IM-52 May 30, 2013; IM-36 April 22, 2010; IM-40 May 28, 2008; IM-142 December 2, 2005
Beginning May 1, 2010 all EUs are subject to simplified reporting requirements. Beginning June 1, 2013 act on all changes reported or known to the agency.
Use this link to view a document which contains the obsolete Food Stamp Program and Policy Manual sections which included simplified reporting without acting on all changes.
An EU is only required to report changes that cause the total gross EU income to exceed 130% of poverty or a change in ABAWD status.
Changes that are reported or known by the agency and required to be acted on must be considered in determining a claim. Changes that are not required to be reported and are not known to the agency are not considered when establishing a claim.
| If… | Activity | Result |
|---|---|---|
| the EU was correctly determined eligible and the benefit amount accurately computed at application, and | The change was not required to be reported. | There is no claim. |
| the EU was not eligible and/or the budget was not done correctly at application resulting in an overpayment, prior to establishing the claim: | Compute a corrected determination of the income being received at application to determine the corrected amount of the benefit. | Use the corrected budget for each month of the claim. Do not use each month’s actual income. |
| a change is required to be acted on and the budget was not done correctly resulting in an overpayment, prior to establishing the claim: | Compute a corrected determination of the income being received at the time of the budget adjustment to determine the corrected amount of the benefit. | Use the corrected budget for each month of the claim. Do not use each month’s actual income. |
| the possible overpayment is due to non-report of a change required to be reported or failure to take required action: | Determine whether the EU is overpaid for all or part of the certification period. | Compute the claim amount using actual income to determine the amount of benefit the EU was eligible to receive each month. |
NOTE: In situations where all efforts to obtain actual income have failed and the claim period covers the entire quarter and the income information is consistent on IMES, this source of income verification may be used to calculate the overpayment.
If the EU fails to report a change that caused the total EU income to exceed 130% of poverty and ineligibility exists for only a portion of the certification period, determine a corrected actual income amount for the month income exceeds 130%. Then, using the new amount of income, determine a new amount of benefit. Use the new benefit for the remaining months of the certification within the claim period. Include any income or change that was reported or known to the agency.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Andrews is approved for Food Stamp benefits of $371 for a three person EU with zero income March 1. At the August recertification interview, it is discovered Mr. Andrews began employment, at $500 weekly beginning March 15 and did not report it. His income exceeds 130% of poverty. Applying change reporting rules, a claim is calculated beginning May. His hours are cut back with checks beginning June 1 and he earns only $250 weekly. A trial budget is completed with $250 weekly, and the EU is eligible for $86 Food Stamp benefits for June. Daughter, Angela, leaves the home June 1, which is not required to be reported, and is not reported. Angela is removed for the claim amount determination and is not a responsible member of the claim