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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 4

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 56 Chapter 4 Income

NOTE: The purpose of finding an average amount of fluctuating income is to even out the highs and lows in the amount of income. The client is not, then, required to report fluctuating income each pay period and the Worker is not required to change income monthly. See Section 10.4.2 for SNAP reporting requirements. Sometimes the client receives higher benefits than he would if actual income were used and sometimes he receives lower benefits. Therefore, when the Worker has averaged fluctuating income based on the best information available and the client’s income does not match the monthly amount used by the Worker, there is no repayment when the client receives higher benefits and no supplemental issuance when the client receives lower benefits. Should the client report fluctuations in the amount of income, the Worker is only required to recalculate the countable income when, in his judgment, the fluctuation will significantly impact the benefit amount. All changes reported by the client must be considered, but not necessarily used. Reported changes must be recorded and the Worker must record why the reported income was or was not used.

Conversion of income to a monthly amount is accomplished by multiplying an actual or average amount as follows: • Weekly amount x 4.3 • Biweekly amount (every two weeks) x 2.15 • Semi-monthly amount (twice/month) x 2 When the Frequency of Receipt is: When the Amount is Stable When the Amount Fluctuates (See Note Below) Monthly Use actual monthly amount. Use average monthly amount. (See note below) More often than monthly (such as weekly, biweekly, semimonthly) Convert amount per period to monthly amount. Find average amount per period and convert to monthly amount. (See note below) Less often than monthly (such as quarterly, semiannually, annually) Prorate to find amount for intended period. If not monthly, convert or prorate amount. Prorate to find amount for intended period. If monthly, convert or prorate amount.