• include change reporting requirements for earned income households as outlined in Memo IM-76 dated April 18, 2001,

• include the change in policy outlined in Memo IM-163 dated September 4, 2001, that requires households to report a new source of earned income within 10 days of receiving the first check from a new source,

• introduce a change in food stamp policy regarding when to take action on non-timely reports, and

• introduce a change in food stamp policy regarding tracking changes reported by earned income households.

Also effective July 1, 2002, changes that are reported by an earned income household or learned by agency staff are tracked during the certification period.  As each change is reported or learned, use all changes reported or learned since the beginning of the current certification period to determine the cumulative impact on eligibility and benefit amount.  Policy regarding changes required to be reported and action to be taken on changes reported by earned income households is not changed.

Example: An earned income household is certified for April through September.  In May the head of household reports a new source of income that was not required to be reported.  The impact of the change is determined and action taken accordingly.  In July the head of household reports she has had a baby.  This is not a change required to be reported.  The impact of this change is determined considering the new source of income that was reported in May while adding a person to the assistance group.

The online version of the Food Stamp Manual is updated to reflect these revisions.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• File the revised pages in the Food Stamp Manual.