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1) The base period is the 6 calendar months prior to the month of recertification.

2) If a/b or financially responsible person has been receiving the benefit for less than 6 months, use the number of months receiving.

5. Verification sources

a. Clerk of Court (if the caretaker receives the support from that office).

b. Access verification through the Online Verification System (OLV) or the Child Support Automated Collection and Tracking System (ACTS).

c. Signed statement from spouse or ex-spouse when the caretaker receives the support directly from him.

• Provisions of the separation agreement/divorce decree.

6. Disagreements If a/b’s statement and the available records disagree, try to resolve the difference. If you are unable to resolve the difference, use the lower amount. 7. Count as support any income received from a spouse. This includes money sent through the State Child Support Enforcement Section in the base period month. 8. Verify the support for six months. 9. If support began/changed in the past 6-month period, project an average based upon the number of months available. T. Loans and Promissory Notes

Money received by the a/b as a repayment for a loan is countable unearned income. 1. When the loan is an excluded resource to the a/b or financially responsible person, count as unearned income the payments received by the a/b. 2. When the loan is a countable resource to the a/b or financially responsible person, do not count payments received as income. 3. Money received as a loan (other than educational loans) by the a/b is not countable income if there is an agreed upon timetable and plan for repayment. Refer to MA-2230, Financial Resources. Obtain a written statement from the parties involved if there is no formal loan agreement.

U. Deemed Income from Institutionalized Spouse