Verification and Determination oflncome

(A) Verification and Determination of Monthly Wages. Eligibility and grant amount are based on the filing unit's projected income at the time of application or when a change is reported. Projected income must be based on the best estimate of income that actually will be received in the cyclical month in which action will be taken on the application or the change. Earned income from wages shall be verified at application, redeterminations, at any time a member of the filing unit reports he or she has started receiving income and when a change in income that is required to be reported under 106 CMR 701 .420: Responsibility for Notification of Changes has occurred. Earned income shall be verified by pay stubs, pay envelopes, or a written statement signed by an employer. The verification must show the gross wages (including tips, if applicable) and the number of hours worked. ( 1) If the employee is paid weekly, the average of the four consecutive weeks' pay received before the application date will be multiplied by 4.333 to get an average monthly wage. (2) If the employee is paid bi-weekly, an average of the last two consecutive pay periods will be multiplied by 2.167 to obtain a monthly figure. If the employee is paid twice a month, the last two consecutive pay periods will be added to obtain a monthly figure. (3) If the employee is paid monthly, the monthly figure will be used. If the employee receives a contractual annual salary, the amount to be used is the contractual annual salary divided by 12. Verification of the annual salary shall be a signed copy of the contract or a signed letter stating the annual salary to be received. Pay stubs and pay envelopes that contain the employer's federal employment identification number, or a written statement signed by an employer showing wages paid and the number of hours worked in the year to date may be used to determine an anticipated monthly wage as long as the number of weeks' pay is shown or can be calculated. (B) Verification and Determination of Self-employment Income. Self-employment income shall be verified by means of business records and tax returns that show the total amount of income and the total business expenses associated with the gross income earned. The three most current months' records must be used. Business expenses shall be verified by records of bank deposits, records of wages paid to employees, including Social Security and other taxes paid, and withheld from those wages, rent receipts, utility payments receipts, bills of lading, receipts for stock purchases and Workers' Compensation payment records. (C) Unearned Income. Unearned income shall be verified at application, at eligibility reviews and at the time of a change in income. Income that is received on other than a monthly basis shall be converted to a monthly amount in accordance with 106 CMR 704.290(A). Unearned income shall be verified by a copy of the benefit payment check, a benefit or award letter, retirement fund documents, social security benefit statements, a written statement from the agency or person making the payment that indicates the amount and frequency of the payment, or information received by the Department through a computer match from agencies such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Department of Revenue (DOR) that indicates the current amount and frequency of the payment.