SNAP: Income – Bonus Income Examples

Bonus that will not recur

Client applied on April 25. She started a new job on March 20 and received her first weekly paycheck on April 8 and her second on April 22. She provided both checks. The April 8 check includes a sign on bonus of $500. This is a one-time bonus which will never recur. It is considered a non-recurring lump sum and is counted as a resource only in the month received. It should be subtracted from the gross before calculating actual April income.

Example case note: Client received a sign-on bonus of $500 on the 4/8 check. This bonus will not recur, so it is considered a non-recurring lump sum, which is not countable income and will be subtracted from the gross on the 4/8 check.

Bonus with no established pattern

Client applied on April 25. She started a new job on March 20 and received her first bi-weekly paycheck on April 8 and her second on April 22. She provided both checks. The April 22 check has a bonus of $50. The client states this based on her sales performance and that she is eligible to receive this each pay period if she meets her quota. Since this her first receipt of this bonus, and there is not established pattern, we cannot anticipate that it will recur. Include the bonus in the gross pay calculation for her actual April income, and remove it from the gross when calculating income for future months. Case note how bonus income as considered.

Example case note: $50 Performance bonus received for the first time on 4/22 check. The client states this is based on her sales performance and that she is eligible to receive this each pay period if she meets her quota. Since this is her first bonus and there is not yet an established pattern of receipt, this will be counted as actual income for April, but not included in anticipated income.

Recurring Bonus

Example 1 – Year to Date (YTD) bonus but none on current checks

Client applied on May 3. She submitted bi-weekly checks for April 8 and 22 for ongoing employment at Walmart where she has worked for over a year. There is no bonus income on either check, but YTD shows $500 of MyShare Incentive. Client states this is a quarterly bonus that she received in March. Since this represents 3 months of bonus income (Jan, Feb, and March), divide the YTD by 3 and add the monthly average as a 2nd employer on MICAL.

Example case note: YTD shows bonus income of $500. Worker verified with client that bonuses are quarterly and can recur. April checks represent one possible quarterly bonus. YTD of $500 divided by 3 and added as 2nd employer for anticipated income.

Example 2 – Bonus income on current checks

Client applied on November 3. She submitted bi-weekly checks for October 8 and 22 for ongoing employment at Walmart where she has worked for over a year. There is current bonus income on the October 8 check for $500 of MyShare Incentive. The YTD is $1200. Client states this is a quarterly bonus that she received in March, June, October. Since this represents 9 months of bonus income Jan through Sept), the bonus should be subtracted from the gross on the Oct 8 check for the MICAL of regular pay. Next, divide the YTD bonus by 9 and add the monthly average as a 2nd employer on MICAL.
Example case note: $500 bonus on the Oct 8 check was verified with client as received quarterly. Subtracted from Oct 8 gross for calculation of regular pay. YTD Bonus of $1200 was divided by 9 and added as 2nd employer.

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