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10510 ANTICIPATED EXPENSES

Benefits Specialist’s will calculate a household's expenses based on the expenses the household expects to be billed during the renewal period.

The amount considered is the amount anticipated to be incurred by the household during the certification period based on the most recent bill received and any other information available to indicate future changes. The most recent month’s bills will be used to anticipate expenses unless the household is reasonably certain a change will occur.

Future projected bills can be averaged for the certification period as long as expected increases or decreases are considered.

10520 BILLED EXPENSES

Household expenses, unless averaged, are deductible only in the month the expense is billed or otherwise becomes due, regardless of when the household intends to pay the expense. Prior payment of the expense is not required in order for it to be included in computing the household's benefits.

Past due balances (except child support) and any resulting late charges from previous billing periods are not deductible, even if included on the most recent bill and actually paid by the household.

A. Child Support Payments (Are a deduction from income but are treated like an expense) Specialists must verify the legal obligation of the child support payment prior to allowing the expense. Legal obligation may be verified via court orders (e.g. divorce decrees), administrative orders, legally enforceable separation orders, contact with the office of child support enforcement (OCSE), etc. Verification of legal obligation does not necessarily verify the payment amount. The amount paid may be verified with canceled checks, wage or Reemployment Assistance withholding statements, statements from the custodial parent regarding direct payments, receipts of third party verifications, OCSE panels, Clerk of Court receipts, etc. Child support payments paid to or for an individual residing outside of the payer's household are excluded from gross income as paid if they are legally obligated payments.

An individual's child support payments will be anticipated for the application month based on what the household anticipates paying in the application month or averaged if the payment history is stable. If the individual does not have a stable history of child support payments, the anticipated amount will be based on the amount the individual anticipates paying, until a stable history can be established.

Example: A monthly gas bill will be included in the household's shelter cost, even if the household has not paid the expense. Exception: Legally obligated child support payments paid to an individual residing outside of the payer’s household may be used as an exclusion regardless of if the payment is current or an arrearage.