Alabama Administrative Code
Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Chapter 660-4-7 - SIMPLIFIED REPORTING AND PROSPECTIVE BUDGETING
Section 660-4-7-.06 - Information And Verification For Six-Month Reporting

(1) Address Change: Failure by the household to answer the address change question constitutes an incomplete report. A household is required to report a change of address. If the household has moved, the new mailing address is required.

A household should complete the additional information in this section of the form if the household has moved. If the household reports a move and does not provide verification of shelter costs, no shelter costs should be included in the food assistance budget effective the following month. Failure to verify shelter costs does not constitute an incomplete report subject to termination for failure to provide verification.

If the household addresses the questions regarding utility expenses, allow the appropriate utility deduction. Verification is not required for the SUA, BUA or telephone standard.

(2) Change in Shelter Household Did Not Move: When the household reports an increase in shelter expenses on the six-month report and verification has not been received, the caseworker must request verification and allow the household 10 days to provide the requested verification. The household should be informed that benefits cannot be increased until verification is provided. If the verification is not provided within 10 days, action must not be taken to increase benefits or close the food assistance case for failure to provide verification. Do not make a change in the shelter costs. Document the reason the reported change was not processed. No further action is required until recertification unless the household subsequently provides the verification prior to the end of the certification period. In this case, the change may be made if it will cause an increase in benefits. When the household reports a decrease in shelter costs on the six-month report (with or without verification) which results in a decrease in the food assistance benefits, the reported change must be made to decrease the shelter costs effective the following month.

(3) Earned Income: Failure by the household to address the earned income questions constitutes an incomplete report. Countable earned income received in the report month must be reported and verified if earned income has changed by more than $100.00. If the household reports "yes", the earned income has changed by more than $100.00, the household must provide verification of this change. If the household does not send verification and verification cannot be obtained through another source such as The Work Number or through the employer, the report must be considered incomplete and returned to the household with a Notice of Incomplete Six-Month Report form. If the household states or verifies a change in earned income of less than $100.00, this change must be processed with or without verification.

If the household answers "yes", a member has had a change in earnings (including earnings from self-employment) because he/she started or stopped a job or changed jobs, the household must provide verification of this reported change. If the household does not provide verification, the report must be considered incomplete and returned to the household with a Notice of Incomplete Six-Month Report Form. If the county office discovers that a member of the household has quit a job or voluntarily reduced work hours, any information needed to determine whether the quit was with or without good cause should be addressed outside of the six-month report form.

If the household answers "no" to the earned income questions, the caseworker must not make any changes to the earned income amounts currently being budgeted for the household. The gross earned income amounts will remain the same for the last six-months of the 12-month certification period.

(4) Unearned Income: Failure by the household to address the unearned income question constitutes an incomplete report.

Countable unearned income received in the report month must be reported and verified if the unearned income has changed by more than $100.00. If the household reports "yes", the unearned income has changed by more than $100.00, the household must provide verification of this change. If the household does not send verification and verification cannot be obtained through another source such as IEVS, the report must be considered incomplete and returned to the household with a Notice of Incomplete Six-Month Report Form. Unearned income information which can be verified through IEVS shall be used and the change made for the following month. If the household states or verifies a change in unearned income of less than $100.00, this change must be processed with or without verification. In those cases that involve the receipt of child support income, it is not necessary to check the child support systems (ALECS & ALACOURT) if the household states "no" that the unearned income has not changed by more than $100.00 unless the household had reported a change in the child support income that could not be processed until six-month report.

If the household answers "no" to the unearned income question, the caseworker must not make any changes to the unearned income amounts currently being budgeted for the household with the exception of verified upon receipt information that should be processed by the caseworker. The unearned income amounts will remain the same for the last six-months of the 12-month certification period if there is no verified upon receipt information that the caseworker is required to process.

If the household answers "no" to the unearned income question, the caseworker must not make any changes to the unearned income amounts currently being budgeted for the household with the exception of verified upon receipt information that should be processed by the caseworker. The unearned income amounts will remain the same for the last six-months of the 12-month certification period if there is no verified upon receipt information that the caseworker is required to process.

(5) Child Support Payments/Deductions: Failure by the household to address the legally obligated child support questions does not constitute an incomplete report subject to termination. If the household does not answer these questions, remove the currently budgeted child support deduction from the food assistance budget.

The household must report and verify changes in the amount of legally obligated child support and when the obligation to pay child support ends if the household is receiving a deduction for child support payments. The household must report and verify if any other household member has a court-ordered child support obligation in order for this member to receive a child support deduction. If the household answers "yes", and does not send verification, a child support deduction must not be allowed in the food assistance budget for the last six-months of the 12-month certification period for households that were already receiving the deduction or for new court-ordered payments.

If the household answers "no", the child support deduction currently being budgeted will remain in the food assistance budget.

(6) Household Composition: Failure by the household to address the household composition question constitutes an incomplete report.

The household must report information about household members who have moved into or out of the household. The household must report income for those new members that have income and provide verification of their income. If the household answers "yes" and does not complete the information section concerning those members or the does not send verification of their income, the report must be considered incomplete and returned to the household with a Notice of Incomplete Six-Month Report Form. If verification of income can be obtained through another source such as IEVS, The Work Number, the employer, or other State verification systems, the form must not be returned.

If the household answers "no" to this question, the caseworker must not make any changes in household composition.

The household must complete and sign the six-month report. Failure to date the six-month report form does not constitute an incomplete report. If the household fails to sign the report or submits the report before the last day of the report month the form must be considered incomplete.

If the household reports information/verification considered questionable, the caseworker must determine the most appropriate way to resolve the issue and take appropriate action based on the individual case situation.