(1) "Beginning month" means the first month for which the household is certified to receive food stamps. A beginning month cannot be any month which immediately follows a month in which the household was certified.

(2) "Budget month" means the calendar month from which the department uses income, household composition, and other financial information concerning the household to calculate the household's food stamp allotment for the corresponding benefit month.

(3) "Benefit month" means the calendar month for which the department issues a food stamp allotment.

(4) "Prospective budgeting" means the determination of a household's composition, income, and deductible expenses on the best estimate of income and circumstances which will exist in the benefit month.