604-3 G. ADDING A MEMBER TO THE HOUSEHOLD
New members entering a participating Food Stamp household bring their income and resources with them. When the household reports a new household member, verify the new member's residency, citizenship or alien status, social security number, resources, and income following the requirements listed in FS MS 601-4. A notice must be sent giving the household at least ten days to provide this information.
Exception:
For newborns, obtain verification of citizenship and social security number
at the next recertification.
Consider both the new member's and old member's income and resources in determining eligibility. If eligible, determine the allotment amount. If ineligible, close the case and send notice of adverse action.
Include the new person as a household member effective the month following the receipt of the report of the new member, provided the person is in the home and all the verification is submitted by the end of the period provided in the notice.
Note:
A person cannot participate as a member of more than one household in any
month.
Exception:
Residents of shelters for battered women and children. See MS
601-1 A.
If the addition
of the household member results in an increase in the allotment,
the caseworker will make the change effective the month following the
month the change was reported. If the change is reported too late
to adjust the following month allotment, the caseworker will issue a supplemental
benefit by the 10th of the next month.
Example:
Household reports a new member on July 28. Verification is requested
on August 5, and household provides it on August 15. August food
stamps have already been issued. A supplemental August benefit for
the new member must be issued by September 10.
Example - Adding
a Newborn When Reported Two Months Before Birth
Courtney reports on April 27th that
her baby is due on May 25th. The caseworkers asks Courtney to contact
her when the baby is born and at home. Courtney calls on June 2nd and
says that the baby was born on May 31st and came home from the hospital
on June 1st. Since the household did not report the baby was in the home
the month after the original report, June 2nd is considered the report
of change and the baby is added July 1st.
Example - Adding
a Newborn When Reported Month Before Birth
Ana reports on April 27th that her baby
is due on May 25th. The caseworker asks Ana to contact her when the baby
is born and at home. Ana calls on May 28th and says that the baby was
born on May 24th and came home from the hospital on May 27th. Since new
household members are added to the case the 1st of the month after the
report of change, and the household reported the change in April, the
newborn is added to the case May 1st.
Example - Adding
a Household Member
Bryon calls the office on May 20th to
report that his 10 year old son, Chris, is moving in with him in June.
The caseworker asks Bryon to call and report when Chris is actually in
the home. On June 10th, Bryon calls back and reports his son moved in
on June 6th and is now living with him. The caseworker will add Chris
to the case effective June 1st and issue a supplement to the household.
If the addition of the household member results in a decrease in the allotment, the change is effective the issuance month following the expiration of the adverse action notice.
If the addition of the household member results in ineligibility and case closure, the case is closed effective the month following the expiration of the adverse action notice period.
If the household fails to provide the verification needed to add the person to the Food Stamp case, and the verification is necessary to determine continued eligibility, close the case following adverse action notice requirements. If eligibility for the remaining household members can be determined without the verification, disqualify the new household member. Disqualified members cannot be added to the case until the month following receipt of all required verification.
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