Initial Applications

For most households submitting an initial application, eligibility will be based on the household's circumstances for the entire month of application. (A) If the worker finds a household ineligible for the month of application, but eligible in the following month(s) because of anticipated changes, the same application shall be used to deny benefits for the month of application and to approve benefits for the following month(s). In this situation, the household does not have to reapply to receive benefits for the month(s) following the month of application. The worker will use the month of ineligibility, however, as the first month of the household's certification period. (B) If the Department finds a household eligible for the month of application, but ineligible in the following month because of anticipated changes, the household shall be paid benefits for the month of application even if the benefit is not issued until the following month. (C) If the Department finds that an eligible household's benefit amount for the month of the application is different from the household's benefit amount in the following month(s) because of anticipated changes, the Department shall issue the correct benefit amount for each of the certification months, even if the amount is different each month. The household may also elect to have its income averaged over the certification period.