A-1710, General Policy

Revision 22-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2022

SNAP and TANF

Explore management at each application, redetermination and when a change affects how the household meets its expenses. 
A thorough discussion of how a household meets its expenses can help staff evaluate the accuracy of information the household provides. 
Ask two questions to examine management:

  • How long has the household managed this way?
  • Are the household's reported net income and resources enough to pay their expenses?

Require additional explanation and verification when management is questionable or negative.

Related Policy 

Advisor Action, A-1730

A-1720, How to Evaluate Management

Revision 22-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2022

SNAP and TANF

Explore past, present, and future management. Before the interview, review the previous Form H1010, Texas Works Application for Assistance — Your Texas Benefits, Form H1010-R, Your Texas Works Benefits: Renewal Form and case comments. Decide if the information given in the past is consistent with the current situation.

Review the EDG and determine if the household's reported net income meets its basic expenses. Examples of basic expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • food;
  • transportation;
  • shelter;
  • utilities; and
  • recurring expenses such as:
    • credit card payments;
    • loans;
    • insurance;
    • clothing; and
    • disposable diapers.

Review Data Broker reports and other on-line verification sources to identify any unreported household income, resources and expenses. Example: Credit reports may show regular payments that cause monthly expenses to exceed reported income. 

If net income and resources do not cover paid expenses, ask the household if anyone has or receives income from:

  • tips;
  • commissions;
  • overtime;
  • bonuses; or
  • part-time employment such as:
    • paper routes;
    • food delivery;
    • ride-sharing;
    • street vending;
    • babysitting;
    • sewing;
    • laundry;
    • lawn and garden work;
    • carpentry; and
    • seasonal labor.

Explore whether the household pays expenses by:

  • borrowing from friends or relatives;
  • receiving cash contributions or gifts;
  • using checking or savings accounts; or
  • receiving assistance from another source that pays expenses directly to the vendor, such as:

If the applicant intends to repay a loan, explore how the applicant will pay it back.

If the household reports temporary loans, gifts or vendor payments, set a special review to check management based on the estimated temporary payment end date.

Exception: Do not set a special review for management for streamlined reporting households.

Related Policy

Data Broker Combined Report Sources With Credit Report, C-827

A-1730, Staff Action

Revision 22-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2022

SNAP and TANF

Step If ... then...
1. management is questionable at initial application, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) complete review or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) redetermination,
  • verify whether the household's basic billed expenses are paid or delinquent; and
  • go to Step 2.
  a recent change causes questionable management,
  • TANF – Set a special review.
  • SNAP (SR) – Take no action.
  • NPA-SNAP (Non-SR) – Follow policy to shorten the certification period.
2. verification shows basic billed expenses are paid,
  • go to Step 3.
  verification shows basic billed expenses are past due,
  • follow policy to monitor questionable management.
  the household does not return verification,
  • deny the household.
3. management is negative for three months or more,
  • verify how the household paid for expenses (vendor payments, in-kind, cash contributions or unreported income).
  management is negative and the household provides proof that the household paid billed expenses with non-recurring assistance,
  • follow policy to monitor questionable management.
  management is negative and the household fails to provide available verification of the income or resources used to meet their expenses,
  • TANF – Deny the household at application or complete or incomplete review.
  • SNAP – Deny the household only at application or redetermination.
  management is negative for less than three months,
  • follow policy to monitor questionable management.

Related Policy

How to Evaluate Management, A-1720
Monitoring Questionable Management, A-1731
Length of Certification, A-2324
Streamlined Reporting Households, A-2350
Processing Special Reviews, B-125
What to Report, B-621
Shortening Certification Periods as a Result of a Change, B-635

A–1731 Monitoring Questionable Management

Revision 22-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2022

TANF 

Set special reviews to monitor cases with questionable management.

SNAP

Set a special review due to questionable management for non-streamlined reporting (SR) households. Do not set a special review due to questionable management for SR households. 

Related Policy

Length of Certification, A-2324

A-1750, Documentation Requirements

Revision 22-4; Effective Oct. 1, 2022

SNAP and TANF

When past, present or future management is negative or questionable, document the person's explanation of how the household manages its expenses.

When the reported net income is enough to cover all reported expenses, completing the Management - Details logical unit of work (LUW) in the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) Data Collection meets the documentation requirements. This includes expenses listed in the Data Broker credit report, such as credit card expenses.

Document the steps taken to resolve or clear management that has been negative for more than three months.

Related Policy

Staff Action, A-1730
The Texas Works Documentation Guide