603              DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT LEVEL

The caseworker determines a household's eligibility and benefit level on a calendar month basis by considering the household’s circumstances for the entire month.  The caseworker estimates the amount of monthly income used in this determination by following the guidance in this chapter.

COMMON TERMS AND DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS SECTION

The following terms are specific to this section.  Refer to these terms frequently to gain a full understanding of the policy and examples in this section.

Anticipate means expecting a future event; predicting an event.  For example, an applicant anticipates receiving child support each month.

Average payment is a basic math calculation that adds payments in a period and divides the total by the number of payments added.

Biweekly payments are payments received every other week.

Conversion factor is a basic math calculation used to change (convert) a weekly or biweekly payment amount into a monthly amount.  It factors in the 3rd and 5th pay check received in some months by multiplying by 4.3 weeks when using a weekly payment, and 2.15 weeks when using a biweekly payment.

Estimate means calculating an approximate value.  For example, a caseworker will estimate how much income to count.

Full payment period is the period a payment is intended to cover.  For example, the full payment period for earnings is the pay period defined by the employer.  The full payment period for public assistance payments is a calendar month.  The full payment period for unemployment benefits is generally a two-week period, based on the claimant receiving two weekly benefits per payment.  Payments cover a full payment period even if the individual did not receive the maximum payment he or she could have received.  For example, lower payments are for full payment periods when the employee is employed continuously and was on unpaid leave (including illness) for part of the pay period; or a person is disqualified for part of the UIBUnemployment Insurance Benefit two-week benefit period.

Irregular income is income received in unpredictable amounts, on unpredictable dates, or infrequently, and typically not in consecutive months.  Unexpected income that cannot reasonably be expected to recur, such as a cash gift, also is irregular income.

Monthly payment is a payment received once a month.

Normal payment is a payment in a typical or usual amount.

Scheduled payment is a payment that will be made by the source at prescribed intervals or on specific dates.  For example, unemployment benefits are scheduled to be paid every two weeks; a weekly paycheck is scheduled to be paid once a week; and salaries are paid on specific dates decided by the employer.  With new or ending income, the individual may not receive all of the scheduled payments in a month, or some of the scheduled payments they receive may not be for a full payment period.

Twice a month payments are payments received two times in the month on specific dates.  For example, the monthly pay dates are the 5th and 20th of each month.

Weekly payment is a payment received once a week.