0905.012.60 Income

In determining need, consider all income available during the period under consideration. To consider available, the income must actually exist and be usable by the applicant or recipient. EXCEPTION: Income received by an SSI, SSI-SP, SP or SAB recipient who lives in an MAF household is not considered available.

NOTE: When potential eligibility for RSDI, UC, or veteran's benefits exists, but the participant (or spouse) refuses to apply for these benefits, reject or close the case. Inform the family of their obligation to apply for benefits. The family must cooperate with the other agency's requirements in pursuing these benefits.

Division of Employment Security notifies FSD when an applicant or participant:

• Receives UC benefits, the UC benefit amount changes, or UC benefits are terminated.

Determine eligibility based on need by projection. Projection is defined as the best estimate of the income and circumstances that will exist. This estimate is based on reasonable expectation and knowledge of the individual's current, past, or future circumstances.

In ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF INCOME, consider all factors that most accurately estimate and reflect the amount of income to be received.

Review any information available showing income and expenses during the past 30 days. Discuss with the household any changes expected or predicted in income and expenses by comparing information over the past 30 days. If income fluctuates to the extent that a 30-day period does not accurately indicate projected income, choose a method that accurately indicates future income.  Record the basis for the time period used.

During an application, budget income that will not continue as actual income for the month of receipt.

Budget income that starts while the application is pending using actual income in the month the income starts and project for future months.

Also use actual income in a month in which an entire pay period is missed but the employment situation is unchanged.

A claim cannot be established for the period of the projection unless one of the following apply:

1. the claimant failed to report income or circumstances he/she was aware of
2. the caseworker erred in making the decision, considering the information available.

0905.012.60.05 Sources of Earned and Unearned Income:

Enter the income information on the Income (FMX0) and Income Amount (FMX3) screens. The income type code is EI (earned income) or UI (unearned income). The income source code follows each income in parenthesis. Refer to the FAMIS Income Code Chart for more information. Record a comment as outlined in the FAMIS Comments Quick Reference Chart .

13 CSR 40-2.050 defines earned income as income in cash or kind currently earned as wages, salary, commissions, or profits from any business in which the participant engages as a self-employed person or employee, with responsibilities that require his/her continuing activity. Possible sources of EARNED INCOME include but are not limited to:

1. Wages(WA) (including the amount of any garnishment);
2. Tips (TI);
3. Boarders or lodgers(RB);
4. Income or earnings from self-employment (SE), sale of plasma (BP), sale of business products, child care self employment (CC), and self employment from sale of farm or garden products(FA/FM);
5. Compensation in lieu of wages (CL), such as working off the rent;
6. Americorps*NCCC stipends (AE) (See Excluded Income for Americorps income excluded) ; and
7. Rental property (RE);

Possible sources of UNEARNED INCOME include but are not limited to:

1. Child Support or Alimony payments including the following:
   • child support (CS) - this is income to the child for whom the payment is made if the child is in the EU;
   • child support arrearages (CA) - this is income to the child for whom the payment is made if the child is in the EU;
   • child support payments paid for someone outside the home (CR);
   • alimony (AL); and
   • alimony arrearages (AR).
2. Interest Income (IN);
3. Property rental (RN);
4. Income from stocks, bonds, investments (DI), trusts (TR);
5. Benefits received under Social Security Programs, such as Social Security Disability or Social Security Retirement (SS) or SSI (SI);
6. Veteran's benefits (VA), compensation, and allowances;
7. Worker's compensation awards (WC);
8. Retirement pensions from industry (UF);
9. UC payments (UC or UO);
10. Annuities (AN);
11. Allowances and allotments from members of the armed forces (AA);
12. Railroad retirement benefits (RR);
13. Contributions from relatives, friends, churches, clubs, etc., MADE DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILY (CO);
14. Real or personal property when sold on a time payment plan. The unpaid balance does not cause ineligibility. Consider the down payment (if any) as cash, but include time payments as income;
15. Aliens with sponsors (AC). Income received from sponsors is to be counted in its entirety;
16. Grants and scholarships for graduate students available for living expenses (grants and scholarships minus school expenses). This does not apply to undergraduate students. (Refer to Section 0905.012.75.25 );
17. Allotments including:
    • Military Allotments (AA);
    • Community Spouse Allotments (A2);
    • Minor/Dependent Allotments (A3); and
    • Minor Living Outside Household Allotments (A4).
18. Temporary Assistance (C1-C6);
19. Blind Pension (B1);
20. SAB (F1);
21. Refugee Cash Assistance (RF);
22. PTD State Supplemental Payment (E1);
23. OAA State Supplemental Payment (A1);
24. Supplemental Nursing Care (N1);
25. Welfare payments from another state (WS);
26. Agent Orange Veteran�s benefits (AV);
27. Black Lung benefits (BL);
28. Payments held in trust by Secretary of Interior for Indians (PS);
29. Vocational Rehabilitation payments for child care compensation (VF);
30. Vocational Rehabilitation payments not for child care compensation (VR);
31. Military Retirement (MR);
32. Disability benefit (DB);
33. Strike benefits (SB);
34. Severance payments received from an employer when an employee�s job is terminated (SV);
35. Subsidized employment( SU);
36. Foster Care payments (FC);
37. Adoption Subsidy Payments (AS);
38. Guardianship Subsidy payments(GS);
39. Cash gifts (GF);
40. Lottery/Gambling income (LO);
41. Incentive payments to encourage activity (IP);
42. Representative Payee payments not given to the beneficiary (RH);
43. Reimbursements for living expenses (RL);
44. Notes receivable (NR);
45. Non Bona Fide Loans (NB); and
46. Nursing home Insurance income (NI).

0905.012.60.10 Computing Income:

Follow Temporary Assistance guidelines.  Refer to Section 0210.015.10

0905.012.60.15 Patterns of Income Examples:

Follow Temporary Assistance guidelines.  Refer to Section 0210.015.10.05

0905.012.60.20 Treatment of Specific Types of Income:

Use the rules in this section for the specified types of income.

1. INCOME RECEIVED LESS OFTEN THAN MONTHLY: Annualize income regularly received on a recurring basis less frequently than monthly, such as quarterly payments or annual income, (dividends, etc.).
2. TIPS: Consider tips received as wages. Actual tips received may differ from tips reported by the employer for tax purposes.
3. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT (CSE) INTERCEPTS / UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION (UC) BENEFITS: Consider the full UC amount, before the CSE interception is deducted, as the individual’s income. When UC is garnished due to past overpayment use the amount left after garnishment.
4. REGULAR PAY DATE NOT OBSERVED: If the participant has regular PAY Dates, (i.e. Social Security, VA, State Employees, etc.,) but occasionally is paid early or late, consider such income in the month normally received.
5. CONTRACTUAL INCOME: Policy is the same as Temporary Assistance. Refer to Section 0210.015.20.05.
6. SELF-EMPLOYMENT: Policy is the same as Temporary Assistance. Refer to Section 0210.015.20.10 - 0210.015.25.
7. OASDI BENEFITS RECEIVED BY A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE: Policy is the same as Temporary Assistance. Refer to Section 0210.015.20.15.