BASIC (11-02)

A. Introduction

A similar computation is used for an eligible individual or an eligible couple (if both members have the same liv­ing arrangement/eligibility status) when there is a change in the FBR or a month(s) of ineligibility in the quarter.

B. Procedure -- computation

When there is a change in FBR for 1 or 2 months with­in a quarter, or there is a month of ineligibility within the quarter, (for the individual or for both members of the couple) the steps in computation of payment are similar to the quarterly computation described in SI 02009.010.

1. Determine the FBR for each month of the quarter based on the eligible individual's/couple's circumstances throughout each month;

2. Determine the eligible individual's/couple's count­able income for the entire quarter. Be alert to the possible receipt of in-kind support and maintenance during the month of the change of living arrangement. (See SI 00835.500)

3. Divide the countable income for the entire quarter by three. Subtract this one-third of the countable income from the FBR applicable to each month. This is the monthly payment amount to the individual or couple. Di­vide the couple payment amount by two to determine the monthly payment amount to each member of the couple.

In the case of an eligible individual without an eligible spouse, no payment can be made for any month(s) where ineligibility exists (i.e., no federal benefit and no federally administered State supplement occurs in or 2 months of a quarter). However, the statute requires that determina­tions of eligibility and payment amount be made on a quarterly basis except when the initial application for benefits is filed in the second or third month of a quarter. (See SI 02009.001 for determination of payment in the quarter of filing.)

Thus, even if an individual or couple is ineligible for one or more months in a quarter, one-third of the quarter­ly countable income is subtracted from the FBR for each month of eligibility; i.e., a quarterly computation is performed.

C. Procedure – months of ineligibility

When the results of computation step 3 (in SI 02009.015B.) for any month is zero or a negative amount, nonpayment status exists and no payment is made for that month. Any negative amounts in one month are not used to offset the payment amount in any other month.