OAR 461-190-0416: Supplemental Payments; JOBS

In the JOBS Plus program (see OAR 461-001-0025): (1) If the net monthly full-time wage paid to a participant is less than the amount of the TANF program and the SNAP program benefits the participant would otherwise receive, the Department will determine and pay to the participant a supplemental payment as provided in section (3) or (6) of this rule. (2) Income Calculations prior to January 1, 2011: (a) JOBS Plus income for sections (2) and (3) of this rule is calculated retrospectively as follows: (A) For the full benefit equivalency income test, the applicable hourly wage is multiplied by the hours that were available for work, specifically the hours for which the participant was paid, including sick leave used and hours the participant was engaged in job search (see OAR 461-001-0025), and hours the participant missed work without being excused by the employer. From that product, a $90 standard deduction and the amount of garnishments withheld are subtracted. To the remainder is added any child support received by the participant and $102 to account for the participant's potential earned income credit. If the participant missed work referred to in this paragraph due to good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327), the hours are excluded from the calculation. (B) For the minimum benefit equivalency income test, the applicable hourly wage is multiplied by the hours for which the participant was paid. From that product, a $90 standard deduction and the amount of garnishments withheld are subtracted. To the remainder is added any child support received by the participant and $102 to account for the participant's potential earned income credit. (b) Full benefit equivalency income is the total of the TANF program and SNAP program benefits as determined for the need group (see OAR 461-110-0630). (c) Minimum benefit equivalency income is determined by deducting from the full benefit equivalency income the difference between the TANF program payment standard under OAR 461-155-0030 for the need group with the participant included and the TANF program payment standard for the need group without the participant included. (3) Wage supplements prior to January 1, 2011: A participant is entitled to a wage supplement payment for any month in which JOBS Plus income is exceeded by either the full benefit equivalency income or the minimum benefit equivalency income. The supplement payment amount is determined by subtracting the JOBS Plus income calculated in accordance with paragraph (2)(a)(A) of this rule from the full benefit equivalency income and by subtracting the JOBS Plus income calculated in accordance with paragraph (2)(a)(B) of this rule from the minimum benefit equivalency income. The larger remainder, if greater than zero, is the wage supplement payment amount. (4) SNAP program supplemental payment prior to January 1, 2011: (a) To ensure that a SNAP program client does not incur a net loss of income because of her or his participation in the JOBS Plus program, the Department provides a supplemental payment equal to the amount by which the participant's JOBS Plus income is less than the Thrifty Food Stamp Plan benefit standard for the participant's need group. (b) The JOBS Plus income for this section is calculated prospectively by subtracting $90 from the sum of the gross JOBS Plus wages the participant already has received for the month and any that the participant reasonably can expect to receive during the month, and adding the remainder to any EIC payment the participant received or anticipates receiving during the month and any other prospective income, and then subtracting the amount scheduled to be garnished during the month. (5) Effective January 1, 2011: (a) JOBS Plus income for this section and section (6) of this rule is calculated retrospectively as follows: (A) For the full benefit equivalency income test, the applicable hourly wage is multiplied by the hours that were available for work, specifically the hours for which the participant was paid, including hours of sick leave used, hours the participant was engaged in job search (see OAR 461-001-0025), and hours the participant missed work without being excused by the employer. From that product, a $90 standard deduction and the amount of any garnishments withheld are subtracted. To the remainder is added any child support received by the participant. If the participant missed work referred to in this paragraph due to good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327), the hours are excluded from the calculation. (B) For the minimum benefit equivalency income test, the applicable hourly wage is multiplied by the hours for which the participant was paid. From that product, a $90 standard deduction and the amount of garnishments withheld are subtracted. To the remainder is added any child support received by the participant. (b) Full benefit equivalency income is the total of the TANF program benefits and SNAP program benefits as determined for the participant's need group (see OAR 461-110-0630). (c) Minimum benefit equivalency income is determined by deducting from the full benefit equivalency income the difference between the TANF payment standard under OAR 461-155-0030 for the need group with the participant included and the TANF payment standard for the need group without the participant included. (6) Wage supplements effective January 1, 2011: A participant is entitled to a wage supplement payment for any month in which JOBS Plus income is exceeded by either the full benefit equivalency income or the minimum benefit equivalency income. The wage supplement payment amount is determined by subtracting the JOBS Plus income calculated in accordance with paragraph (5)(a)(A) of this rule from the full benefit equivalency income and by subtracting the JOBS Plus income calculated in accordance with paragraph (5)(a)(B) of this rule from the minimum benefit equivalency income. The larger remainder, if greater than zero, is the wage supplement payment amount. (7) SNAP program supplemental payment effective January 1, 2011: (a) To ensure that a SNAP program client does not incur a net loss of income because of their participation in the JOBS Plus program, the Department provides a supplemental payment equal to the amount by which the JOBS Plus income of the participant is less than the Thrifty Food Stamp Plan benefit standard for the need group of the participant. (b) The JOBS Plus income for this section is calculated prospectively by subtracting $90 from the sum of the gross JOBS Plus wages the participant has already received for the month and any the participant can reasonably expect to receive during the month plus any other prospective income, and then subtracting the amount scheduled to be garnished during the month.