How do they figure income for SNAP?

[Norasmomma]

I'm trying to figure out how much we may get for our SNAP benefits. Is it an average from the last 3 months? DH and I both started new jobs in mid-May, he made great money the first 2 weeks, then less and less each week since. Trying to figure this out, ugh. Before they just did an average, but he was on UI, so it was easy, this time much more erratic income.

Thanks

[sosurreal09]

it goes by one onths worth of checks but the income guidelines are really low. im on unempleoyment and make $1000 a month and my partner makes $1400 a month and our rent is $850 we have one child and we do not qualify.

[Mylie]

What is Snap?

I have never heard of that before???? Is it like getting a food card or finacial help?

[surrogate]

SNAP is the federal name for Food Stamps

Here is is 6 weeks worth of check stubs. If his first checks were really good and declining after, i would be inclined to wait a few weeks to apply so those really good checks don't need to be shown.

[queencarr]

Do you know if you have been laid off (and we have the letter saying so) if they will still count the past 6 weeks? There was a steady decline of income over them, but as of Wed, dh will be unemployed...

[surrogate]

Originally Posted by queencarr

Do you know if you have been laid off (and we have the letter saying so) if they will still count the past 6 weeks? There was a steady decline of income over them, but as of Wed, dh will be unemployed...

In GA they don't. HTH

[BlueLeaf]

If he's been laid off, you'll have to have verification of terminated employment. But for eligibility and to determine your allotment, they'll look at your income in the month of application. So if you have no income for that month, that's what they'll use.

Also, if your income decreases after you're found eligible, you can report that and have your allotment increased.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by queencarr

Do you know if you have been laid off (and we have the letter saying so) if they will still count the past 6 weeks? There was a steady decline of income over them, but as of Wed, dh will be unemployed...

We waited to apply until DH filed for unemployment and got his notice of how much he will be getting per week. Then we filed for SNAP based on that. Every 3 months we have to fill out paperwork stating how much money we recieved the prior month along with check stubs to have our SNAP benefit amount re-evaluated.

[gabbyraja]

In MI they take your last month's wages, divide by 4 (to get weekly income), then multiply by 52 (to get yearly income), then divide by 12 to get your monthly income. It's very confusing. Dh is paid every 2 weeks, which means he gets 2 "extra" checks per year. So, they have to account for those extra 2 paychecks. So, our income shows higher with them than it really is. Dh also gets paid differently in different seasons, so when things change significantly we report it and ask for a reevaluation. You have to fill out a billion pages of paperwork all over again, but if it gets you a little bit more in benefits each month it's worth it. I'm desperately hoping things go the way we plan and we will no longer have to deal with them at all by this time next year!