Changes Resulting in an Increase in Benefits 430-05-67-15-05

(Revised 10/01/11 ML3286)

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Any change that results in an increase in benefits must be verified. When verification is not provided, F419 – “Request for Verification” 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.

If a change that results in an increase in benefits is reported and verified for an ongoing month, the change must be acted on.

2. If the household fails to provide verification within the 10-day period, the previously verified amount of the reported change is used and the benefit stays the same.

If there is no previously verified amount (i.e. household reports now paying rent and previously had not), no change is made and the benefit stays the same.

3. If the household fails to provide verification within the 10-day period and provides verification at a later date, benefits are increased the month after receipt of the verification.

Examples:

1. Worker receives an alert for Medicaid that child support was received in the base month for an ongoing case.  Using base month child support results in an increase in benefits.  The alert must be acted on.
2. The annual changes in the Thrifty Food Plan, Gross and Net Income Limits, Standard Deduction, Maximum Shelter Deduction and the Mandatory Utility Standards must be acted on as they will result in an increase in benefits.  The household must be notified of their new reporting requirement (Gross Income Limit) at review.  The worker must send the appropriate change in benefit notice.

If a household reports other changes during the month of September that are being acted on at the same time as the annual changes, the benefit calculator including the annual changes must be used to determine whether the changes will result in an increase or decrease in benefits from the amount the household received in September.

If the result is an increase in benefits for October, the change must be made to increase October benefits.  

If the changes result is a decrease in benefits, then only the cost of living adjustments are used to increase benefits for October.  The remaining changes are not made as this would result in a decrease in benefits.

3. A household reports that a job ended.  The worker must send Notice F419 – Request for Verification – Simplified Reporting.  If the household responds and provides the requested information within 10 days of the mailing date of the notice, the change must be acted on to increase benefits and the appropriate notice must be sent to the household.

If the household fails to provide the requested verification within the 10 days, the previously verified amount of income is used and the benefit stays the same.  

If the household fails to provide the requested verification within the 10 days, but provides it at a later date, benefits are increased the month after receipt of the verification.  

4. Husband, wife and their three children over the age of six apply and are certified as a simplified reporting household.  The husband and wife are both working 30 hours per week at the time of application. In month 3 of the review period, the household reports the husband was fired from his job.  Since this change will result in an increase in benefits, the change must be verified.  The worker sends the F419 requesting verification of the loss of income.  The household provides verification from the employer, verifying the individual was fired with no reason given.  

The income is removed resulting in an increase in benefits.  Since this was not a mandatory reportable change, the individual does not have to comply with the work requirements until review.

5. Single individual with no income applies and is eligible for the three NE months.  The individual is certified for 12 months as a simplified reporting household.  The worker sends an advance notice to close the case in the third NE month.  On the 21st of the month the individual calls and reports they are working 25 hours per week at $6.00 per hour.  

Since this will result in an increase in benefits from the case closure, the F419 must be sent to verify the new source of income and hours.  If verification is received within 10 days, the individual’s participation must be changed to IN and the income added.  If the individual fails to provide verification within the 10 days, the case will close at the end of the month.   

6. An eligible ABAWD (working 20 hours per week averaged monthly), reports the loss of a job. The worker sends the F419 to determine if the individual is exempt from the ABAWD requirements for another reason and to verify the loss of income.  

If the household responds and verifies the loss of income and the individual is exempt for another reason, the worker must act on the reported change to increase benefits by removing the income from the job loss.

If the household responds and verifies the loss of income and the individual is not exempt from the requirements for another reason, the individual is eligible for up to 3 months (NE or EE months).  The income from the job is removed.   Once the NE or EE months have been used, the individual’s participation code must be changed to “DI”.  A 10-day advance notice is required.

If the household does not respond to the F419, the individual is eligible for up to 3 months (NE or EE months).  Once the NE or EE months have been used, the individual’s participation code must be changed to “DI”.  No change is made to the income until review.