Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 501.11 - Prospective/retrospective budgeting(a)Prospective determination of eligibility- 7 CFR 273.21(e)(1). Eligibility for program benefits is determined prospectively for each issuance month. The prospective determination is based on an estimation of household income and circumstances expected to exist in each issuance month. The computation of the monthly allotment is based on the best estimate of income and circumstances that will exist in the month of issuance.(b)Beginning months- 7 CFR 273.21(d). The beginning months are the first and second month of the initial certification period for which the participant is eligible for program benefits. A third beginning month may be necessary to coordinate the combined Cash/Food Stamp Program benefits.(c)Budget month- 7 CFR 273.21(d)(2). The budget month is the calendar month from which the actual income and circumstances of the participant are used to determine eligibility and the amount of the allotment for the issuance month. The budget month is referred to as the reporting period on the monthly reporting form.(d)Determining the amount of the allotment- 7 CFR 273.21(g). The amount of the allotment is budgeted prospectively in the beginning months and is based on an estimation of household income and circumstances expected to exist in the beginning months. The amount of the allotment following the beginning months is budgeted retrospectively and is based on the actual income and circumstances which existed in the corresponding budget month.(e)Prospective budgeting; terminated income- 7 CFR 273.21(g)(3) and 273.21(j)(1)(vii)(B)(2). Income that is budgeted prospectively to determine the amount of the allotment and is terminated in the prospective months is not budgeted retrospectively. (1) If the combination cash/food stamp client receives income which starts and stops before being counted prospectively or retrospectively, the income is disregarded.(2) If the food stamp only participant receives income which starts and stops before being counted prospectively or retrospectively, the income is counted retrospectively.(f)Treatment of PA payments- 7 CFR 273.21(j)(1)(vii)(B). PA payments are counted as follows: (1) The PA payment for the issuance month is combined with actual income from the budget month to determine the food stamp allotment.(2) A corrective or additional assistance payment which corrects the budget month PA payment is counted retrospectively to determine the amount of the allotment in the corresponding issuance month.The provisions of this §501.11 adopted January 3, 1992, effective 1/4/1992, 22 Pa.B. 23.