Eligibility for the $30 and One-Third and $30 Earned Income Disregard

Having a disability does not exclude Emergency Assistance to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) clients from the opportunity to pursue and maintain employment. Case managers must explain to clients that while employment is not required for EAEDC clients, there are benefits to working if the client is able to do so, including maximizing their income potential.

Deductions and Earned Income Disregards

As an incentive for clients to maintain employment, DTA does not count all of their earned income when determining eligibility and benefit amount for EAEDC.

Work Related Expense Deduction

An employed EAEDC client receives a $200 per month work related expense deduction from their gross earned income. A spouse whose income is deemed to the EAEDC is also eligible for the work-related expense deduction.

Earned Income Disregards

In addition to the work-related expense deduction, an EAEDC client who is employed is eligible for the following earned income disregards, which are used in determining the EAEDC eligibility and benefit amounts:

$30 and one-third of the remaining income is disregarded for four consecutive calendar months. Once the $30 and one-third disregard has been used for four consecutive calendar months, the client is ineligible for it again for as long as they continue to receive EAEDC.
- If the $30 and one-third disregard has been used and the EAEDC closes, the client is not eligible to receive it again until one year has passed without receiving EAEDC.
Once the $30 and one-third disregard has been applied for four consecutive calendar months, the client is eligible for a $30 earned income disregard for the following eight consecutive calendar months.

A spouse whose income is deemed to the EAEDC is not eligible for the above earned income disregard.

ExampleExample

Mark (he/him) is working part time and applied for EAEDC because his disability prevents him from being able to work more hours. He earns $530 per month. Below is an example of how Mark’s income will be counted for EAEDC purposes:

Months One Through Four		Months Five Through Twelve
Earnings	$530	Earnings	$530
Less Work-Related Expenses	$200	Less Work-Related Expenses	$200
Equals	$330	Equals	$330
Less $30	$30	Less $30	$30
Equals	$300	Countable Income	$300
Less one third of $300	$100
Countable Income	$200
Max Benefit Amount	$401	Max Benefit Amount	$401
Less Countable Income	$200	Less Countable Income	$300
Benefit Amount	$201	Benefit Amount	$101

When are the Disregards not used in the Calculation?

Earned income disregards do not apply for any month during which the client:

decreased their income or quit their job without good cause within the 30 days prior to the month the benefit amount is calculated or refused a job offer without good cause in that time period, or
did not report earned income or a change to earned income of more than $100 within 10 calendar days and did not have good cause. In this case, good cause is limited to the serious illness of the client or a dependent child and verification of this is required.

You must always explore whether good cause exists and document this in the narrative.

ExamplesExamples

Alyssa (she/her) is receiving EAEDC. She began working part time and had just received her first pay when she became ill and went into the hospital for two weeks. When she completed her reevaluation interview three weeks later, she reported the income to her case manager. Alyssa has good cause for the delay in reporting the income and her disregard counter must not be suspended.
Asad (he/him) is receiving EAEDC. When his case manager completed his reevaluation interview on 8/23/24 they addressed a continued Suspected of Living Above Means (SLAM) concern. In response, Asad indicated that he got a job doing construction. He states he is paid in cash and will receive a 1099 form at the end of the year. The case manager sent a VC-1 requesting a letter from the employer indicating his earnings, number of hours worked since he started and when he was first paid.
1. When the letter was received, it indicated Asad had been working for four months. The case manager called Asad to ask why he did not report the income when he first began receiving it and he could not provide a reason. The case manager must enter the income and suspend the disregards on the Income Disregards page. They must also complete an overpayment referral for the EAEDC and for SNAP in a combo case.

See Earned Income Disregards and Counters-EAEDC

Where is the Disregard Information in BEACON?

The earned income disregard information is found on the Income Disregards page located in the Income and Expenses section of the workflow.

In the event you need to suspend the disregard due to one of the reasons above. You will do so on this page.

See Earned Income Disregards and Counters-EAEDC

Rights and Responsibilities

Earned Income-EAEDC