(a) The methods in this Part are used to estimate income.  The worker uses the method(s) that will best predict income for the current and future months.  Actual income is used for the current and prior month, if known prior to teleprocessing the certification.  When an extra check is received in the initial month due to a third or fifth week and the income is ongoing, it is converted to anticipated income.  In the month of application, the anticipated income may be less than a full month's wages.  In this case, use the actual or actual anticipated income for the month of application.  For the remaining months of the certification period, the income is averaged and converted to a monthly amount to be used.  If the household income is received more often than monthly, the income for future months of the certification period must be converted to a monthly amount, if the conversion represents the income anticipated to be received by the household.

(b) Household income means income from all sources excluding only those items described in OAC 340:50-7-22.  The income considered is that income which is expected to be received during the period of certification.  When an applicant or recipient reports no income and/or the household's expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities, other payments, or miscellaneous personal expenses exceed the income, the worker must determine with the household how these needs are met.

(c) Gross, non-exempt income is verified for all households prior to certification.  In cases where all attempts to verify income have been unsuccessful because the person or organization providing the income fails to cooperate with the household, the worker determines the amount to be used based on the best available information.

• (1) Method of verifying income.  The worker uses documentary evidence as the primary source of verification.  If other types of verification are used, the worker must document in the case why an alternate source was needed.
  • (A) Documents which can be used to verify earned income are:
    • (i) pay stubs;
    • (ii) employee W-2 forms;
    • (iii) wage tax receipts;
    • (iv) state or federal income tax returns;
    • (v) self-employed bookkeeping credits;
    • (vi) sales or expenditure records;
    • (vii) employer wage records;
    • (viii) statements from an employer;
    • (ix) Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) statements; or
    • (x) Oklahoma Tax Commission statements.
  • (B) Verification of other types of income, documents, or records generally available from the applicant are:
    • (i) award letters;
    • (ii) benefit payment checks;
    • (iii) correspondence on benefits;
    • (iv) income tax records;
    • (v) support and alimony payments as evidenced by court order;
    • (vi) divorce or separation papers; or
    • (vii) contribution checks.
  • (C) Other sources of income verification include;
    • (i) State Data Exchange (SDX) system;
    • (ii) Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange (BENDEX) system;
    • (iii) OESC wage records;
    • (iv) union records;
    • (v) workers' compensation records;
    • (vi) information received from the Department of Veterans Affairs records; or
    • (vii) tax records.
• (2) Unreported income.  When there is an indication other income which has not been reported is available to the household, the worker must explore the possibilities of unreported income.  When the applicant states he or she has no earnings or other income and the applicant is employable or it appears he or she may be eligible for other benefits, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment compensation, or public assistance, it may be necessary to verify the applicant is not receiving income from such sources. • 1
• (3) Other required verification.  When verifying income is exempt as a loan, a simple statement signed by both parties which indicates the payment is a loan and must be repaid is sufficient verification.  If the household receives payment on a recurrent or regular basis from the same source, but claims the payments are a loan, the worker must require the provider of the loan sign an affidavit which state the payments are being made or that payments will be made in accordance with an established repayment schedule.