9121 Households Required to Change Report - The following households are required to report certain changes in circumstances within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household. (See NOTE: at the end 9121 for a definition of "becomes known to the household.") The Change Reporting Requirements Chart listed below lists the type of changes that are required to be reported. The boxes marked with an "x" indicate the type of changes that are required to be reported for each category of assistance.
The following households are
required to change report:
All TANF cash assistance cases;
Child care cases; and
Medical cases.
Change Reporting Requirements
|
TANF |
MA, MS, CI, |
SI |
Child |
Changes in the source of income (earned and unearned) |
X |
X |
SSI only |
X |
When the amount of earned income being counted increases or decreases by more than $100 per month |
X |
Change of any amount |
---- |
X |
When the amount of unearned income being counted increases or decreases by more than $50 per month |
X |
Change of any amount |
---- |
X |
Changes in household composition, including marriage, separation or divorce |
X |
X |
---- |
X |
Changes in residence, including moving into or from an institution or hospital |
X |
X |
X |
X |
When resources reach or exceed $2,000, $4,000 or $6,000 as applicable |
X |
X |
---- |
---- |
Choice of child care provider and/or hours of child care needed (other than hours needed for school age children for times that school is not in session) |
---- |
---- |
---- |
X |
Loss of disability status as determined by SSA |
---- |
MS Only |
X |
---- |
Entitlement to or termination of Medicare coverage, change in any third party insurance plan |
---- |
X |
X |
---- |
Decreases in health insurance premium amounts |
---- |
X |
---- |
---- |
When resources exceed $10,000 |
---- |
---- |
---- |
X |
Households may report a change in their circumstances by telephone, in person, in writing, or by use of the Change Report Form. Other changes in circumstances are not required to be reported until review.
NOTE: For purposes of this provision "becomes known to the household" is defined as:
Change |
When is the change known to the household? |
Earned Income/Source of Earned Income |
Receipt of first pay check or the last day of the month in which income for the month increased or decreased by more than $100. |
Unearned Income/Source of Unearned Income |
Receipt of first payment or when payment received has increased or decreased by more than $50. |
Household Composition |
The day the person enters or leaves the household, day of marriage, separation, or divorce. |
Changes in Residence |
Day person moves. |
Resources Reach or Exceed Limit |
Last day of the month in which resources exceeded the limit. |
Choice of Child Care Provider and/or Hours of Child Care Needed |
Date change occurs. |
Loss of Disability as Determined by SSA Entitlement to or Termination of Medicare Coverage, Change in any Third Party Insurance Plan Decreases in Health Insurance Premium Amounts Transfer of Resources or Income Including Establishment of a Trust Fund |
Effective date of change. Effective date of change. Effective date of change. Effective date of change. |
9121.1
Processing Changes Reported by Change Reporting Households -
When the agency receives information that a change has occurred, the worker
shall act on the changes within 10 days after the date the change is reported
by taking the following actions: .
Document in the case file the reported
change, the date the change occurred, and the date the change was
reported;
Determine if verification or additional
information is required (refer to 1322.1
and 9121.2);
Contact the household to request
needed information or verification as soon as possible;
For child care, cash (including
the Work Incentive payment), and food assistance changes reported
outside of the interim report form, determine eligibility and benefits
for the issuance month according to the provisions of 7000.
Households reporting changes
which would result in an increase in benefits must provide any
required verification within 10 days of the date of agency request.
No increase in benefits shall be granted if the household does
not provide the required verification. If no verification is required
or if the verification required is received within 10 days from
the date of verification request, the increased benefits are to
be granted effective the month following the month the change
is reported. If the verification is received after 10 days from
the date the verification was requested, the increased benefits
would be effective the first month following the month the verification
is received.
NOTE: For cash (including the Work Incentive payment),
see 4100 and 7401
for other provisions regarding adding a person to the plan.
Changes resulting in ineligibility
or a decrease in benefits shall effect eligibility the first month
possible considering timely notice requirements.
For medical, changes are effective
the month following the month of the change, given timely and adequate
notice requirements. In addition, the following apply:
Working
Healthy - Changes which would increase the amount of
countable income shall not be acted upon until the scheduled 6
month review or full review (see 2664.5
(1)).
Medically
Needy - For changes in income, use the converted or
actual income amounts currently established through the month
in which the change is reported, or following month to allow for
timely and adequate notice. If income continues, establish a new
converted monthly amount based on anticipated income beginning
the month following the month the change is reported through the
end of the base period. For changes involving assistance planning,
including instances where one or more members of the plan lose
categorical eligibility, the change is effective the month following
the month the change is reported. If this results in an increased
spenddown, timely and adequate notice is required for budgeting
the change. However, the new spenddown amount is effective immediately.When
a met spenddown is increased, the spenddown status is protected
through the end of the month, or following month, given timely
and adequate notice requirements. If the change was not timely
reported based on when it became known to the household, an overpayment
may result.
9121.2 Verification at the Time a Change is Reported - The following chart explains when verification is required for purposes of the Food Assistance Program when a change is reported outside of the interim report form.
` |
Verification Required? |
|
Change Reported |
Benefits will Increase |
Benefits will Decrease |
Gross Earned Income |
Yes* |
*Yes, unless change reported will result in ineligibility |
Unearned Income Which has changed by $50 or less |
No |
No |
Unearned Income which has changed by more than $50 |
Yes |
No |
Actual Utility Expense(s) (only if using actuals per 7226.3 (3)) |
Yes |
No |
Household Composition |
Yes |
No |
Alien Status |
Yes |
No |
Medical Expenses |
Yes |
No |
Legal Obligation to Pay Child Support |
Yes |
No |
Amount of Legally Obligated Child Support |
Yes |
No |
Dependent Care |
No,unless questionable |
No |
Shelter Expenses |
No**,unless questionable |
No |
If "no" is listed in the chart, verification, if required (per 1322), shall be obtained at the time of the next review. In addition, if verification is not required, it can be requested if the change reported is questionable and documented as such. (See 1322).
* Verification of earned income
(including reductions and loss of earned income) must be obtained at the
time a change is reported, unless it is clear that the reported change
will result in ineligibility for food assistance. Households must be given
10 days to provide needed verification of earned income. If verification
is received within 10 days, benefits shall be increased effective the
month following the month the change is reported. If verification is received
after 10 days from the date the verification was requested, increased
benefits are effective the first month following the month the verification
was provided. Changes resulting in a decrease in benefits shall affect
eligibility the first month possible considering timely notice requirements.
(NOTE: The agency has 10 days from the date the change is reported to
timely act on the change. See 9121.1.)
If verification of earned income is not provided, the case shall be closed
allowing for timely and adequate notice requirements.
** If verification of a questionable expense is not provided, benefits shall be determined by allowing the previously verified amount. In other words, the shelter amount is not changed if verification is not provided. For example, verified rent is $200/month. The client reports an increase to $250 (and benefits will increase as a result). It is determined that this change is questionable, and verification is requested but not provided. Benefits must be determined allowing the "old" $200 rent amount. See Shelter Changes Chart in the Appendix, Item T-10
9121.3 Reserved
9121.4 Notices to Households Subject to Change Reporting - The agency must provide the household with a notice of action that meets the definition of timely and adequate notice, as defined in 1432, if the household's benefits are being reduced or terminated. If benefits are being increased, only adequate notice, as defined in 1432, is required.