Budgeting Income Resulting from the Receipt of an Extra check 400-19-105-40-50

(Revised 6/1/10 ML #3218)

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(N.D.A.C. 75-02-01.2-49(4))

 

Applicant

A household may receive an extra check from a recurring income source such as employment, Unemployment Compensation, Workers Compensation, etc. If the receipt of an extra check is expected to result in ineligibility for one month only, the case may be suspended.

 

During the month in which the Application is received, if the extra check is received in the first prospective month and results in ineligibility, the request must be denied. For households anticipating the receipt of an extra check in the second prospective month that results in ineligibility, the correct procedure is to prospectively suspend the household or case and the third month becomes the second prospective month. All of the checks are to be entered prospectively. When the income from that prospective month is retrospectively budgeted, enter all but the last check received.

Note: By definition, the last check received during the month is the extra check.

 

If the TANF household is ineligible the month following the suspension, the case must be closed. A suspension will be used only in situations where the household is ineligible for one month only due to receipt of an extra check from a recurring source.

 

Ongoing

If the household receives an extra check that is expected to cause ineligibility for one month only, the case is suspended for one month. The household does not receive a benefit; the month does not count towards the lifetime limit. By definition, the last check received during the month is the extra check.

 

To determine if ineligibility is caused by the extra check, calculate the budget using all but the last check received in the month.  

1. If the TANF cases passes without the last check received in the month, recalculate the budget including the last check received in the month.  If the TANF case fails when including the last check received in the month, the TANF case should be suspended for the future month.
2. If the TANF case fails without the last check received in the month, recalculate the budget including the last check received in the month and allow the case to move to Transition Assistance for the future month, if applicable.

 

If a TANF case is reinstated following a one-month suspension, all factors of eligibility except income and expenses are considered prospectively in determining eligibility. If prospective eligibility exists, the amount of the benefit is determined retrospectively under two-month retrospective budgeting.