CalFresh Special Notice 13-02 - HHSA Program Guides

Action onReportedChanges(continued)VOLUNTARY REQUESTS FOR DISCONTINUANCEHouseholds may voluntarily request to discontinue a householdmember or the entire CalWORKs and/or CalFresh case at any time.For CalFresh, a timely NOA is not required if the householdvoluntarily requests discontinuance in writing or in the presenceof a worker (Section 63-303.13).For CalWORKs, a notice is not required if the request is inwriting.ProspectiveBudgetingChange Reporting household eligibility is determined by usingprospective budgeting methodology. Prospective budgeting requiresthe worker to use income that the applicant or recipient anticipateswith reasonable certainty will be received in the upcoming certificationperiod or the remainder of the certification period.Current income information obtained at application or redetermination,as well as any reasonably anticipated changes in income will be usedas an indicator of the income that is anticipated to be available to thehousehold for the remainder of the certification period. Changes inincome reported mid-year will be evaluated using the current month’sincome in conjunction with any anticipated changes.NOTE: If the amount of income that will be received or when it will bereceived is uncertain, the worker will not count the portion of thehousehold's income that is uncertain.It is critical that workers thoroughly document how they arrived at theprojected income amount to calculate or determine benefits. Casecomments and other documentation will be particularly critical whendocumenting any changes in income, including, but not limited to: newincome, income that is ending, income that is expected to change,income that fluctuates (including anomalies such as overtime ormissed work), and income that is so unstable that the recipient cannotmake a reasonable estimate of what income to expect in futuremonths.EXCEPTION TO PROSPECTIVE BUDGETINGThe only exception to prospective budgeting is for CalFreshhouseholds, who by contract or self-employment derive their income ina period of time shorter than one year. The households will have thatincome averaged over the 12-month certification period, provided theincome from the contract is not received on an hourly or pieceworkbasis.CalFresh Special Notice 13-02, Implementation of AR/CO Page 7