Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

Changes are situations that occur in a household that may affect eligibility or the amount of benefits. The advisor must take action on reported changes to ensure that:

• individual benefits are issued timely and accurately;
• the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is not sanctioned for failure to provide correct benefits for the correct month; and
• Quality Control (QC) initiatives are met.

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

During the certification period, households must report specific information based on the type of assistance and their household circumstances. Send Form H1019, Report of Change, to inform households of their reporting requirements.

B-621 What to Report

Revision 26-1; Effective Jan. 1, 2026

TANF

Inform all certified households of their responsibility to report changes in:

• physical address;
• the source of earned and unearned income;
• the amount of non-exempt unearned income of any household member;
• household composition;
• ownership of licensed vehicles;
• wage rate or employment status, meaning full-time or part-time as defined by the employer, for employed household members;
• available cash, stocks, bonds, or money in a bank account if the total is above $1,000;
• address, job, or other information about the absent parent;
• citizenship or immigration status; and
• circumstances other than employment that affect a person's benefit amount or employment services exemption status.

SNAP

Streamlined reporting (SR) minimizes the information that households must report during the certification period to maintain their benefit level and eligibility. Households are assigned an SR designation at application and redetermination. Both SR 1 and SR 2 households are subject to SR criteria, SR 3 households are not. At application and redetermination, inform all households of the changes they must report based on their SR designation. The household’s SR designation does not alter the change reporting requirements for associated medical program(s) or TANF benefits.

SR households only must report changes based on their SR designation. However, staff must take appropriate action on any household reported changes and all agency-generated changes despite the SR designation.

SR 1 and SR 2 households do not need to report changes to their residence or associated changes in shelter costs such as rent or mortgage and utilities.

SR 1 Households

Inform SR 1 households of their responsibility to report changes in:

• income when ongoing gross monthly income exceeds 130 percent of the FPL for the household’s size, for two consecutive months;
• work or participation hours of an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) if their hours decrease below an average of 20 hours per week; and
• lottery or gambling winnings of more than $4,250.

SR 2 Households

Inform SR 2 households of their responsibility to report changes in:

• income if ongoing gross monthly income stays above 130 percent of the FPL for the household's size, for two consecutive months;
• work or participation hours of an ABAWD if their hours decrease below an average of 20 hours per week; and
• lottery or gambling winnings of more than $4,250.

Note: SR 2 households do not have to report changes in ongoing gross monthly income below 130 percent of the FPL for the household size.

SR 3 Households

Inform SR 3 households of their responsibility to report changes in:

• physical address and associated changes in shelter costs, such as rent or mortgage and utilities;
• source of earned and unearned income;
• legal obligation to pay child support to or for a person outside the household;
• household composition;
• ownership of licensed vehicles;
• wage rate or employment status meaning full-time or part-time as defined by the employer, for employed household members;
• gross monthly household unearned income if the amount changes by more than $125 during the certification period;
• available cash, stocks, bonds or money in a bank account if the combined resources total $5,000 or more;
• work or participation hours of an ABAWD if their hours decrease to below an average of 20 hours per week; and
• lottery or gambling winnings of more than $4,250.

Medical Programs except TP 45

Inform all households of their responsibility to report changes in:

• physical address;
• intent to live in Texas;
• the people living in the home;
• income, including sources of income, regular hours worked and pay rate;
• Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) expenses;
• a child being institutionalized or dying; and
• medical insurance coverage.

Households do not have to report changes in tax status or tax relationships during the certification period because tax status and tax relationships are self-declared based on what the household expects to report on their federal income taxes.

TP 08 and TA 31

Inform all households of their responsibility to report changes in physical address, job or other information related to the absent parent.

Children on TP 56 and TP 32

Inform all households of their responsibility to report changes in available cash, stocks, bonds, or money in a bank account if the total exceeds:

• $3,000, for households with a member who is elderly or has a disability and meets relationship requirements; or
• $2,000, for all other households.

TP 40

Inform all households of their responsibility to report the termination of a pregnancy.

TP 45

Inform all households of their responsibility to report if the child no longer lives in Texas.

Related Policy

General Reminders, A-1510
Monitoring Questionable Management, A-1731
E&T Procedures, A-1822
ABAWD Work Requirement, A-1940
Length of Certification, A-2324
Streamlined Reporting Households, A-2350
Definition of Elderly, B-431
Definition of Disability, B-432
Claims, B-700 

B-622 When to Report

Revision 26-2; Effective April 1, 2026

All Programs

During the interview or application processing, households must report required changes that occurred since the application was filed.

After certification, households must report required changes within 10 days after the household knows about the change.

TANF and SNAP

Households must report required changes that occurred between the interview and initial certification within 10 days.

Related Policy

Information Reported During Application Processing, B-116
What to Report, B-621

B-623 How to Report

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Households can use a Form H1019, Report of Change, or a Form H1028, Employment Verification, to report a change. Household members or someone with knowledge of the household's circumstances may report changes by:

• using their Your Texas Benefits account;
• visiting a HHSC local office;
• calling 2-1-1;
• faxing to 877-447-2839; or
• mailing to:

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
PO Box 149024
Austin, TX 78714-9024.

Related Policy

Receipt of Duplicate Application, A-121.2
Receipt of Identical Application, A-121.3
Authorized Representative, A-170
Form TF0001 Required (Adequate Notice), A-2344.1

B-624 Receipts for Reported Changes

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Households may request a receipt to document the change report for their records. The receipt includes the type of change and the date reported. If a household requests a receipt, send a:

• copy of the completed Form H1019, Report of Change; or
• Form H1800, Receipt for Application/Medicaid Report/Verification/Report of Change.

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

When a change is reported, determine:

• the type of change reported;
• the date the change occurred;
• the date the change was reported;
• if the change is considered as verified upon receipt based on the source of the report;
• if additional verification is required to determine how the reported changes affect the eligibility determination;
• the date the verification was received, if applicable; and
• the effective date of the change.

When income is new or increases, also determine:

• the date of the first payment;
• the source of the income;
• any expected variation in pay amounts, including the number of hours and rate of pay; and
• pay frequency.

When a household requests to select a new authorized representative (AR), determine the appropriate case action using AR policy.

When a change is reported on an application form, the date HHSC staff become aware of the change is considered the date the change was reported.

TANF

If a household reports that a minor child is no longer in the home, determine if the change makes the household ineligible or requires a second parent to participate in CHOICES.

SNAP

When adding a household member, determine the primary wage earner and if the new person is subject to the Employment and Training (E&T) work requirement and the ABAWD work requirement. Ensure the Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, informs the household about their SNAP work rules.

When adding a newborn child, determine the date the newborn joined the SNAP household after being released from the hospital.

When a person is removed from household, determine if any remaining household members become subject to the E&T work requirement and the ABAWD work requirement. Ensure the Form TF0001 informs the household about their SNAP work rules.

TP 45

Before adding a newborn child, determine if there is an existing Medicaid EDG by querying the mother’s individual number or demographic information. This helps prevent duplicate medical coverage and individual numbers.

TP 43, TP 44 and TP 48

When a household with a child ,1 to 18, on an active Children’s Medicaid EDG reports a new child, who is a sibling or non-sibling, the household does not need to complete a new application. Determine the new child’s household composition and if the new child has any countable income.

TA 82, TP 40, TP 44 and TP 70

If a person’s Medicaid is suspended because the person was incarcerated in a Texas county jail, determine if they can be added to an existing case for reinstatement of all previous benefits when the person’s Medicaid is reinstated.

Related Policy

Authorized Representatives, A-170
Choices, A-1821
E&T Procedures, A-1822
Federal Time Limits, A-1900
Medicaid Suspension, B-520
Medicaid Reinstatement for Children Certified for TP 44 Released from a Juvenile Facility, B-531
Medicaid Reinstatement for Persons Released from Texas County Jails, B-532
Effective Date Requirements, B-640

B-631 Actions on Changes

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Determine eligibility for multiple programs independently of each other. Do not deny a type of assistance based solely on the denial of another type of assistance. When the agency receives information, it can be used to meet verification requirements for multiple programs.

If additional verification is required, send the household a Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, and a Form H1020-A, Sources of Proof. The household is allowed 10 calendar days to provide the requested information or verification. The date on the Form H1020 is day zero of the 10 calendar day period.

If unverified income is reported that makes the household ineligible, request additional income verification.

After determining eligibility:

• send a new Form H1019, Report of Change, with a prepaid envelope to report future changes; and
• send a Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action. If the household fails to provide the required additional verification by the due date on the Form H1020, send the Form TF0001 by the next business day.

If a change of address is reported, send the household a form VR30, Texas Voter Registration Application.

TANF and Medical Programs

Regardless of if the household must report the change, staff must take action on all household-reported and agency-generated changes.

TANF and SNAP

If the reported change increases the household’s monthly benefit allotment, issue supplemental benefits. If additional verification is received, issue supplemental benefits by the last day of the month the verification was received.

SNAP

Staff must take action on all household-reported and agency-generated changes when the available information is sufficient to process the change. Take action even when the change is not required to be reported because of the household’s SR designation.

If additional verification is needed to process the change, only send Form H1020 when:

• the household’s SR designation requires them to report the change, and the information is less than 60 days old from the first day of the month the change was reported;
• the reported information conflicts with the information used to certify the household at the most recent application, redetermination, interview, or previous report of change; or
• electronic data sources identify a household member may be deceased.

If a household or agency-generated change is reported and Form H1020 is not required, document the reported change in the case record and verify the information reported at the next redetermination.

At redetermination, consider information the household reported during the last benefit month which is effective after the certification period ends.

If a household member is subject to the E&T work requirement or the ABAWD work requirement, call the household to verbally explain their rights and responsibilities. Inform households with exempt members of their option to voluntarily participate in the SNAP E&T Program. Ensure Form TF0001 informs the household about their SNAP work rules.

When a child on an active EDG is placed in foster care, send Form TF0001 to give the household advance notice of adverse action.

Related Policy

Change in Medical Expenses During Certification, A-1428.4
Registering to Vote, A-1521
Adverse Action, A-2340
Streamlined Reporting Households, A-2350
Information Received During Application Processing, B-116
Actions on Agency-Generated Changes, B-631.2
Changes Increasing Benefits (Other than Additions to the Household), B-642
Changes Decreasing Benefits, B-643
Questionable Information, C-920

B-631.1 Actions Known to the Agency

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

When information is reported to HHSC, consider the information known to the agency. If required, take action on all active EDGs. Multiple changes reported on the same day must be processed as one occurrence. If required, send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, with the corresponding pending period and list the verifications needed for all changes.

Multiple changes reported on different days must be processed as separate occurrences. Each change could affect the benefits for different months. If required, send Form H1020 for each reported change with the corresponding pending period and list only the verification needed for that change.

TANF

When a newborn is reported on an active TP 40 EDG and a TP 45 EDG is established, consider the information as known to the agency. Staff then takes action on the associated TANF EDG.

SNAP

When a newborn is reported on an active TP 40 EDG and a TP 45 EDG is established, consider the information as known to the agency and take action on the associated SNAP EDG. Before adding a newborn, the household must confirm the date the newborn joined the household.

Related Policy

Effective Date Requirements, B-640

B-631.2 Actions on Agency-Generated Changes

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) notifies HHSC through an interface when a child receiving TANF, Medicaid or SNAP has been placed in foster care. The eligibility system automatically removes the child from the EDG(s). If the eligibility system does not remove a child placed in foster care, take action to manually remove the child from the EDG(s).

Do not add other children or siblings to a household when reinstating a denied EDG because a child was released from a juvenile facility or a county jail. The household must submit a new application to add other children or siblings.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) or Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) notifies HHSC through an interface when a child certified for Medicaid is placed in a juvenile facility and when a child is released.

OIG staff help with clearing computer matches for the following reports:

• Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) Interstate Matches;
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ);
• Social Security Administration Prisoner Verification System (PVS);
• Income and Eligibility Verification Systems (IEVS); and
• Social Security Administration Deceased Individual Report.

PARIS Interstate Matches

When OIG staff receive an Interstate Match through PARIS that shows a person on an active TIERS EDG is receiving benefits in another state, OIG informs HHSC staff by creating a task within the Task List Manager (TLM). Take the appropriate action to process the task based on the information provided by OIG.

TDCJ and PVS Matches

When OIG staff find a match through TDCJ or PVS that shows a person on an active TIERS EDG is incarcerated, OIG informs HHSC staff by creating a task within TLM. Take the appropriate action to process the task based on the information provided by OIG.

When staff request a Data Broker report, TDCJ information is displayed on the combined report for an incarcerated person.

Income and Eligibility Verification Systems (IEVS)

The procedures for clearing IEVS reports are documented in C-1000, Procedures for Clearance of Income & Eligibility Reports & Internal Revenue Federal Tax Information.

Date of Death Matches

TIERS matches recipients on active EDGs with records from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration (SSA), Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS), the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), and HHSC Webservice to find deceased persons.

The BVS, if available is considered the primary source of verification of death. If BVS is available but the date of death (DOD) does not match reported information, accept BVS as verification. No additional verification is required.

If BVS verification is not available, verify the DOD using two of the following sources:

• SSA;
• statement from guardian or authorized representative;
• copy of death certificate;
• statement from a doctor;
• newspaper death notice (obituary);
• statement from a relative or household member;
• statement from a funeral director; or
• records from hospital or other institution where the person died.

TIERS attempts to update the DOD information for all active and inactive people and automatically removes them from active EDGs. If unable to process the death data automatically, TIERS creates a task for staff to research and confirm the validity of the computer match.

Take action to clear any discrepancies when DOD data is received on an active or inactive person within TIERS and TIERS is unable to automatically dispose the case. When TIERS cannot dispose the case, a series of alerts are created for staff to explore and request additional verification.

To clear discrepancies, request additional verification of the DOD data received. Do not require the household to provide the verification if the verification is available through one of the sources listed above.

Related Policy

Verification Sources, A-1081
Inmate/Parolee Match, C-825.17
Procedures for Clearance of Income & Eligibility IEVS, Reports & Internal Revenue IRS, Federal Tax Information FTI, C-1000

B-632 Mass Changes

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

The state or federal government initiates changes that can affect all individuals or large numbers of individuals. Individuals are not required to report mass changes. These changes occur in the:

• income eligibility standards;
• shelter and dependent care maximum deductions;
• Thrifty Food Plan and standard deductions;
• utility standard;
• cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other federal benefits;
• TANF grants; and
• other eligibility criteria based on legislative or regulatory actions.

When these changes occur, HHSC automatically adjusts eligibility or benefits for most individuals and notifies the households via Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action. The adjustments are effective the date of the change. Advisors do not send Form TF0001.

HHSC generates an exception report for EDGs that are not adjusted during the state office conversion. Advisors must review the EDGs, adjust benefits if necessary, and send the individual Form TF0001, allowing advance notice of adverse action if required.

B-633 Changes in Eligibility Test

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs except TP 45

If a household's circumstances change and the household is subject to a new income/resource test, the advisor must determine eligibility by applying the new test when the change is reported.

B-634 Changes in SNAP EDGs Jointly Processed with Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

SNAP

Individuals whose SNAP and SSI applications have been jointly processed must report changes like other SNAP individuals.

B-635 Shortening Certification Periods as a Result of a Change

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

SNAP

Shorten a certification period for a household designated as SR 3 when:

• A change occurs that makes the household’s circumstances unstable, and the effect of the change on the household's eligibility or benefits cannot be determined. This includes:
  • receipt of the discrepancy report Alert 254, Employer New Hire Data;
  • new listings of information on Data Broker that are inconsistent with information previously reported by the household; and
  • situations where a public assistance household's TANF is denied for an administrative reason, such as missed appointment, voluntary withdrawal or failure to provide information requested to redetermine TANF eligibility, and the household’s SNAP EDG becomes questionable.
• The household's eligibility becomes questionable as described in special reviews for known changes.

Send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, requesting specific verification. If the SR 3 household does not provide the verification, deny the household for failure to provide information and send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action.

Do not shorten the certification period if the household is designated as SR1 or SR 2.

Centralized Benefit Services (CBS) staff shorten certification periods when a household reports a change that results in the household being transferred out of CBS.

Related Policy

Setting Special Reviews, to determine when to set a special review on SR EDGs, A-2330
Due Dates, B-125.1
Special Procedures for Shortening Certification Periods for Centralized Benefit Services (CBS) Eligibility Determination Groups (EDGs), B-474.6.1
Data Broker, C-820
Questionable Information, C-920

B-636 Change in Head of Household (HOH)

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

When the current HOH dies or leaves the home, change the HOH to another responsible adult household member without requiring the remaining household members reapply for benefits. If there are children in the household, a responsible adult household member is:

• a parent with minor children living in the household; or
• an adult who has parental control over minor children living in the household.

If there is no responsible adult member identified in the household, and a child in the household is receiving benefits, send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, to notify the household that a responsible adult who is caring for the child must apply for benefits for the child to continue to receive assistance. If an application is not submitted by the Form H1020 due date, deny benefits since the whereabouts of the household are unknown.

SNAP and TANF

If the HOH who left the home was the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) primary cardholder (PCH), update the PCH information with the new HOH and issue a new Lone Star Card to allow the household access to SNAP and TANF benefits. Do not update the information if a new HOH has not been identified.

Related Policy

Establishing the Primary Cardholder, B-231
Issuing a Lone Star Card, B-233
PCH Replacements, B-237

B-637 Periodic Income Checks

Revision 24-2; Effective April 1, 2024

TP 08

Initiating a PIC requires no staff action. It uses the automated income check process to determine if there has been a change in the household’s income that makes the household potentially ineligible for Medicaid for Parents or Caretaker Relatives.

A PIC is initiated in months three through eight of the certification period when the following conditions are met:

• any of the following is true for at least one person in the MAGI household for at least one countable income or expense source:
  • an income or expense is not verified;
  • one of the following income types uses “Verified by Reasonable Compatibility” as the verification source:
    • employment income;
    • unemployment compensation income; or
    • RSDI income; or
  • the verification source is anything other than “Verified by Reasonable Compatibility” and the verification received date is more than 60 days old; and
• the case is in Approved Ongoing mode; and
• there are no pending TLM tasks for the case.

The household’s income information in the eligibility system is compared with income data available through electronic data sources (ELDS) as part of the automated income check process. This is to determine if it is reasonably compatible, as explained in A-1370, Verification Requirements, Medical Programs.

The eligibility system may be able to complete the entire PIC process without any staff action or correspondence sent to the client. This is if the PIC does not find an indication that there has been a change in the household’s income that makes them potentially ineligible.

Electronic income data is requested one month before the eligibility system uses it. If the household’s income is not determined to be reasonably compatible with electronic data, the household must provide other acceptable verification as explained in A-1371, Verification Sources.

Electronic Data Hierarchy for Earned Income

1. TIERS checks electronic data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
2. If earned income electronic data is not available, TIERS checks to see if there is a New Hire Report. When a New Hire Report exists that does not match the household’s income information in TIERS, the household must provide verification of the information on the New Hire Report.

TIERS also checks SOLQ to verify RSDI income (unearned income).

Process verifications returned as the result of a PIC following changes policy. If the person does not provide the requested verification by the 10th day, TIERS automatically sends Form TF0001 on the 11th day for failure to provide.

SNAP and TANF

Verification is required for SNAP and TANF during the automated income check process when:

• The reasonable compatibility calculation result is Need Info because ELDS above limit or the person is required to provide verification of information found on a New Hire Report for a Medical Program.
• A person in the MAGI household is included in a SNAP or TANF budget group.

The person has 10 days to provide the verification for SNAP and TANF. If the person does not provide verification by the 10th day, TIERS will automatically take the following action on the 11th day based on the income type and electronic data source used during the automated income verification process:

• Deny SNAP and TANF benefits for the following data sources:
  • quarterly wage data from the TWC; or
  • New Hire Report data from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
• Create a task to notify staff to adjust SNAP and TANF benefits for the following data sources:
  • unearned Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) income data from the Social Security Administration Social Security Administration (SSA); or
  • unearned unemployment data from TWC.

Note: Unearned RSDI data from SSA, or unearned unemployment data from TWC are valid forms of verifications for SNAP and TANF. Since quarterly wage data from TWC and New Hire Report data from OAG are not valid sources of verification for SNAP and TANF, the person must provide verification of the income.

Related Policy

Medicaid Termination, A-825
Advance Notice, A-2343
Actions on Changes, B-631
Employer New Hire Report (ENHR) and National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) Report, C-825.12
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Wages/Benefits, C-825.13
Expedited CHIP Enrollment, D-1711

B-638 Returned Mail

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Staff must take the following action when returned mail is received:

If the case includes an active SNAP EDG:

1. Review the address shown on the returned mail, the case record, and the State Portal to determine if the household has reported a new address. If a new address was reported, process the address change and any related changes in shelter expenses. Otherwise, go to Step 2.
2. If the new address was not reported and a forwarding address was not provided, make one attempt to contact the household by phone to confirm the address and document the attempt. If able to contact the household and the household provides a new address, process the change and any related changes in shelter expenses. Otherwise, go to Step 3.
3. If the returned mail is a SNAP redetermination packet and there are no other active EDGs, document these facts in Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS) Case Comments and take no further action. Otherwise, go to Step 4.
4. If unable to contact an SR 1 or SR 2 household by phone to get an updated address, document the returned mail in the case record and verify the household’s address and any change in shelter expenses at the next redetermination. If unable to contact an SR 3 household by phone to get an update on their address, send Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, to the TIERS address to request verification of address and any change in shelter expenses.
5. If the returned mail shows a new out-of-state address for the SR3 household, send Form H1020 to request additional verification of physical address, residency, and duplicate participation.
6. If the SR 3 household fails to provide the requested information on Form H1020, send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, and deny the household for failure to provide information.
7. If the SR 3 household is denied for failure to provide information and provides a correct address within the advance notice of adverse action period, reopen the EDG using the original certification period and process any related changes in shelter expenses.

If the case does not include an active SNAP EDG:

1. Review the address on the returned mail, the case record, and the State Portal to determine if the household has reported a new address. If a new address has been reported, process the address change. Otherwise, go to Step 2.
2. If a new address has not been reported and a forwarding address was not provided, make one attempt to contact the household by phone to get an update on their address and document the attempt. If the household provides a new address, process the change. Otherwise, go to Step 3.
3. If unable to contact the household by phone to get an updated address, send Form TF0001 and deny the EDG for being unable to locate.

Related Policy

Form TF0001 Required (Adequate Notice), A-2344.1
Actions on Changes, B-631
Returned Mail, E-2221
Returned Mail, M-2221

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 26-2; Effective April 1, 2026

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, due date. 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 or TANF 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.

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

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

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

People have a right to correct any information that HHSC has about them or any other household member on their case.

Refer to the appropriate application, redetermination or change policy for the time frames and procedures to correct or update information.

Related Policy

Case Disposition, A-2300
Processes and Processing Time Frames, B-100
Changes, B-600

B-651 Correction Request

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

A household must submit a written request for correction and:

• identify the person asking for the correction;
• identify the disputed information about the person;
• state why the information is wrong;
• include any verification that confirms the information is wrong;
• state what correction is requested; and
• include a return address and phone number, or email address, where HHSC can contact the person.

Do not require households to request correction of incorrect information in writing during application, redetermination, and other actions on active EDGs.

Related Policy

Information Reported During Application Processing, B-116
Processing Untimely Redeterminations, B-124
How to Report, B-623

B-652 Action on Denied EDGs or EDGs During their Last Month of Certification When the Client Has Not Reapplied

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Respond according to the following chart:

Notify the household in writing within 60 days on current HHSC letterhead without the board members' names. Show if the information has been corrected or will not be corrected and the reason. Inform the household if HHSC needs to extend the 60-day period by an additional 30 days to complete the correction process or obtain additional information.

If HHSC makes a correction to personally identifiable health information, ask the person for permission before sharing with third parties. HHSC will make a reasonable effort to share the correct information with people who received the incorrect information from HHSC if they may have relied or could rely on it to the disadvantage of the household. Follow procedures to contact the HHSC privacy officer for a record of disclosures.

Note:  Follow procedures to establish a claim or restore benefits if an overissuance or underissuance occurred. Make a referral to the Office of Inspector General for intentional program violations.

Related Policy

IRS FTI Security and Protection, C-1050

B-653 Different Review Process

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Do not follow change policy when the accuracy of information provided by a person is determined by another review process such as:

• fair hearing;
• civil rights hearing; or
• other appeal process.

The decision in that review process is the decision on the request to correct information.

Related Policy

Fair Hearings, B-1000

Revision 24-3; Effective July 1, 2024

All Programs

Document the:

• reported change;
• date the change occurred;
• date the change was reported; and
• date the verification is provided.

For new income changes, document the date of the first payment.

For address changes, document providing the household with form VR30, Texas Voter Registration Application, and Form H1350, Opportunity to Register to Vote.

SNAP

Document:

• the reason for shortening certification as a result of a change.
• that the person failed to provide required verification to add a newborn certified for TP 45 to their SNAP EDG.

If a household or agency-generated change is reported and the Form H1020 is not required to be sent, document the reported change in the case record. Verify the information reported at the next redetermination.

Medical Programs

Document a change in tax status or relationship in case comments. Address the change at the next redetermination.

TP 08

Document the reason for denying a TP 08 EDG and opening a TP 07 EDG when new or increased income makes the household ineligible.

Related Policy

Documentation Requirements, A-1380
Registering to Vote, A-1521
Actions on Changes, B-631
Shortening Certification Periods as a Result of a Change, B-635
Adding Newborns to the Case, B-641.1
Documentation, C-940
The Texas Works Documentation Guide (PDF)