IM-162 CLARIFICATION OF VETERANS’ BENEFIT INCOME AND UPDATE OF AGENT ORANGE SETTLEMENT FUND PAYMENTS FOR ALL PROGRAMS

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Department of Social Services
Family Support Division
PO Box 2320
Jefferson City, Missouri

TO:  ALL FAMILY SUPPORT OFFICES

FROM:  REGINALD McELHANNON, INTERIM DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CLARIFICATION OF VETERANS’ BENEFIT INCOME AND UPDATE OF AGENT ORANGE SETTLEMENT FUND PAYMENTS FOR ALL PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #116
1600.010.15.15
1025.015.15
0410.015.10
0805.015.30
0805.015.10
0610.010.00
1805.030.20.10
1110.020.30
1115.015.85
2010.045.10.05
0210.015.35.40
0210.015.05

 

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff of updates to Veterans’ Benefits and Agent Orange Settlement Fund income in manual sections for the Temporary Assistance, MO HealthNet, Food Stamps, and Child Care programs. 

The funding for this settlement fund was created as a result of a class action lawsuit, Re: Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y).

The Agent Orange Settlement Fund closed in 1997. This unearned income source is no longer valid.

Updates have been made to explain benefits paid by the Veterans Administration (VA) to veterans with service-related disabilities include payments for disabilities due to exposure to Agent Orange.

Refer to the chart below to review specific manual sections updated as a result of these changes.

Program Policy # Update
Temporary Assistance 0210.015.05
  • Update – Agent Orange Aetna (AO no longer valid, fund closed in 1997).
  • Update – Agent Orange Veteran’s Benefits (AV no longer valid, use code VA for any Agent Orange related VA disability benefits).
  • Update – Veteran’s Benefits to show income code of (VA) also includes service related disabilities due to exposure to Agent Orange.
Temporary Assistance 0210.015.35.40
  • Update – Agent Orange Settlement Fund payments or payments received from any other fund established pursuant to the settlement in the Agent Orange product liability litigation. (Income no longer valid, fund closed 1997).
Food Stamps 1115.015.85
  • Update – Income Source code for VA benefits issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs related to exposure to Agent Orange.
Food Stamps 1110.020.30
  • Remove- Reference to Agent Orange Settlement Benefits.
Child Care 2010.045.10.05
  • Remove – Reference to Agent Orange as an excluded benefit.
MAGI 1805.030.20.10
  • Update – Clarification to #9, All Veterans Benefits, to include disabilities due to exposure to Agent Orange.
  • Update – Added clarification to #27, Agent Orange Aetna.  This settlement fund was closed in 1997.
MHABD 0805.015.10
0805.15.30
  • Update – Fund was closed in 1997.
  • Update-VA Benefits include payments from the Veterans Administration made to veterans with disabilities related to exposure to Agent Orange.
SAB 0410.015.10
  • Update-VA Benefits include payments from the Veterans Administration made to veterans with disabilities related to exposure to Agent Orange.
SNC 0610.010.00
  • Update – Fund was closed in 1997

 
December 1973 1025.015.15
  • Update-Fund was closed in 1997.
Gateway to Better Health 1600.010.15.15
  • Update – Fund was closed in 1997
  • Update-VA Benefits include payments from the Veterans Administration made to veterans with disabilities related to exposure to Agent Orange.

Required Action:

Due to these updates, the Unearned Income (UI) sources of Agent Orange AETNA (AO) and Agent Orange Veteran’s Benefits (AV) are no longer valid. Until changes are made in FAMIS, discontinue using income types AV and AO in FAMIS.  Use income type VA for all disability payments issued by the Veterans Administration to disabled veterans. In MEDES, discontinue using income types Agent Orange Aetna and Agent Orange Veterans Benefits.

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

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