Income Counted When Household Composition Changes 415-25-05-15-15

(Revised 10/1/20 ML #3588)

View Archives

 

Some households may have had a change in household members prior to the month of application.

 

When this occurs, eligibility and benefit calculation are determined as follows:

 

Eligibility and Benefit Calculation

 

Income of any person who is in the household as of the date of application MUST be considered in determining initial eligibility and used in the benefit calculation.

 

If there is an increase/decrease in household members after the date of application but prior to date of initial eligibility determination, initial eligibility should first be determined based on household members at date of application and the increase/decrease in household members should be treated as a change.

 

NOTE:

If the income for an individual who has left the household cannot be verified as part of initial eligibility determination, the case should be denied and a new application completed.

 

Prior Months’ Eligibility

 

When determining income eligibility in months prior to the month of application, only consider the income of household members at the time of application, unless the individual was not in the household in the past month(s).

 

Unpaid bills incurred prior to the month of application for which the current household is held liable, may have the LIHEAP Percent Share of the bill paid if eligibility is established for those months based on the income of current household members. Reimbursement cannot be paid for the LIHEAP percent of the bill incurred prior to the month of application unless the current household member can verify that previous members did NOT participate in the payment of those bills.