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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 4

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 73 Chapter 4 Income

➢ Categorically Eligible, Retroactive SSI Approvals When all of the following conditions are met, the AG must have benefits restored to compensate the client for a medical deduction he did not receive: • The AG becomes Categorically Eligible due to retroactive approval of SSI benefits; and • The individual approved for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is entitled to a medical deduction; and • The client started receiving SNAP benefits prior to being found eligible for SSI. Benefits must be restored for the period starting the date the individual was authorized to receive SSI benefits or the date of the SNAP application, whichever is later. 4.4.2.B.7 Shelter/Utility Deduction After all other exclusions, disregards, and deductions have been applied, 50% of the remaining income is compared to the total monthly shelter costs and the appropriate SUA. If the shelter costs/SUA exceed 50% of the remaining income, the amount in excess of 50% is deducted. The deduction cannot exceed the shelter/utility cap found in Appendix B. The Worker must allow the expense only if the AG is obligated to pay with the AG’s excluded or non-excluded resources. There is no time limit during the certification period for deciding when an AG is no longer allowed a deduction for the bill. The AG is no longer allowed the deduction when the expense is no longer billed or is no longer due. An expense does not have to be paid to be a deduction. In order to receive a shelter deduction, the expense/obligation must be verified at a minimum of application and redetermination, or when the AG reports a change in shelter expense. EXCEPTION: The cap on the shelter/utility deduction does not apply when the SNAP AG includes an individual who is elderly or disabled, as defined in Section 13.15. NOTE: If all avenues of verification have been exhausted and the individual is unable to provide the agency with this information client attestation with all necessary information is acceptable. This information should be documented in writing with the individual’s signature as well as documented in the case record. If an individual fails to submit verification of shelter, the SNAP application or redetermination will be processed without giving a shelter deduction.