Worker Responsibilities:

Determining Best Estimate of Applicant’s Gross Countable Income

1. Determine earned and unearned income.

2. Verify past income with pay stubs when applicant has pay stubs covering at least a 30-day history of income.

2A. Do not exceed 60 days history.

3. Require an employer’s statement or other verification of past income when applicant does not have at least a 30-day history of income or if the history is not indicative of the future.

4. Estimate tips, commissions, overtime, differential pay, or other source of income when applicant’s employment indicates that applicant may receive income from one of these sources.

5. Count self-employment income representing the months for which applicant is applying for benefits.

5A. Deduct allowable business expenses from self-employment income.

5B. Refer to Section M902 for information on self-employment income and deductible business expenses.

6. Count irregular income representing months for which applicant is applying for benefits.

7. Prorate or average income from self-employment, contractual employment or intermittent income unless income is not indicative of future months.

7A. Examples of intermittent income are income received quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

8. Count number of paychecks normally received by applicant in cases where a problem with payroll or mail causes the applicant to receive fewer or additional paychecks.

9. Document in applicant’s case record method used to determine best estimate.

10. Document rationale for choosing the method.