218-20-00 R.I. Code R. § 1.15

Current through June 20, 2024

Section 218-RICR-20-00-1.15 - Determining Household Eligibility and Benefit Levels

A. The income considered is that received over the period of certification.

1. As this is generally a future period, the income considered is usually that anticipated by the household.

2. Households that contain an elderly or disabled member must meet the net income eligibility standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

3. Households that do not contain an elderly or disabled member must meet both the gross income eligibility standards and the net income eligibility standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

4. Households that are categorically eligible because they are recipients of RIW cash assistance and/or SSI do not have to meet either the gross or net income eligibility standards.

5. The gross and net income eligibility standards are based on the Federal income poverty levels.

6. SNAP-only categorically eligible households that are recipients of a TANF-funded Service (the RI Department of Human Services TANF Information Publication) must meet the one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) gross income standard solely to determine eligibility for expanded categorical eligibility and must meet the net income standards in order to determine benefit amount.

a. One (1) and two (2) person households that are categorically eligible do not have to meet the net income standard in order to be eligible for the minimum monthly benefit of twenty-three dollars ($23.00).

7. The gross income eligibility standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the contiguous forty-eight (48) states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam is one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the Federal income poverty level.

8. The net income eligibility standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the contiguous forty-eight (48) States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam is one hundred percent (100%) of the Federal income poverty level.

9. The income eligibility limits are revised each October 1 to reflect the annual adjustment to the Federal income poverty guidelines for the forty-eight (48) contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

10. The annual income poverty guidelines are divided by twelve (12) to determine the monthly gross income standards, rounding the results upward as necessary.

a. For households greater than eight (8) persons, the increment in the Federal income poverty guidelines is multiplied by appropriate Federal poverty level percentage, divided by twelve (12), and the results rounded upward, if necessary.

B. Most households have the eligibility determination based on circumstances for the entire calendar month in which the household filed its application.

1. A household's eligibility is determined for the month of application by considering the household's circumstances for the entire month of application.

2. Applicant households, consisting of residents of a public institution who apply jointly for SSI and SNAP benefits prior to release from the public institution, have their eligibility determined for the month in which the applicant household is released from the institution.

C. Rounding Technique for Calculating Income

1. In calculating net monthly income, each income information entry is rounded to a whole dollar amount by rounding down for each income entry that ends in one (1) through forty-nine (49) cents and rounding up for each income entry that ends in fifty (50) through ninety-nine (99) cents.

2. Any cents in gross weekly earnings are rounded to the nearest dollar after converting the weekly figure to the monthly figure.

a. However, shelter expenses and medical costs are not rounded until totaled.

D. Method for Figuring Net Monthly Income

1. The following seven (7) steps lead to the determination of a household's SNAP monthly income:

a. Total Gross Income

(1) Add the total gross monthly earned income of all household members and the total monthly unearned income of all household members, minus income exclusions, to determine the household's total gross income.

(2) Net losses from the self-employment of a farmer are offset in accordance with §1.5.4 of this Part.

b. Monthly Net Adjusted Income

(1) Calculate the earned income deduction as described in §1.5.7 of this Part and subtract that amount from the total gross earned income;

(2) Add that to the total monthly unearned income, minus income exclusions.

c. Standard Deduction

(1) Subtract the standard deduction found in §1.5.7 of this Part.

d. Excess Medical Deduction

(1) If the household is entitled to an excess medical deduction as provided in §1.5.7 of this Part determine if total medical expenses exceed thirty-five dollars ($35.00).

(2) If so, deduct the Standard Medical Deduction of one hundred eighty-three dollars ($183.00).

(3) If the household has medical expenses that exceed two hundred eighteen dollars ($218.00) and it elects to verify actual expenses, subtract that portion of medical expenses in excess of thirty-five dollars ($35.00).

e. Dependent Care Deduction

(1) Subtract monthly dependent care expenses, if any.

f. Determining Any Excess Shelter Expense

(1) Add allowable shelter expenses to determine total shelter costs.

(2) Subtract from total shelter costs fifty percent (50%) of the adjusted income (the household's monthly income after all the above deductions have been subtracted).

(3) The remaining amount, if any, is the excess shelter expense. If there is no excess shelter expense, the net monthly income has been determined.

(4) If there is an excess shelter expense, go to the next step.

g. Applying Any Excess Shelter Expense

(1) Subtract the excess shelter expense up to the maximum amount allowed (unless the household is entitled to the full amount of its excess shelter expenses) from the household's monthly income after all other deductions.

(2) For households not subject to a shelter maximum, subtract the full amount of shelter expenses exceeding fifty percent (50%) of net income.

(3) The result is the household's net monthly income.

E. Gross and Net Income Eligibility Standards

1. The gross or net income eligibility standards for the household size are used to determine the household's eligibility according to the characteristics of the household.

a. Non-Categorically Eligible Households (does not apply to households with elderly or disabled members).

(1) Compare the total gross monthly income of the household to the one hundred thirty percent (130%) maximum gross monthly income limit for the appropriate household size as indicated in Table I, below;

(2) Compare the total net monthly income of the household (after appropriate deductions) to the maximum net monthly income limit for the appropriate household size as indicated in Table II, below.

b. Households Categorically Eligible due to receipt of a TANF-funded Service

(1) If the household's gross income is at or below one hundred eighty five percent (185%) of the gross income limit as indicted in Table IV, the household meets the criteria for categorical eligibility and is not subject to a resource test.

(2) The agency calculates the household's total net monthly income and then compares the total net monthly income of the household (after appropriate deductions) to the maximum net monthly income limit for the appropriate household size in Table II below to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits.

c. Households Containing a Member(s) Who Is Elderly or Disabled, or a Disabled Veteran or Surviving Disabled Spouse/Child(ren) of a Veteran, Same household status (An elderly or disabled person/spouse is considered a household member)

(1) Compare the adjusted net monthly SNAP income of the household, to the maximum net monthly income limits for the appropriate household size in Table II, below.

(2) Separate household status (An elderly and disabled person/spouse is not considered a household member).

(3) Compare the gross monthly income of all other members in the household to the one hundred sixty-five percent (165%) maximum gross monthly income limit for the appropriate household size as indicated in Table III, below.

d. Elderly/Disabled Not Categorically Eligible Due to Receipt of a TANF-Funded Service

(1) Compare the total gross monthly income of the household to the two hundred percent (200%) gross monthly income limit for the appropriate household size as indicated in Table V, below.

(2) If the household's gross income is over two hundred percent (200%) of the gross income limit, Table V, the household does not meet the criteria for categorical eligibility and is subject to a resource test.

(3) The agency then compares the total net monthly income of the household (after appropriate deductions) to the maximum net monthly income limit for the appropriate household size in Table II below to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits.

e. Elderly/Disabled Categorically Eligible Due to Receipt of a TANF-Funded Service

(1) If the household's gross income is at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the gross income limit, Table V, the household meets the criteria for categorical eligibility and is not subject to a resource test.

(2) The agency then compares the total net monthly income of the household (after appropriate deductions) to the maximum net monthly income limit for the appropriate household size in Table II below in order to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits.

TABLE I - 130% LIMIT-GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT (eff. 10/1/23)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME
1	$1,580.00	9	$6,035.00
2	$2,137.00	10	$6,592.00
3	$2,694.00	11	$7,149.00
4	$3,250.00	12	$7,706.00
5	$3,807.00	13	$8,263.00
6	$4,364.00	14	$8,820.00
7	$4,921.00	15	$9,377.00
8	$5,478.00	16	$9,934.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), five hundred fifty-seven dollars ($557.00)

TABLE II - 100% LIMIT-NET MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT (eff. 10/1/23)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM NET MONTHLY INCOME	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM NET MONTHLY INCOME
1	$1,215.00	9	$4,643.00
2	$1,644.00	10	$5,072.00
3	$2,072.00	11	$5,501.00
4	$2,500.00	12	$5,930.00
5	$2,929.00	13	$6,359.00
6	$3,357.00	14	$6,788.00
7	$3,785.00	15	$7,217.00
8	$4,214.00	16	$7,646.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), add four hundred twenty-nine dollars ($429.00)

TABLE III - 165% LIMIT-GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT (eff. 10/1/23)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME
1	$2,005.00	9	$7,659.00
2	$2,712.00	10	$8,366.00
3	$3,419.00	11	$9,073.00
4	$4,125.00	12	$9,780.00
5	$4,832.00	13	$10,487.00
6	$5,539.00	14	$11,194.00
7	$6,246.00	15	$11,901.00
8	$6,952.00	16	$12,608.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), add seven hundred seven dollars ($707.00).

TABLE IV - 185% LIMIT-GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT (eff. 10/1/23)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME
1	$2,248.00	9	$8,590.00
2	$3,041.00	10	$9,384.00
3	$3,833.00	11	$10,178.00
4	$44,625.00	12	$10,972.00
5	$5,419.00	13	$11,766.00
6	$6,210.00	14	$12,560.00
7	$7,002.00	15	$13,354.00
8	$7,796.00	16	$14,148.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), add seven hundred ninety-four dollars ($794.00)

TABLE V- 200% LIMIT-GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMIT (eff. 10/1/23)
HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM GROSS MONTHLY INCOME
1	$2,430.00	9	$9,286.00
2	$3,288.00	10	$10,144.00
3	$4,144.00	11	$11,002.00
4	$5,000.00	12	$11,860.00
5	$5,858.00	13	$12,718.00
6	$6,714.00	14	$13,576.00
7	$7,570.00	15	$14,434.00
8	$8,428.00	16	$15,292.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), add eight hundred fifty-eight dollars ($858.00)

2. When a household's circumstances changes, and it becomes entitled to a different income eligibility standard, the agency representative applies the different standard at the next recertification or when there is a change in the household's eligibility, benefit level or certification period, whichever occurs first.

1.15.1Benefit Calculation and Allotments

A. Initial Month's Benefit Level

1. A household's benefit level for the initial month of certification is based on the day of the month it applies for benefits.

a. A household applying for benefits on or before the fifteenth (15th) of the month receives benefits pro-rated from the day of application to the end of the month.

b. A household applying after the fifteenth (15th) of the month receives benefits pro-rated from the application date to the end of the month plus benefits for the first (1st) full month of participation in a combined allotment.

c. "Initial month" means:

(1) The first (1st) month for which an allotment is issued to a household,

(2) The first (1st) month for which an allotment is issued to a household following any period in which such household was not participating in the SNAP after the expiration of a certification period or after termination of the certification of a household during its certification period, when the household became ineligible after notice and opportunity for hearing, and

(3) In the case of a migrant or seasonal farmworker household, the first (1st) month for which such a household is certified for participation in the SNAP following any period of more than thirty (30) days during which the household was not certified for participation.

(4) Allotments are based on a standard thirty (30) day calendar month.

(AA) Therefore, a household applying on the thirty-first (31st) of a month is treated as though it applied on the thirtieth (30th) day of the month.

2. For a household applying for SSI and SNAP benefits prior to release from a public institution, the benefit level for the initial month of certification is based on the date of the month the household is released from the institution.

a. The household receives benefits pro-rated from the date of release from the institution to the end of the month, if the date of release is on or before the fifteenth (15th) of the month.

b. If the release date is after the fifteenth (15th), a combined allotment of the pro-rated initial month's and first (1st) full month's benefits are issued.

B. Anticipated Changes

1. Because of anticipated changes, a household may be eligible for the month of application, but ineligible in the subsequent month.

a. The household is entitled to benefits for the month of application even if the processing of its application results in the benefits being issued in the subsequent month.

b. Similarly, a household may be ineligible for the month of application, but eligible in the subsequent month due to anticipated changes in circumstances.

(1) Even though denied for the month of application, the household does not have to reapply in the subsequent month.

(2) The same application shall be used for the denial for the month of application and the determination of eligibility for subsequent months, within the timeliness standards in §1.3.8 of this Part.

c. As a result of anticipating changes, the household's allotment for the month of application may differ from its allotment in subsequent months.

(1) The agency representative establishes a certification period for the longest possible period over which changes in the household's circumstances can be reasonably anticipated.

(2) The household's allotment varies from month-to-month at the time of certification, unless the household elects the averaging techniques in §1.6.8 of this Part.

C. Pro-rating Allotments for the Initial Month

1. The amount of SNAP benefits which a household receives monthly is determined by subtracting thirty percent (30%) of the household's net monthly income from the Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment amount for the appropriate household size, or by using the Basis of Issuance Tables.

a. Normally, the household receives that full monthly allotment throughout its certification period.

b. However, during the initial month, the household may only be entitled to a partial allotment.

c. SNAP benefits are reduced in proportion to the number of days from the date of application until the end of the month.

d. In the case of migrant and seasonal farmworker households, the term "initial month" means the first (1st) month for which the household is certified for participation in the SNAP following any period of more than one (1) month during which the household was not certified for participation.

e. For a household that has not previously participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program the first (1st) month for which benefits are issued is the initial month.

f. For a household that has participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the initial month is the first (1st) month for which an allotment is issued following a period during which the household was not certified for participation, provided that the household did not have an application pending.

g. Whether the household receives the full monthly allotment or a pro-rated amount, its eligibility and allotment are still determined in the usual way by considering all the income and resources available to the household for the month.

2. Standard Thirty (30) Day Month

a. Rhode Island has elected to average months with twenty-eight (28), twenty-nine (29), and thirty-one (31) days and consider that each calendar or fiscal month has a standard thirty (30) days.

3. Using the standard thirty (30) day calendar or fiscal month, the initial month benefits can also be pro-rated by using the following formula, keeping in mind that the date of application for someone applying on the thirty-first (31st) of the month is the thirtieth (30th):

a. Full month's benefits x (thirty-one (31) minus date of application) = pro-rated thirty (30) day allotment.

b. The sequence for calculation of the formula is:

(1) Subtract the date of application from thirty-one (31);

(2) Multiply the result of the subtraction by the full monthly allotment;

(3) Divide the product of the multiplication by thirty (30); and

(4) Round down, if necessary.

c. If a household's monthly allotment is more than nine hundred dollars ($900.00), the highest number shown in the tables, calculate the pro-rated amount by multiplying the full monthly allotment by the factor (shown below) appropriate to the application date, and round the product down to the nearest whole dollar if the allotment ends in one (1) through ninety-nine (99) cents.

(1) If the computation results in an allotment of less than ten dollars ($10.00), round down to zero dollars ($0.00). The multiplication factors are:

DATE OF APPLICATION	MULTIPLICATION FACTOR	DATE OF APPLICATION	MULTIPLICATION FACTOR
1	1.0000	16	.5000
2	.9667	17	.4667
3	.9334	18	.4334
4	.9000	19	.4000
5	.8667	20	.3667
6	.8334	21	.3334
7	.8000	22	.3000
8	.7667	23	.2667
9	.7334	24	.2334
10	.7000	25	.2000
11	.6667	26	.1667
12	.6334	27	.1334
13	.6000	28	.1000
14	.5667	29	.0667
15	.5334	30	.0334

(2) When using the above formula for determining the pro-rated allotment, round the product down to the nearest lower whole dollar if it ends in one (1) through ninety-nine (99) cents.

(3) If the computation results in an allotment of less than ten dollars ($10.00), round it down to zero dollars ($0.00) and no issuance is made for the initial month.

D. Calculating SNAP Allotments

1. The Maximum SNAP Allotments are based on the Thrifty Food Plan as developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are uniform by household size.

2. Except for eligible households whose benefits are pro-rated for the initial month, a household's monthly allotment is equal to the Maximum SNAP Allotment for the household's size reduced by thirty percent (30%) of the household's net monthly income.

3. After multiplying the net income by thirty percent (30%), the product is rounded up to the next whole dollar prior to subtracting that amount from the Maximum SNAP Allotment.

4. If the calculation of benefits for an initial month would yield an allotment of less than ten dollars ($10.00) for the household, no benefits shall be issued to the household for the initial month.

a. For an eligible household, with three (3) or more members that is entitled to no benefits in months other than the initial month, the agency representative denies the household's application.

(1) For an eligible household with three (3) or more members which is entitled to no benefits (except because of the proration requirements and the provision precluding issuances of less than ten dollars ($10.00) in an initial month as outlined in the procedures of this Section), the agency shall deny the household's application.

b. For an eligible household that is entitled to no benefits in the initial month of application but is entitled to benefits in subsequent months, the agency representative certifies the household beginning with the month of application.

c. Except during an initial month, all eligible one (1) and two (2) person households shall receive minimum monthly allotments equal to the minimum benefit of twenty dollars twenty-three dollars ($23.00).

d. The benefit level may be determined from the basis of issuance table that follows:

HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM SNAP ALLOTTMENT	HOUSEHOLD SIZE	MAXIMUM SNAP ALLOTTMENT
1	$291.00	9	$1,970.00
2	$535.00	10	$2,189.00
3	$766.00	11	$2,408.00
4	$973.00	12	$2,627.00
5	$1,155.00	13	$2,846.00
6	$1386.00	14	$3,065.00
7	$1,532.00	15	$3,284.00
8	$1,751.00	16	$3,503.00
+ For each additional member over sixteen (16), add two hundred nineteen dollars ($219.00)

218 R.I. Code R. § 218-RICR-20-00-1.15

Amended effective 4/4/2019
Amended effective 12/24/2019
Amended effective 8/1/2021
Amended effective 9/23/2021
Amended Effective 12/4/2021
Amended effective 11/10/2022
Amended effective 1/1/2023
Amended effective 5/14/2023
Amended effective 10/1/2023
Amended effective 12/15/2023