97. What is the Interim Report and when do I need to do one?
Some households on Simplified Reporting (see Simplified Reporting and when you must report changes to DTA) have to do an Interim Report in order to continue receiving SNAP. Only three groups of households on Simplified Reporting must do an Interim Report:
- Have no income on record with DTA (and are not homeless)
- Have income on record that is within $200 of the gross income limit for their household size (see Gross Income Chart in Appendix B).
- Used to have to follow EDSAP rules (see the reporting rules for older adults and persons with disabilities without earned income (EDSAP)) but who started working or had someone join or leave their SNAP household so DTA moved the case to regular Simplified Reporting. Or, households who used to be on Bay State CAP but who went off Bay State CAP and did not qualify for EDSAP rules.
Example
Alexa is certified for 12 months, from January through December and gets her SNAP benefits the 1st day of each month. When she was approved she had no income and is not homeless. DTA requires Alexa to complete an Interim Report. If she doesn’t, her SNAP will end after 6 months. DTA mails Alexa her Interim Report on May 15th, 45 days before July 1. She needs to finish the Interim Report process before July 1 to keep her SNAP without interruption.
The changes you are required to tell DTA about on the Interim Report are:
- If your household’s income (earned or unearned) changed up or down by more than $125 per month,
- You or anyone in your household started or stopped a job,
- You moved and what your new shelter costs are,
- Your household members have changed (e.g. someone moved in or out or you had a baby), or
- You are no longer legally required to pay out child support. See the child support exclusion.