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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND BENEFIT LEVELS

10/24 VOLUME V, PART XIII, PAGE 4

If income fluctuates so much that the prior 30-day period does not accurately reflect the income, a longer period may be used if it provides a more accurate indication of fluctuations in future income. The length of time used to create a reasonably accurate amount anticipated does not need to equal the same number of months in the certification period.

If the household's income fluctuates seasonally, it may be appropriate to use the most recent season comparable to the certification period instead of the 30-day period before the application date as an indicator of future income. Use caution however, in using income from a past season as an indicator of current income since the income may fluctuate between the same seasons of different years.

Past income may not be used as an indicator of future income when changes in income can be anticipated.

Whenever income is anticipated for every pay period in a month and it is received on a weekly or biweekly basis, the BPS must convert the income to a monthly amount by multiplying weekly amounts by 4.3 and biweekly amounts by 2.15. If the household will receive less than a full month's pay, or if less than a full month's pay is to be counted for SNAP purposes, either the exact amount of income, if it can be anticipated, or an average per pay period times the actual number of pays, can be used.

Pay received daily must be converted to a weekly or biweekly amount and then converted to a monthly amount by multiplying the weekly amounts by 4.3 and the biweekly amounts by 2.15.

The BPS must document: • Decisions made regarding averaging; • the exclusion or inclusion of certain amounts, • reasons for using a wider time period to average/anticipate amount • reasons why amounts are not representative.

B. EVALUATING EXPENSES (7CFR 273.10(d))

An expense is defined as a service provided by someone outside of the SNAP household for which a money payment is made. If a deductible expense is covered by an excluded reimbursement, as defined in Part XI.F.6, or is paid by a vendor payment, as defined in Part XI.F.3, no deductions will be given except for certain energy assistance payments, as described in Part X.A, and any payments that are also personal loans.

Methods of evaluating expenses are described below.

1. As billed - Expenses considered in determining shelter or dependent care costs are allowed only for the month the expense is billed or otherwise becomes due, regardless of when the household intends to pay or pays the expense. Expenses paid in advance are allowed in the month the expense would have been due. Amounts carried forward from past billing periods cannot be allowed as a part of the cost of shelter or dependent care even if included with the most recent bill.

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