Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in which any member receives a cash assistance benefit are subject to prospective budgeting (PB).
NOTE: Cash assistance benefits include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Extended TANF (ETANF), and Transitional Cash Assistance (TCA).
The County Assistance Office (CAO) must prospectively budget semimonthly cash assistance benefits to determine the SNAP benefit amount.
If the CAO is unable to determine the first cash assistance benefit amount or the receipt date, it must not count the payment.
Example: A household applies for cash assistance and SNAP benefits on March 15. The CAO completes the interview on March 25 and authorizes SNAP benefits effective March 15 and cash assistance effective March 25. The CAO does not include the March cash assistance benefit in the March SNAP benefits calculation, because it cannot reasonably anticipate that the first cash assistance benefit will be received in March. The CAO must anticipate the two regularly issued cash assistance benefits for the April SNAP issuance.
When the CAO adds an individual to a cash assistance/SNAP household and authorizes a supplemental cash one-time issuance (OTI), the CAO must budget the OTI and the semimonthly cash assistance benefit for the issuance month the individual is added to the SNAP budget.
The CAO must prospectively budget the cash assistance OTI. If the cash assistance OTI includes an amount for a payment period that began before the issuance month payment cycle, the CAO must count that portion as a lump sum resource (for treatment of the cash assistance benefit, see below Section 567.43).
Example: Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Miller's two children receive cash assistance and SNAP benefits. Mrs. Miller receives unemployment compensation of $50 a week. On January 26, Mrs. Miller reports that Mr. Miller, an unemployed spouse, moved back into the household. The CAO adds Mr. Miller to cash assistance effective January 29 and authorizes an OTI for January 29 through February 16. Adding Mr. Miller to the SNAP benefit results in an increase. The CAO adds Mr. Miller to the SNAP benefit as of March 1 and authorizes a supplemental benefit for February. The CAO budgets the February benefit using the February cash assistance benefits for four persons (the OTI for February 2 through February 16 plus the February 17 semimonthly payment and the February unemployment compensation income). The CAO counts the portion of the cash OTI for the period January 29 through February 1 as a lump sum resource.
The CAO must count any cash assistance corrective payment as a lump sum payment and treat it as a resource in the month received.
Example: The CAO determines on March 24 that a TANF family was underpaid $50 a month for January, February, and March. The CAO authorizes a payment of $150. The family receives the $150 on March 30. The CAO treats the $150 as a resource for SNAP.
The CAO must determine the receipt date of a corrective payment by using the electronic Client Information System (eCIS) SNAP, Cash, and Medical Assistance Benefit Transcript screen or the SNAP, Cash, and Medical Assistance Benefit History screen (see eCIS Historical Inquiry and Standalone Actions). The ‘Benefit Date’ listed on the screen is the date of receipt.
The CAO must use the portion of an initial cash assistance payment meant to cover a previous month's cycle as a lump sum payment and treat it as a resource in the month it is received.
The SNAP household may use the cash assistance benefit in its Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) account the day after authorization. The CAO must count the part of the cash assistance benefit that covers the current SNAP budget month and is reasonably expected to be received.
Example: A TANF/SNAP household is authorized on July 27. August payment dates are August 3 and August 18. The first cash assistance benefit for July 27 through August 17 is authorized and accessible to the household in the household’s EBT account on July 28 (the day after authorization). The CAO counts only the payments for August 3 and August 18 for the August issuance. The prorated cash assistance benefit for the period July 27 through August 2 is a retroactive payment that must be counted as a resource in August.
The CAO must not consider special items allowances or special allowances for supportive services issued under a cash assistance, medical assistance, or SNAP program as income for SNAP benefits. Special items allowances and special allowances for supportive services include grants to decrease need, emergency grants, and childcare allowances. The CAO must not count these payments as income, as they are reimbursements and are issued for a purpose other than basic living expenses.
NOTE: When a special items or supportive services allowance is issued to cover an expense that is deductible for SNAP benefits, such as a childcare allowance or an emergency shelter allowance, the CAO must not enter the expense as a deduction.
Updated April 8, 2026, replacing March 1, 2012