income is used in the month of application when all pay dates occur prior to the date of application. A combination of actual and anticipated methods is used for the same income source for the month of application when one pay date has occurred, but there is additional pay date(s) after the date of application. Actual income will be used for the pay date(s) that occurred prior to the