5160-9        DOCUMENTING HOW THE CASEWORKER DETERMINED MONTHLY INCOME

Good documentation is an essential part of establishing how the household's eligibility was determined.  In every situation, the caseworker must document:

• Any anticipated changes in the income and what effects, if any, the changes have on the estimate of income.

• The source, amount, and frequency (when it is received and how often, i.e., pay period start and end dates and pay dates) of the household’s income, and how this information was verified.  

• The method used by the caseworker to estimate the monthly income.  This must include the reasons certain payments were used or not used in calculating an average payment.  This is a key part of documenting self-employment and irregular income where client statements often become part of the verification.