Verification of Income EAEDC
Overview
The earned and unearned income of household members may be countable even if they are not receiving benefits for themselves (they are in the filing unit but not the assistance unit).
A filing unit is composed of those persons whose income (and assets for rest home residents only) must be considered in determining eligibility and the amount of the grant for the assistance unit, regardless of whether they are included in the assistance unit.
An assistance unit is composed of those persons whose needs are considered in determining eligibility and the amount of the grant, and who are eligible to receive EAEDC benefits. All persons required to be in the assistance unit must be included in the filing unit.
There are several different types of earned and unearned income that may affect a client’s eligibility and/or grant amount. All types of income must be verified by the client.
Verification of Income
EAEDC clients must report any new income received and any change in income of $100 or more. Earned income from wages shall be verified:
- at application
- reevaluation
- for a Department Earned Income match; and
- any time a member of the filing unit reports that they have started employment or their earnings have changed.
As the first option, earned income is verified by using the Work Number. When a client applies for EAEDC or is reevaluated, the Work Number database is searched for a match. If there is a match for any person in the household over age 16 you must disposition the match following procedures described in the Matches - Disposition Reason Options page.
Earned income may also be verified by pay stubs, pay envelopes or a written statement signed by an employer. The verification must show the gross wages (including tips, if applicable), the date received and the number of hours worked.
Self-employment income is verified by means of business records and tax returns that show the total amount of income and the total business expenses associated with the gross income earned. The three most current months' records must be used.
Unearned income shall be verified at application, at reevaluation, at the time of a change in income of $100 or more, or when the Department receives an External Agency Match (e.g., Unemployment.)
Unearned income shall be verified by:
- a copy of the benefit payment check
- a copy of a benefit or award letter
- retirement fund documents
- Social Security benefit statements
- a written statement from the agency or person making the payment that indicates the amount and frequency of the payment, or
- information received by the Department through a computer match from agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of Revenue (DOR) or the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) that identifies the current amount and frequency of the payment
All countable income is considered on a monthly basis and is applied to the determination or Reevaluation of eligibility and calculation of the grant amount. Amounts of income paid in other than monthly amounts must be converted to monthly amounts.
Related Topics
Last Update: November 23, 2022