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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HANDLING CHANGES

10/25 VOLUME V, PART XIV, PAGE 1

A. CHANGES DURING THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD

When changes occur within the certification period that affect the household's eligibility or the amount of the benefit allotment, the BPS must act to adjust the household's benefit level. The responsibility for changes lies with both the recipient household and the local department of social services. The household must report certain changes in income and household status; the BPS must adjust entitlement to benefits and benefit levels based on reported changes and for changes the BPS initiates. Households certified for seven months or longer must file an Interim Report about their circumstances during the certification period except households certified through the VaCAP or ESAP component.

1. Changes that Must Be Reported

The length of the certification period determines change-reporting requirements for each household.

a. Certification periods - one to four months Households certified up to four months must report the following items: • Change in household composition with members moving in or out of the SNAP household; • Change in the household’s residence and shelter costs that result from a move; • Change in legally obligated child support paid outside the household; • Receipt of lottery or gambling winnings of $4,500 or more; • Change if the number of hours worked per week for persons who are subject to time-limited benefits is less than 20 hours per week; • Change of more than $125 in the amount of income; • Change in the source of income including starting or stopping a job; and • Changing from full-time to part-time status or from part-time to full-time status. The household does not have to report changes in TANF income for a Virginia TANF case.

b. Certification periods – five months or longer

Except for households that receive benefits through the Transitional Benefits component for former TANF recipients or certified through VaCAP, households certified for five months or longer must report the following items: • Receipt of lottery or gambling winnings of $4,500 or more; • Change if the number of hours worked per week for persons who are subject to time-limited benefits is less than 20 hours per week; and • The total income exceeds the gross income limit based on household size as established as of certification, the Interim Report evaluation, or a change reported during the certification period. The income limits of the first chart below will apply to most households but the income limits of the second chart apply for households that are ineligible for Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility. The income limits are:

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