Income and verification requirements will follow TANF rules laid out in CAH 150 - Income except as specified below.
The earned income of a GA child will be excluded in the eligibility determination under the same criteria used to exclude the earned income of a TANF child. Student status for GA also follows TANF policy. The child must be attending a secondary or secondary-level vocational or technical school. If the GA child is:
If the GA child does not meet any of the exclusion criteria, the earned income is determined according to Section 106.64, GA Earned Income Deductions.
Examples:
1) Joe is a 17-year-old full-time high school student living with Mark, his mother’s former boyfriend. Mark receives cash assistance for Joe in the GA program. Joe begins working part-time stocking shelves at a local department store. He works an average of 32 hours per week.
Joe’s income is not counted when determining eligibility for GA because he is under 18, a full-time student in a secondary school and lives with an adult caretaker.
2) Joe’s friend Tim is also 17 years old and living with Mr. Wilson, his unrelated legal guardian. Tim works full time with Joe at the department store while he attends high school part time.
Mr. Wilson applies for cash assistance for Tim. Tim’s income is counted when determining eligibility for GA because he is a part-time student and working full time.
Tim’s boss says that he may have to reduce Tim’s hours to part time because sales at the department store have dropped. If this happens, Tim’s income from the department store will be excluded based on his part-time student status and part time employment.
3) Jenny is Tim’s 16-year-old girlfriend. Five months ago she moved out of her parent’s home and moved into an apartment with her 18-year-old girlfriend. Jenny is a full-time student and she works an average of 25 hours a week as a clerk in a local business office.
Jenny’s income is not excluded because she has left her parents’ household, established herself as an independent unit is no longer living with an adult caretaker.
4) Joe quits school and continues to work full time at the department store. He still lives with Mark but is no longer a student. His income is counted in the eligibility determination.
5) Paula lives with Mary, a friend of her mother. Mary receives GA cash assistance for Paula. Paula is 16 and attends East High School full time. Paula begins a part time job at the local hardware store. Paula’s income is excluded in the eligibility determination.
After verifying school attendance initially, the CAO will again verify attendance in March, June, September, and December until the child reaches age 19 for TANF children or age 21 for GA children. If there is any question about the child's student status, the CAO will verify attendance more often.
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TREATMENT OF EARNED INCOME OF A GA CHILD |
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MONTHLY ASSISTANCE PAYMENT |
If the GA child is: |
And has income from: |
In computing the monthly assistance payment; |
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Age 18 or younger and a full-time student employed full-time or part-time |
Any source |
Exempt the income. |
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Age 18 or younger and part-time student employed full-time |
WIA or Job Corps |
Exempt the income |
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Any other source |
Count the income. |
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Age 18 or younger and a part-time student who is employed part-time |
Any source |
Exempt the income. |
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Not a student under age 18 |
Job Corps |
Exempt the income. |
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WIOA |
Exempt the income for six calendar months per calendar year. |
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Any other source |
Count the income. |
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The exemption for WIOA income and earned income from other sources are independent six-month considerations.
When income is exempted for six calendar months those six months do not need to be consecutive.
The individual can choose what months he does not want the child’s income to count. The CAO should advise the individual on what is best for the budget group.
Each employed person in the GA budget group is allowed certain income deductions for expenses related to employment.
Deductions from earned income are for:
The CAO will allow the deductions in the above order.
The CAO will deduct the earned income incentive from the gross earned income before any other deductions.
For four consecutive calendar months of employment, the CAO will deduct the first $20, plus 50 percent of the next $60 from the gross earned income of each employed eligible individual. The CAO will track receipt of the incentive in the case record.
There is a maximum limit of four consecutive months for this deduction. A individual who has received the incentive deduction for four consecutive calendar months is not eligible to receive it again until his GA has been closed for at least 12 consecutive calendar months.
Before deducting the earned income incentive deduction, the CAO will consider all of the following requirements:
The earned income incentive deduction is allowed only for an employed individual who is:
To determine eligibility for the incentive deduction of a budget group which has not received GA in any of the previous four months, the CAO will:
1. Subtract the work and personal expense deductions from the gross earned income of each budget group member. The result is the net earned income.
2. Subtract from unearned income any expenses the individual pays in order to receive the income. See Section 106.66, GA Unearned Income Deductions. The result is net unearned income.
3. Combine the total net earned and net unearned income of all budget group members.
4. Compare the total income of the budget group to the Standard of Need in Chapter 168, Determining Eligibility and Payment Amount, Appendix B. If the income is greater than or equal to the Standard of Need, the entire budget group is ineligible.
5. If income is less than the Standard of Need, allow the earned income incentive for each budget group member who is otherwise eligible.
If an applicant who has not received GA in any of the previous four months is being added to a budget group that is active or has been active within the past four months, the CAO will:
1. Subtract the work expense and personal expense deductions from the individual's gross earned income.
2. Subtract from unearned income any expenses the applicant paid in order to receive income. See Section 106.66, GA Unearned Income Deductions.
3. Add the applicant's net earned and net unearned income.
4. Combine the applicant's total net income with the countable net income of the other budget group members.
5. Compare the total net income with the Standard of Need. If net income is greater than or equal to the Standard of Need, the budget group is ineligible for assistance.
6. If the net income of the budget group is less than the Standard of Need, allow the incentive deduction for the applicant.
The CAO will deduct actual work and personal expenses up to a maximum of $25. Work and personal expenses include, but are not limited to, expenses related to employment such as:
The CAO will deduct any expenses an individual must pay to be eligible for or to receive the unearned income. Allowable expenses include, but are not limited to:
Refer to Chapter 167 .
Issued November 2, 2018, reviewed April 11, 2019