Florida Administrative Code › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › 65A - Economic Self-Sufficiency Program › Chapter 65A-4 - TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE › Section 65A-4.210 - Budgeting

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The Department uses a prospective
				budgeting system. In a prospective budgeting system, eligibility and the amount
				of the temporary cash assistance benefit for a payment month are based on the
				Department's estimate of the assistance group's projected income and
				circumstances for that month. This estimate shall be based on the Department's
				expectation and knowledge of current or future circumstances based on income
				and circumstances in the month for which benefits are being calculated. When
				eligibility or the benefit amount is being determined for a month which has
				passed prior to the month of the application authorization, the actual income
				and circumstances for that month will be used. In converting income to a
				monthly income, the conversion factor of 4.3 shall be used for weekly income;
				the conversion factor of 2.15 shall be used for biweekly income; and the
				conversion factor of 2 shall be used for semi-monthly income. When averaging
				income, all income from the most recent four weeks shall be used if it is
				representative of the individual's future earnings. A longer period of past
				time may be used if necessary to provide a more accurate indication of
				anticipated fluctuations in future income in accordance with
				7 CFR
				273.10(c)(1)(ii). In
				budgeting income received by an individual on a contractual basis, the income
				is allocated over the period it is intended to cover.
(2) The amount of assistance payment is
				determined by subtracting the net available income amount, rounded to the
				nearest dollar, from the applicable payment standard found in Section
				 414.095(10),
				F.S.
(3) When a change in the
				receipt of income is reported and verification is not received by the
				eligibility specialist in time to adjust the benefit and also give a 10-day
				notice of the change in the benefit amount, the budget is computed based on the
				individual's statement of the amount of income received. The benefit amount
				will be adjusted if it is learned that income was incorrectly budgeted
				following receipt of the verification through the authorization of an auxiliary
				payment or referral to benefit recovery.
(4) Self Employment Income.
(a) Operating costs, except depreciation and
				capital expenditures, are deducted from the gross income of self-employment,
				including farming.
(b) A standard
				deduction of $58 per month for each boarder is allowed for individuals
				providing room and board in their home.
(c) One dollar per day per child is deducted
				from the self employment income of individuals providing child care in their
				home. This deduction is not allowed if the child for whom care is being
				provided is a resident of the same dwelling in which the person providing care
				resides.
(d) Twenty-five percent of
				the gross rental receipts from improved property owned by the parent or
				relative is deducted, if they are responsible for the costs of repairs and
				upkeep.
(e) Fifteen percent of the
				gross rental receipts from unimproved rental property owned by the parent or
				relative is deducted if they are responsible for the costs of upkeep of fences,
				wells, etc.
(f) A deduction from
				rental income is also recognized for taxes and the interest portion of mortgage
				payments on property other than homestead property. Homestead property is
				determined by the local property appraiser office.
(g) Income from self employment must be
				verified. The applicant or recipient must make all business records available
				to the the eligibility specialist upon request.
(h) Self-employed individuals have the option
				of having their average income determined based upon the four weeks prior to
				application or redetermination of eligibility or the last 12 months to
				determine a representative average. A longer period of past time may be used if
				necessary to provide a more accurate indication of anticipated fluctuations in
				future income.