IM-144 OCTOBER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)/FOOD STAMP MASS ADJUSTMENT

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

TO: ALL FAMILY SUPPORT OFFICES

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: OCTOBER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)/FOOD STAMP MASS ADJUSTMENT

MANUAL REVISIONS:

DISCUSSION:

The October SNAP/Food Stamp Mass Adjustment occurred over the weekend of September 12, 2020. All policies and updated information will go into effect for all applicants and customers as of October 1, 2020.

This memorandum addresses the following issues related to the mass adjustment:

Updates to the Maximums, Utility standards and Deductions
Update Process
Decreased Benefits or Case Closings
Conflict of Actions
Cases Not Adjusted
Notices
Fair Hearing Requests
Manual Revisions

Updates to the Maximums, Utility Standards and Deductions:

The Following updates were made during the mass adjustment:

Allotment Types	Allotment Amounts
Standard Deductions	1-3 Household Members $167 4 Household Members $181 5 Household Members $212 6+ Household Members $243
Utility Standards	SUA $404 NHCS $319 LUA $131 Telephone $ 65
Excess Shelter Deduction	$586
Homeless Standard Deduction	$156.74
Standard Medical Deduction	$170
Gross (130%) Maximum	Increased
Net (100%) Maximum	Increased
FPL (165%) Maximum*	Increased

*These maximums are used to determine if an EU whose members are elderly, live with others and are unable to purchase and prepare food due to a disability, are eligible as a separate EU for Food Stamp Benefits. The Food Stamp Manual Section 1105.015.04.05 has been updated with the new chart.

Update Process

The Food Stamp Budget Summary (FM4A) screen and the Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area – WIBCA (FMXN) are updated with the new amounts.

After the eligibility determination is run during the mass adjustment, the following actions on active Food Stamp cases may be displayed in FAMIS, depending on the action taken during the mass adjustment:

Action	EU Log (FM40) Displays	Date	Benefit Month
Increase	INCR	09/12/2020	102020
No Change	NOCH	09/12/2020	102020
Reduction	REDU	09/20/2020	102020

The reason field on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen displays TUA – Table Update Adjustment (system) for the mass adjustment.

To inquire why an action is taken, on EU Action Log (FM40), select the action, and press F17=INQAUTH. The Action Authorization (FM3H) screen appears. Press F19=REASON. The reason code and the code description appear. After payroll closing, the Payment History (FM5F) screen displays the appropriate allotment for each EU.

Decreased Benefits or Case Closings

EUs with cases that have an allotment decrease and those whose case is closing will receive an FA-150 Action Notice.

Conflict of Actions

FAMIS will adjust active Food Stamp cases during the mass adjustment, even if the case has a pending adverse action. A conflict of action is created, if there is a pending adverse action, when the mass adjustment is completed. Staff voids the adverse action and process the mass adjustment adverse action following these steps:

Void the first (pending) adverse action on the Action Resolution (FM50 or ACTRES) screen.
Complete the eligibility determination on the Eligibility Determination Resolution screen (FM3Y or EDRES).
Authorize the new action, even if the action is a benefit reduction or closing.

Refer to FAMIS user guide Changing An Adverse Action Status for instructions.

Cases Not Adjusted

Pending applications and cases with pending changes cannot be adjusted during the mass adjustment and require staff to take action. When staff completes the appropriate action, the case will be automatically adjusted.

The following are examples of cases not adjusted:

Expedited EUs that are active with postponed verification (APV status).
Any EU with an incomplete eligibility determination, such as when there is insufficient data (ISD).
Any EU in the controlled flow.
If an unacceptable or blank verification code is entered for a program element.
Any EU with pending verification.

Notices

All EUs with an allotment increase will be sent an FA-150 Action Notice. These notices are dated September 25, 2020. The notice informs the EU of the following:

The Standard Deduction and Excess Shelter Maximums have changed.
The Utility Standard Allowances have changed.
The household Food Stamp allotment for October has changed.

Staff may view the FA-150 on the Document Queue (FMVM) screen in FAMIS.

Fair Hearing Request

If the EU requests a fair hearing for the Food Stamp Program, the Agency needs to:

Follow your current hearings office process in your local office.

Manual Revisions

The Food Stamp Manual Revisions are as follows:

Section 015.04.05 – Update 165% FPL
Section 035.05 – Update the Standard Deduction
Section 035.25 – Update the Excess Shelter Maximum
Section 035.25.15 – Update the Utility Standards
Section 099.00 – Update Maximum Allowable Monthly Income Limits and Allotment Table
Section 010.07.05 – Update example to remove example with standard deduction
Section 035.25.40 –Update Homeless Standard Deduction

The following information has been revised on the intranet:

MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD)

The SUA or the telephone standard is used in calculating the community spouse (CS) allotment, for vendor cases. This calculation is completed by FAMIS based on the shelter expenses and utility standards entered by staff. The MHABD manual has been updated to reflect the new standards, in Appendix B, Appendix J and 0815.030.10.10.10 Determining Allotment to the Community Spouse.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/ja

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