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Page | 235 evaluation reviews. Benefits Specialists should be mindful of situations such as these and ensure a thorough discussion with the household occurs resolve these questionable situations. Benefits Specialists should also document the discussion and resolution to the situation.

12520 HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT OF FINANCES

Benefits Specialist must review how a household manages its finances in order to determine if the income and resources reported by the household are enough to cover reported expenses. Income and resources are questionable and must be clarified if the household reports expenses over available income and resources. The Specialist should ask the household the following questions, while keeping in mind that the individual may be applying for assistance due to their expenses exceeding income and resources: A. How the household manages its finances, B. How long the household has managed this way, and C. Whether reported income and resources are enough to cover actual household expenditures.

Total household finances are important when financial management is questionable. The Specialist must investigate any excluded income or resources and non-budgetable expenses for this purpose.

Specialists should consider income from all possible sources when explaining financial management and must document these sources. This income could include tips, bonuses, commission, insurance payments, help from family members, etc. Income from these types of payments could meet household needs and expenses including house, car, and charge account payments. The existence of these payments could serve to explain how the household is managing its finances. Again, documentation is key in these circumstances.

Example 1: Applicant states he has no resources. An earlier application was denied because bank accounts and property were over the resource limit. This situation is questionable, unless the contradiction has been previously resolved.

Example 2: Customer reports four persons in the household. Earlier, the household reported a fifth member in the household that was old enough to work. There is no mention of this person or any income on the current application.

Example 3: A household member is 66 years old, not working, and has an employment history. He states he has no social security or pension income.

Example 4: A member reports being laid off or leaving a job. Even though the employer may have verified reason for termination and last pay check, he/she might know whether the member is working somewhere else or is getting Reemployment Assistance or worker's compensation.

Example 5: Applicant shows only one or two pay check stubs; or stubs with non- consecutive dates; or stubs showing a 40-hour week in an industry which has frequent overtime such as construction. These situations might require additional verification including contact with the employer.