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305.1 TANF MANUAL 10/18 Page 4

a. Methods Used To Anticipate the Income

For applications and reapplications, the income generally to be counted is the income verified for the calendar month prior to the month of application. For redeterminations, the income generally to be counted is the income verified for the month prior to the month of review. However, if the income for the prior month is not the amount anticipated to be received in the payment month, the Eligibility Worker must work with the assistance unit to determine how the correct amount can be anticipated. For changes, the Eligibility Worker must work with the assistance unit to determine the correct amount of income that can be anticipated for the payment month.

The following methods are to be used to anticipate the assistance unit's income when the prior month's income does not reflect the income anticipated for the payment month:

1) The Eligibility Worker shall take into account the income already received by the assistance unit during the application process and any anticipated income the assistance unit and local agency are reasonably certain will be received during the payment month. During the approval process, when calculating the payment amount for prior months, the Eligibility Worker shall use converted income which has been received by the assistance unit, to determine the correct amount of the payment, unless the income is for a partial month. If the household received less than a full month's pay, or if less than a full month's pay is to be counted, the exact amount of income is to be used.

2) If income fluctuates so much that the prior calendar month cannot by itself provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, a longer period of past time may be used if it will provide a more accurate indication of fluctuations in future income. If income is ongoing, anticipate by averaging income from the past pay periods.

The Eligibility Worker may average income received in any number of pay periods immediately prior to application/review, using pay periods still appropriate to the customer's circumstances. The worker should select only the pay periods that will yield the most realistic estimate of income to be received.

TANF Transmittal 65