Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

The effective date of the change is based on the date the change is reported and the date the verification is provided.

When a change is reported on an application form, the file date is considered the report date to determine the effective date of the change. The date HHSC staff begin working the EDG and become aware of the change is day zero for purposes of taking action on the change for the associated EDGs.

When a change is reported during the last benefit month and is effective after the certification period ends, do not send the household a Form H1020 or Form H1020-A.

B-641 Additions to the Household

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Confirm the household addition does not currently receive benefits in Texas or any other state or territory.

All changes associated with a person at the time they join a household affect the household’s eligibility and benefit allotment for the same month, even if the change is reported on a different day.

TANF and SNAP

If the addition to the household causes benefits to increase or remain the same, send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, by the 10th day after the change is reported.

If the household addition is a member of another active SNAP or TANF household, remove the person from the previous household before adding the person to the new household. If adding the person increases the new household’s benefit allotment and the person was not removed from the previous household in a timely manner, issue restored benefits to the new household and file an overpayment referral on the previous household.

When an active household reports the addition of a new member who is disqualified, add the new member effective the month after the disqualification ends.

Medical Programs except TP 45

Under MAGI household composition rules, a person joining or leaving the home may or may not affect eligibility depending on that person’s tax status, tax relationships and family relationships.

However, if multiple households self-declare the same person as a tax dependent, staff must clear the discrepancy with all households attempting to claim the same person as a tax dependent. Staff then update the tax statuses of each household as a change, if necessary.

TP 08

When an additional legal parent or caretaker relative is added to a household with an active TP 08 EDG, certify the new adult on a separate EDG. The system aligns the certification period of the newly created EDG with the existing TP 08 certification period.

Assign a Medicaid eligibility date as early as three months before the month the person reports the change for applicants who have unpaid medical bills and meet the criteria for Medicaid coverage for the months before the month of application. When applying the criteria, the application month is the month the person reports the change.

TP 43, TP 44 and TP 48

When a child is added to a household with an active Children’s Medicaid EDG, certify the new child on a separate EDG. The system aligns the certification period of the newly created EDG with the existing child’s Medicaid certification period.

Assign a Medicaid eligibility date as early as three months before the month the person reports the change for applicants who have unpaid medical bills and meet the criteria for Medicaid coverage for the months before the month of application. When applying the criteria, the application month is the month the person reports the change.

Related Policy

Receipt of Application, A-121
Who Is Not Included, A-222
Disqualified Persons, A-232.2
Medical Programs, A-240
Regular Medicaid Coverage, A-820
Medicaid Coverage for the Months Prior to the Month of Application, A-830
Employment Services, A-1800
E&T Procedures, A-1822
Processing Requirements, B-630
Filing an Overpayment Referral, B-770

B-641.1 Adding Newborns to the Case

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

TANF and Medical Programs

Add newborns to the household even if they are still hospitalized as long as a parent exercises care and control and intends to bring the newborn home.

TANF

Add newborns to the household effective the date the change was reported.

SNAP

Add newborns effective the date the newborn joins the household after being released from the hospital. For newborns with associated TP 45 EDGs, use the TP 45 eligibility begin date as the date the change was reported.

Before adding a newborn, the household must attest to the date the newborn joined the household. Contact the household by phone and get any additional verification required for the associated TP 45 EDG. If unable to contact the household, send Form H1020 to request the required additional verification. When adding a child six months or younger, do not request additional verification for a social security number (SSN) or SSN application.

If verification that the newborn joined the household is not received by the due date on the Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, do not add the child to the SNAP EDG.

If the household later provides the required additional verification, add the newborn effective the month after verification is received.

Medical Programs

Add the newborn to the household effective, the newborn’s date of birth.

Related Policy

General Policy, A-410

B-641.2 Steps for Adding New Members

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

If the change is:

• Timely reported and verified, add the new member to the case the month after the change occurred unless benefits decrease. If benefits decrease, send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action. Decrease or deny benefits effective the month after notice of adverse action expires.
• Untimely reported with timely verification, add the new member effective the month after the change is reported. If the change decreases benefits, send Form TF0001. Decrease or deny benefits effective the month after notice of adverse action expires.
• Timely or untimely reported with a delay in verification of eligibility points that results in individual disqualification, such as SSN or alien status, and verification is not provided by the Form H1020 due date, take the following actions:
  • For TANF, if the new member is a required member of the certified group, disqualify the new member following applicable policy. Notify the household on Form TF0001 as appropriate. Exception: Refer to TANF policy for household members who are not required members of the certified group.
  • For SNAP, disqualify the new member following applicable policy. Notify the household of the disqualification on Form TF0001 as appropriate.
  • For Medical Programs, refer to reasonable opportunity policy.
• Timely or untimely reported with enough information to determine benefits will decrease, but verification is delayed, send Form TF0001 and decrease or deny benefits based on the person's unverified statement effective the month after notice of adverse action expires.
• Timely or untimely reported lacking enough information about income, resources, or other factors necessary to determine eligibility or benefits, send Form H1020 and Form H1020-A to request verification the same day the change was reported or no later than the next business day. Attempt to contact the household by phone within 10 days after the change is reported to get enough information to determine the effect of the change.
  • If information is obtained, change policy applies as described in this section.
  • If information is not obtained, the impacted EDGs remain pended until the Form H1020 due date.
  • If verification is not received by the Form H1020 due date, send Form TF0001 the next business day to deny the EDG for failure to provide information.

TANF

Delays in verification of other legal requirements for required members: If the new member is a required member of the certified group and the household does not provide proof of age, relationship or domicile by the Form H1020 due date:

• because it is not available, send Form TF0001 to notify the household that the person cannot be added without required verification.
• but it is available, send Form TF0001 to deny the EDG for failure to provide information.

Delays in verification for people who are not required members of the certified group: If the new member is not a required member of the certified group, and the person fails to provide requested proof by the Form H1020 due date, send Form TF0001 to notify the household that the new person cannot be added without required verification. If the household later provides verification, add the member effective the month after the verification is received.

SNAP

Request a combined Data Broker report for a new adult member.

Related Policy

Reasonable Opportunity, A-351.1
E&T Procedures, A-1822
Voluntary E&T Participants, A-1822.2
Action in Full-Service Choices Counties or E&T Counties, A-1831
Changes Decreasing Benefits, B-643

B-642 Changes Increasing Benefits (Other than Additions to the Household)

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Advisors determine the effective dates of a change based on the date the change is reported and the date the verification is provided, as explained in B-642.1, Verification Provided Timely, and B-642.2, Verification Not Provided Timely. If supplemental benefits are necessary, the advisor must request the issuance by last day of the month that the verification is received. If verification is not required, the change is treated the same as if verification was received timely.

Related Policy

Verification Provided Timely, B-642.1
Verification Not Provided Timely, B-642.2

B-642.1 Verification Provided Timely

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

If the household provides verification of a reported change by the due date on the Form H1020, Request for Information or Action (PDF), increase benefits effective the month after the change is reported, regardless of if the change was reported timely. Send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, the next business day but by the business day after the Form H1020 due date.

If the household reports a change on an application form, use the file date as the report of change date. The household must provide the verification by the Form H1020 due date to be considered timely verification.

B-642.2 Verification Not Provided Timely

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

If the household fails to provide timely verification, do not increase benefits until verification is received. Send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, by the next business day after the Form H1020, Request for Information or Action (PDF), due date to explain that benefits remain the same. If the household provides verification untimely, increase benefits effective the month after the verification is received.

If the household fails to provide verification before the next SNAP, TANF or TP 08 redetermination, request the verification again during the interview process. Deny the EDG if verification is not provided.

SNAP

If decreased or denied TANF or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) benefits result in an increase in SNAP benefits, benefits are increased the same month the TANF or RCA is decreased, with some exceptions.

If the household appeals the TANF or RCA decision and receives continued TANF or RCA benefits, continue to budget the TANF or RCA grant in the SNAP EDG.

Related Policy

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), A-1324.18

B-643 Changes Decreasing Benefits Other than Removing Household Members

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

TANF and SNAP

Staff must take action on changes shown in the chart below. Benefits are decreased or denied effective the month after the notice of adverse action expires. If applicable, file an overpayment referral. Refer to the TANF and SNAP Overpayment Determination Chart to determine the first month of an overpayment.

* If the due date for sending Form TF0001 falls on a non-business day, send it the preceding business day to meet the 10-day requirement.

** Allow the person 10 days to provide the verification requested on Form H1020. If the 10th day falls on a non-business day, use the following business day as the due date. Note: Use change policy for situations where the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) places a TANF or Medicaid child in foster care.

TP 08

If a person or electronic data source indicates new or increased earned income, alimony, or spousal support that makes the person ineligible, send Form H1020 to request additional verification of the income. If the person fails to provide verification of the earned income, alimony or spousal support, deny the EDG and open the appropriate Transitional Medicaid EDG (TP 07 or TP 20) if:

• the information is not questionable; and
• the person meets the eligibility requirements for the applicable Transitional Medicaid EDG.

In addition, deny the Medicaid EDG and open the appropriate Transitional Medicaid EDG for each associated parent or caretaker and dependent child.

Related Policy

General Eligibility Information, A-841
TP 07 Transitional Medicaid, A-842
TP 20 Alimony/Spousal Support Transitional Medicaid Coverage, A-850
Verification Requirements, A-1440
Denial at Redetermination, A-2342
Actions on Changes, B-631
Claims, B-700
TANF and SNAP Overpayment Determination Chart, C-1140