Changes Resulting in an Increase in Benefits 430-05-65-15-05

(Revised 06/01/04 ML2921)

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Any change that results in an increase in benefits must be verified. When verification is not provided, F442 – Request for Additional Information must be sent allowing the household 10 days from the mail date of the notice to verify the reported change.

  1. If the household provides verification within the 10 day period, the worker must act on the reported change within 10 days and send the household the appropriate notice.
  2. If the household does not provide the verification within the 10 day period, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401 – Failure to Provide Information.  If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the F401 must not be sent until the next working day.  
  1. If it is prior to advance notice deadline, the F401 must be sent and the case will close at the end of the month.
  2. If it is after advance notice deadline, the F401 cannot be sent until the first working day of the following month. Benefits for the last month of the certification period are authorized the same as the previous month.

Exceptions:

  1. If the last month of the certification period includes an extra check or if the second to the last month included an extra check, this change must be acted on for the last month of the certification period as it is considered known information to the agency.
  2. If the household has reported a change in expenses that results in an increase in benefits and fails to provide verification of the expense, the expense is not allowed and the case is not closed.
  3. If the household provides the verification during the advance notice period, the worker has 10 days from the date the verification was provided to act and the case must not be closed.

Examples:

  1. On July 5, a household reports a decrease in the number of hours of employment per week from 25 hours to 20. The worker must send F442 giving the household until July 15 to provide verification.

If the household provides the verification by July 15, the worker must act on the reported change to affect August benefits.

 

If the household does not provide the verification by July 15, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401. Since it is prior to advance notice deadline, the worker must send the F401 and the case will close at the end of the July.

 

If the household provides the verification anytime after July 15 or before August 1, the worker has 10 days to act on the change and the case cannot close the end of July.

 

  1. On July 25, a household reports a decrease in the number of hours of employment per week from 35 hours to 20 hours. The worker must send F442 giving the household until August 4 to provide verification.

 

If the household provides the verification by August 4, the worker must act on the reported change to affect September benefits. Additionally, a supplement must be issued for August ($50 decrease in gross monthly income).

 

If the household does not provide the verification by August 4, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401 for failure to provide information. Since it is prior to advance notice deadline the worker must send the F401 and the case will close August 31.

 

If the household provides the verification anytime after August 4 (before September 1) the worker has 10 days to act on the change and the case cannot be closed August 31.

  1. Household reports an increase in rent and they have not moved. The worker sends F442 allowing the household 10 days from the mail date to provide verification of the new rent amount. The household fails to provide verification of the new rent amount. No rent expense is allowed and the case is not closed.
  2. Household reports an increase in child care costs. The worker sends F442 allowing the household 10 days from the mail date to provide verification of the new child care expense. The household fails to provide verification of the new amount. No child care costs are allowed and the case is not closed.
  3. Household reports a change of address. The worker sends F442 allowing the household 10 days from the mail date to provide verification of residence and the new shelter expenses.   
  1. If the household fails to respond to F442, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401. The worker must send the F401 and the case will close for failure to provide information.
  2. If the household responds and provides verification of residence only, no shelter costs are allowed and the case is not closed.
  3. If the household responds and provides verification of residence and shelter costs, the shelter costs are allowed as an expense and the case is not closed.
  1. If a household reports multiple changes, the worker must act on all verified information. The information that was reported but not verified is not acted on for the last month of the certification period.