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Page | 148 a) A Copy of the service member’s deployment order; b) A copy of the leave and earnings statement (LES) of the service member immediately before deployment; and c) A copy of the LES after deployment

If households cannot provide one of the above documents, then refer to SNAP program staff for assistance in verifying the combat pay.

8320 NATIVE AMERICAN INCOME SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS

Cobell Settlement Funds: Payments are excluded as income and resources for one year from the date of receipt. Nez Perce Settlement Funds: Payments are counted as income in the month received if more than one payment is anticipated; one-time payments are excluded as income and counted as a resource. Keepseagle Settlement Funds: Payments are excluded as income and counted as a resource. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Funds: Payments are excluded as income and resources.

8330 REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE FEES

Payee fees that are deducted from Social Security and SSI payments are not counted as income to the individual. These fees are subtracted from the gross Social Security/SSI payments and only the portion after the payee fee is deducted is counted as income. On ACCESS the amount of the payee fee is entered in the “PAYEE FEE” field on the UNEA panel and ACCESS will deduct the amount from the gross SS/SSI and budget the net amount in the eligibility panels. Only payee fees should be entered in this field on the UNEA panel.

8340 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS

Medicare Advantage organizations (i.e. Humana, United Health Care, etc.) may administer additional benefits through regularly issued spending cards (i.e. U Cards) limited to certain covered items or services that vary by insurer, such as food, transportation, utilities, or other items that improve or maintain the health or overall function of the enrollee.

These benefits are not countable as income as they are considered reimbursements for past or future expenses to the extent, they do not exceed actual expenses, and do not represent a gain or benefit to the household. CMS governs these organizations and approves these supplemental benefits as “primarily health related” or “improve or maintain the health or overall function of the enrollee.”

8400 VERIFICATION OF INCOME

Staff must verify income at application. Verification is also required at each renewal and six month report form.

Verification is required at six month report if: 1. The income is from a new source 2. Earned income changed by more than $100 or 3. Unearned income changed by more than $100. Verification is required at renewal if: 1. The income is from a new source 2. Earned income changed by more than $50 or 3. Unearned income changed by more than $50.