I. Determining and Calculating Benefits

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1 February 1, 2012 TANF I - Determining and Calculating Benefits I - 1 I. Determining and Calculating Benefits Case Management Opportunity Offer the client the opportunity to look at household expenses compared to actual income and benefit level to help the family develop a budget so they can meet expenses and save for future bills. 1. Income Tests There are two tests that a filing group must pass before they are determined eligible to receive benefits. They are the countable income test and the adjusted income test. 2. Countable Income Test Countable income is the amount of available income remaining after allowing exclusions. The exclusions can be found in the income chart (Section G), or see the Counting Client Assets chapter for full details. The countable income of the financial group is compared to the Countable Income Standard. If the countable income equals or exceeds the Countable Income Standard, the benefit group is not eligible. If it is below that standard, calculate the adjusted income by subtracting allowable deductions from countable income. Definitions for Chapter 461: How Income Affects Eligibility and Benefits; MAA, MAF, REF, SAC, SFPSS, TANF: Adjusted Income Test Adjusted income is the countable income minus the income deduction(s). (A) There is only one income deduction for TANF clients not in the microenterprise component of JOBS. It is the earned income deduction for each member of the financial group who has earnings. Individuals in the financial group with earned income are allowed a deduction of 50 percent of the group s gross earned income. This includes all self-employment income. Clients are eligible for the deduction as long as they have earned income in the budget month. The adjusted income is then compared to the Adjusted Income limit. If it equals or exceeds the Adjusted Income limit, the benefit group is not eligible for benefits. If it is below, calculate benefits by subtracting the adjusted income from

2 I - 2 TANF I - Determining and Calculating Benefits February 1, 2012 the Payment Standard. The remainder is the benefit amount for the full month, except for benefit groups including ineligible noncitizens. The amount is prorated if the benefit group is eligible for a partial month. Round down to the next lower whole dollar when the benefit amount is not a whole dollar amount. To prorate benefits, first determine the benefit amount for a full month, then divide the benefit amount by the number of days in the payment month. Multiply the daily benefit amount by the number of days the group is eligible. (B) For individuals in the financial group who are in the microenterprise component of the JOBS program and who have earned income from a microenterprise, business expenses are deducted from the business gross receipts. This is done according to general accounting principles and OAR by an accounting professional such as a certified public accountant or bookkeeper. The remainder is the individual s countable income. Compare the microenterprise income, together with the financial group s other countable income, to the Countable Income Standard. If the income is at or over the standard, the group is ineligible. If it is under the standard, apply the 50 percent earned income deduction to the microenterprise income and other countable earned income. Definitions for Chapter 461: Use of Rounding in Calculating Benefit Amount: Benefits for Less Than a Full Month: How Income Affects Eligibility and Benefits; MAA, MAF, REF, SAC, SFPSS, TANF: SEE NC B.2 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CALCULATING BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES WITH INELIGIBLE NONCITIZENS IN THE HOUSEHOLD. 4. Income and Payment Standards The Countable Income Limit Standard is the amount set as the maximum countable income limit. If the adult is eligible for benefits, the countable income limit is as follows: Countable Income Limit With Adult # in Elig. Group Amount 1 $ , , , , ,622 Each additional person 172

3 February 1, 2012 TANF I - Determining and Calculating Benefits I - 3 The Adjusted Income Limit is the amount set as the maximum adjusted income limit. If the adult is included in the benefit group, the adjusted income limit is as follows. Adjusted Income Limit With Adult # in Elig. Group Amount 1 $ , ,150 Each additional person Non-needy Countable Income Limit Standard Caretaker relatives who choose not to be included in the need group must meet the nonneedy countable income limit standard for the filing group. The non-needy countable standard for the filing group (see OAR ) is set at 185 percent of the federal poverty level (see OAR ). 6. Noncustodial Parent Countable Income Limit Standard In the JOBS Program, the countable (see OAR ) income limit for the filing group of a noncustodial parent who resides in Oregon and whose dependent child (see OAR ) is receiving TANF in Oregon to participate in an activity (see OAR ) of the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills Program is set at 185 percent of the federal poverty level (see OAR ). Effective July 1, 2011, policy does not support working with this population (see OAR ). 7. Prorated Standards; No-Adult Household The no-adult standards are used when the adults are not included in the need group because they are: Disqualified due to noncooperation with JOBS activities; Disqualified for noncooperation with child support requirements;

4 I - 4 TANF I - Determining and Calculating Benefits February 1, 2012 Disqualified for noncooperation with Alcohol and Drug/Mental Health treatment requirements; A non-needy caretaker relative; An SSI recipient; An ineligible noncitizen; or Serving an IPV penalty. To calculate the no-adult Adjusted Income/Payment Standard, first determine the number of people considered living in the household. The following people are not considered in this household count: Unborns; Clients receiving long-term care or waivered home and community-based care; Foster children or children receiving Adoption Assistance or Guardianship Assistance; Live-in attendants who live with the filing group solely to provide necessary medical or housekeeping services and are paid to provide those services. Landlords and tenants. A landlord/tenant relationship exists if one person pays another at fair market value for housing. Additionally, the filing group must live independently from the landlord or tenant; have and use sleeping, bathroom and kitchen facilities separate from the landlord or tenant; and if the bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared, it must be a commercial establishment that provides either room or board or both for fair market value compensation. After the number of people in the household is determined, refer to the Adjusted Income/ Payment Standard with adults. Divide the standard by the number of people in the household. Round this figure down to the next lower whole number if it is not a whole number. Multiply the figure by the number of people whose needs are included in the eligibility determination process. Add $12 to the calculated figure. Prorated Standards; Adjusted Number in Household: Income and Payment Standards; MAA, MAF, REF, SAC, TANF: SEE WORKER GUIDE MP WG #7 FOR STANDARDS CHART FOR NO-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS. 8. Overview of Costs When determining eligibility and calculating benefit amounts, do not allow costs incurred by the client, i.e., bills that the client has a legal responsibility to pay. Overview of Costs:

5 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program E February 1, 2012 Categorical Eligibility for SNAP E - 1 E. Categorical Eligibility for SNAP QC Hot Tip To ensure categorical eligibility for all households, establish categorical eligibility based on 185 percent of FPL, and give the Information and Referrals for Low-Income Households (DHS 3400) at each certification and recertification. Categorical Eligibility the Easy Way Categorical eligibility for SNAP can be very easy. It is simply developing a habit for every certification or recertification action. To establish categorical eligibility: Check financial group (SNAP C.5) countable income against the 185 percent FPL standard.* (SNAP E.1) Give the group a copy of the DHS Code the Cat El field on FSMIS C. Do not count any resources. When the filing group is coded as categorically eligible, FSMIS will skip the countable and adjusted income tests and issue at least $16 to eligible benefit groups (SNAP C.7) of one or two persons and the calculated amount to groups of three or greater. (SNAP F.25) Remember to check the income limit whenever the group reports changes during certification. * Exception: Cases in TANF Transition are categorically eligible even if over 185 percent. People are not categorically eligible if: At or over 185 percent FPL. The head of household is currently serving an OFSET disqualification (SNAP D.20). Anyone in the filing group is currently serving an IPV penalty (GP C.5). Code the Cat El field on FSMIS N. Count the resources of the OFSET disqualified head of household and anyone serving an IPV disqualification. Code on FSMIS in Tot Res. FSMIS will run the countable and adjusted income tests and the resource test on the case to determine financial eligibility unless the filing group contains someone meeting the SNAP definition of elderly or disabled.

6 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program E FSML 64C E - 2 Categorical Eligibility for SNAP February 1, What does categorical eligibility for SNAP mean? The term Categorical Eligibility is a misnomer. Categorical eligibility (GP A.12) does not mean that the household or person is automatically eligible for SNAP. What categorical eligibility means is that certain eligibility factors do not apply to the SNAP case when all individuals in the filing group (SNAP C.2) are categorically eligible for SNAP. A SNAP filing group is considered categorically eligible for the entire month when, at any time during the month, all of its members receive or have been determined eligible to receive any combination of benefits or services from the following programs: EA, ERDC, GA, Pre-TANF Program, Post-TANF, SSI, TA-DVS, TANF, TANF-JOBS Plus, TANF Transition services and Housing Stabilization Program through Housing and Community Services; REF and TANF Retention Services if a group member is participating in JOBS or receiving JOBS support services; Considered to be receiving SSI under 1619(a) or 1619(b) of the Social Security Act; The filing group s countable income (GP A.43) is below 185 percent of the federal poverty level and they are given the TANF information and referral services pamphlet, Resource Guide for Low-Income Households (DHS 3400); 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level is: Financial Group Size Income Limit 1 1, , , , , , , ,996 Each additional person +611 Note: For NC1s, the 185 percent FPL test is done on total gross income before proration. If using self-employment income with allowable costs, count the gross SEC less 50 percent for the costs for the 185 percent test. If there are no allowable costs, count the gross SEN for the 185 percent test. Eligibility for medical assistance (EXT, MAA, MAF, OHP, etc.) does not make the household categorically eligible for SNAP.