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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 4

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 141 Chapter 4 Income

4.6.1.B Consideration of Past Income The Worker must consider information about the client’s income sources before deciding which income to use. The Worker must follow the steps below for each old income source. Step 1: Determine the amount of income received by all persons in the Income Group (IG) in the 30 calendar days prior to the application/redetermination date. The appropriate time period is determined by counting back 30 days beginning with the calendar day prior to the date of application/redetermination. The income from this 30-day period is the minimum amount of income that must be considered. When, in the Worker’s judgment, future income may be more reasonably anticipated by considering the income from a longer period of time, the Worker considers income for the time period he determines to be reasonable. Whether the Worker considers income from the prior 30 days, or from a longer period of time, all of the income received from that source during that time period must be considered. All pay periods during the appropriate time period must be considered and must be consecutive. Step 2: Determine if the income from the previous 30 days is reasonably expected to continue into the new certification period or POC. If it is not expected to continue, the income from this source is no longer considered for use in the new certification period or POC. If it is expected to continue, determine if the amount is reasonably expected to be more or less the same. If the income is expected to continue, the income source is used for the new certification period or POC and treated according to How to Use Past and Future Income below. If it is not expected to continue at more or less the same amount, the income source is used for the new certification period or POC and treated according to Consideration of Future Income below. Step 3: Record the results of Step 2, including the amount of income, why the source is or is not being considered for the new certification period or POC, the client’s statement about continuation of the income from this source, the time period used, and, if more than the previous 30 days, the reason additional income was considered. NOTE: The year-to-date amounts on check stubs may only be used when the client has verification of all payment amounts whether used or not, but is missing one.