New Reporting Requirements for EUs not subject to Simplified Reporting

EUs not subject to simplified reporting rules, migrant/seasonal farmworkers and elderly/disabled EUs with no earned income, have new reporting requirements for earned and unearned income.  The other reporting requirements are not changed.  The new reporting requirements for income are as follows.

• EUs not subject to simplified reporting rules must report a change of more than $50 per month in the amount of unearned income, except changes relating to public assistance (Temporary Assistance, SAB, and SP) income.  FSD staff are responsible for identifying changes to public assistance income and making the appropriate changes to the food stamp case.

• EUs not subject to simplified reporting rules must report a change of more than $100 per month in earned income.

EUs subject to simplified reporting rules must report changes required to be reported no later than 10 days from the end of the calendar month in which the change occurred.

Verification Required at Recertification or Report

At recertification or report of a change during certification, verify a change in the source of earned or unearned income or if the amount of the income has changed by more than $50. Do not verify changes in income of $50 or less unless the information is incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or outdated. 

Ensure at application for recertification that income is discussed thoroughly and the correct amount is budgeted.  It is critical for payment accuracy that an EU's income is budgeted correctly at application, since most changes to income are not required to be reported for simplified reporting EUs.  Do not assume that the income amount is the same if the source is unchanged.

Food Stamp Manual Revisions

While making changes to include the revisions to the change reporting and verification policy, other changes were made to the Food Stamp Manual.  These revisions include:

• the policy revisions outlined above,

• removing Legacy procedures and section 1140.040.25 FSU5 Transaction,

• adding FAMIS procedures,

• clarifying verification of legally obligated child support paid, and

• clarifying verification of whether an ABAWD is meeting the work requirement.

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.