In addition, SNAP households must also report certain changes during the certification period — that is, between the last application or recertification/renewal date and the next recertification/renewal date. Changes that occur during the certification period may impact the amount of benefits a case receives.
Types of Reporting
There are two types of reporting requirements during the certification period: Change Reporting and Six-month Reporting. A SNAP household's approval notice will indicate which type of reporting requirements they must follow.
Renewal forms are mailed to each case. All questions on the form should be answered to ensure benefits are accurately determined. Changes should be reported to a case's eligibility worker according to their reporting requirements.
Change Reporting
Households need to follow Change Reporting requirements if:
- All members are experiencing homelessness
- All adult members are age 60 or older or have a certified disability and have no earned income.
- All members are in the migrant work stream
- Any household member is a seasonal farmworker
Change Reporters must report the following changes:
Housing Costs
- Changes in residence and shelter costs. When reporting a change in shelter costs, please report:
- If the change was the result of a move
- How much the monthly shelter costs are, including utility expenses
- Date of the change.
Households can use the Authorization for Release of Information About Residence and Shelter Expenses Form to verify changes in residence or shelter expenses.
Other Expenses
- Their legal obligation to pay child support.
- Include the new monthly amount that is being paid and the date of change.
Households can contact their eligibility worker to help verify the amount they are paying.
Someone Moved In or Out
- When there is a change in members of a household SNAP unit (who buys, eats and fixes food with your SNAP unit).
- Include the date that someone moved in or out of the household
- If someone moves in to a household SNAP unit, report the person's monthly gross income (before taxes are taken out) and monthly expeses, or report that they do not have any income or expenses.
Households can use the Combined Application-Addendum (For SNAP (food) and cash assistance programs) Form to verify household SNAP unit changes.
Someone started a job
- Their source of income, including starting or stopping a job if the change in employment results in a change in income
- $125 or more in income the household receives by working (earned income) before taxes and other deductions.
- Report how much the new monthly gross income (before taxes and deductions) will be and the date of change.
Households can use the Authorization for Release of Employment Information Form to verify changes in income.
Someone’s job ended
- Their source of income, including starting or stopping a job if the change in employment results in a change in income
- Report the date of change.
- If the SNAP case includes a Time-limited SNAP recipient (TLR) also known as an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) who is working, and their work hours fall below 80 hours per month. Work includes paid employment, self-employment, in-kind and unpaid work.
- Report how many hours the TLR is now working and the date of change.
Households can use the Authorization for Release of Employment Information Form to verify changes in income.
Someone started receiving for Advance Child Tax Credit payments, Social Security, Unemployment, etc.
- $125 or more in income the household receives from sources other than work (unearned income) before other deductions. When reporting a change in income, report the date of the change and how much your new monthly gross income will be. This is income before taxes and deductions are taken out.
- Report how much the new monthly gross income (before taxes and deductions) will be and the date of change.
Households can contact their eligibility worker to help verify the amount they are eligible for.
- Someone in the SNAP unit wins $4,500 or more from the lottery or by gambling.
- Report if the amount won was from a single winning or multiple winnings. If there are multiple winnings, report the amounts for each winning. Report the date of each winning.
Six-Month Reporting
Households that are not required to follow Change Reporting requirements need to instead follow Six-month Reporting requirements.
Six-Month Reporters must report the following changes:
- When a total household’s income is higher than 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for the number of people on the SNAP case. Examples of income include but are not limited to, income from a job, social security, unemployment, Advance Child Tax Credit payments, etc.
- Report how much the new monthly gross income (before taxes and deductions) will be and the date of change.
- If the SNAP case includes a time-limited SNAP recipient (TLR) — also known as an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) — who is working, and their work hours fall below 80 hours per month. Work includes paid employment, self-employment, in-kind and unpaid work.
- Report how many hours the TLR is now working and the date of change.
Households can use the Authorization for Release of Employment Information Form to verify changes in income.
- Someone in the SNAP unit wins $4,500 or more from the lottery or by gambling.
- Report if the amount won was from a single winning or multiple winnings. If there are multiple winnings, report the amounts for each winning. Report the date of each winning.
Non-Required Reporting
Households may report non-required changes that impact their case. Some of the following changes may positively impact a SNAP case, if reported:
- Increase in medical or daycare expenses
- A decrease in income (if you are not required to report the change)
- Change in disability status.
Verifications
Report Using COMPASS
Some changes require verification. Any document that confirms the change is acceptable as verification. Changes can be reported at COMPASS or using the MyCOMPASS app.
Additional Reporting
Verification documents can also be provided to your case worker at the local county assistance office (CAO) by mail or fax.