Author: Danielle Protzman

IM-139 CRYPTOCURRENCY AND DIGITAL CURRENCIES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD)

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CRYPTOCURRENCY AND DIGITAL CURRENCIES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD)

MANUAL REVISION #
1030.015.10
1110.000.00
1110.025.00

 

DISCUSSION:

Policy for cryptocurrency and digital currencies has been added to the SNAP and December 1973 Eligibility Requirements Manuals. These currencies should always be explored when discussing income and/or liquid resources. A Request for Clearance (IM-14) should be submitted for case-specific clarification for Temporary Assistance and/or other combination cases.

Cryptocurrencies and digital currencies should be valued using the U.S. Dollars (USD) price listed on the exchange where the currency is stored or traded. The rate listed on the exchange is for one unit of crypto currency/digital currency and will need to be multiplied by the total units held.

  • If Bitcoin (or any other digital currency) is purchased or held on the “Coinbase” exchange, use the rate listed on that exchange provided by the participant.
  • If the digital currency is not held on an exchange, staff should utilize Coinranking.com and use the 30 day average of the currency’s value for the resource amount.

 

 

Example: Hillari owns 10 units of XRP digital currency. The above screen from Coinranking.com gives the USD conversion over a 30 day time period for one unit of XRP as $0.3910, making the calculations as follows:

    • 10 XRP units x $.03910/unit = $0.39 total units held value

 

When verifying these liquid resources:

  • Document the website used to determine the value of the cryptocurrency/digital currency;
  • Note the exact exchange rate at the time of the interview or the calculations used to get a 30 day average;
  • Document the amount of cryptocurrency and/or digital currency the household owns; and
  • If obtainable, submit a screenshot of the exchange site the participant is using to the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system.

If the participant is able to show digital currency amounts through a digital currency ledger, submit a copy (if able) to the (ECM. Self-attestation may be permitted if unable to show an account ledger.

When entering in the eligibility system, code as a liquid resource on the Select Financial Resource (SELFRES/FMWB) screen. Use savings as the type and add a comment explaining the findings.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

KE/se

IM-137 INTRODUCING A NEW FORM AND REVISED FORMS FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE INCARCERATED AND SUSPENDED

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: INTRODUCING A NEW FORM AND REVISED FORMS FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN) PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE INCARCERATED AND SUSPENDED

FORM REVISION #
IM-150
IM-151
IM-152
IM-153

 

DISCUSSION:

When MHN participants are incarcerated, benefits must be suspended. If an incarcerated participant goes to the hospital or other medical facility where they are admitted for an inpatient period of more than 24 hours, the suspended benefits are restored. When an incarcerated participant is released, the suspended benefits are redetermined and restored.

Family Support Division (FSD) has several existing forms that are used in the course of work for suspended participants. These forms have been revised as explained below:

  • Suspending Incarcerated Participants (IM-150)
    • Revised form name
    • Provided new email address for submitting the form
    • Added fields:
      • to indicate that a new application was submitted
      • for DOC/Offender ID
      • for reporter’s contact information details.
  • Inpatient Coverage for Incarcerated Participants (IM-151)
    • Updated the email address for submitting the form
    • Added fields to indicate that a new application was submitted
  • Restoring a Suspended Participant Change Report (IM-152)
    • Revised form name
    • Provided new email address for submitting the form
    • Added fields for:
      • DOC/Offender ID
      • Additional contact information
      • Additional pregnancy details
      • The report’s contact information details.

A new form, Applying for Incarcerated Participants in Department of Corrections (IM-153) was created specifically for new applicants who are being assisted by Department of Corrections (DOC) staff and/or their medical provider, Centurion. Participants assisted by DOC or Centurion are managed by a specialized unit and the coversheet is used to identify these participants.

If any of these forms are received by staff, notify the specialized unit by sending an email to FSD.SuspendedDOC@dss.mo.gov. The email should include:

  • Subject line: Incarceration information received
  • The participant’s name
  • The participant’s DCN
  • What was received and when
  • Any other relevant information

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/cj

 

IM-136 UPDATES TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) FORMS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) FORMS

FORM REVISION #
FA-202
IM-1TA
IM-1TA-SPANISH

 

DISCUSSION:

TA forms have been updated to replace outdated information.

The TA Eligibility Review Form (FA-202) has been updated as follows:

  • References to the FSD.Documents email address have been replaced with mydssupload.mo.gov (FSD Upload Portal).

The IM-1TA and IM-1TA Spanish application forms have been updated as follows:

  • References to the FSD.Documents email address have been replaced with mydssupload.mo.gov (FSD Upload Portal).
  • Section 34 “Important Information About Your Hearing Rights” of the TA Application has been updated to only give information on the rights, timeframes, requesting a hearing, and the Civil Rights Law.

Individuals can use mydssupload.mo.gov to submit a variety of documents to the Family Support Division including, but not limited to, applications, reviews, changes, or supporting documents.

The following forms in the public dssmanuals.mo.gov and internal forms-manual forms manual have been updated.

  • IM-1TA
  • IM-1TA Spanish

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

KE/hd

 

 

IM-135 UPDATE TO CROWDFUNDING EXAMPLE FOR MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME (MAGI) METHODOLOGY

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATE TO CROWDFUNDING EXAMPLE FOR MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME (MAGI) METHODOLOGY

MANUAL REVISION #
1805.030.20.10

 

DISCUSSION:

MAGI manual section 1805.030.20.10 Income Excluded Under MAGI has updated examples to clarify when the income from a crowdfunding event is considered countable or excluded in the MAGI budget.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  •  Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/ams

IM-134 APPEAL TO FAIR HEARING DECISION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) CLAIMS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: APPEAL TO FAIR HEARING DECISION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) CLAIMS

MANUAL REVISIONS #
1142.050.00

 

DISCUSSION:

When a fair hearing is requested timely for a claim that has been established, there is no recoupment of SNAP benefits until a hearing decision is made.

Similarly, when an appeal is filed to the Circuit Court for the fair hearing decision, SNAP benefits are not recouped until the Circuit Court renders a judgment.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/se

IM-133 INCREASE IN CHILD CARE INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AND PROVIDER RATE INCREASES

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: INCREASE IN CHILD CARE INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES AND PROVIDER RATE INCREASES

 

DISCUSSION:

Income eligibility limits for the child care subsidy program will be adjusted according to the Federal Poverty Level guidelines on October 15, 2022, and are retroactive back to October 1, 2022. Per House Bill 2 a third level of transitional care was added, which increases the maximum income threshold up to 242% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Percentages of the Federal Poverty Level for income guidelines for all levels of child care are as follows:

  • Traditional Child Care 150%
  • Transitional Child Care 1 (TCC1) 151% – 185%
  • Transitional Child Care 2 (TCC2) 186% – 215%
  • Transitional Child Care 3 (TCC3) 216% – 242%

Participants receiving child care at a transitional level will be responsible for paying the sliding fee as well as the remaining percentage after the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) pays their portion.

DESE will be paying the following percentages of the state base rate for TCC:

  • TCC1 80%
  • TCC2 60%
  • TCC3 50%

The new income guidelines and sliding fee chart has been updated and can be found at https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/office-childhood-child-care-eligibility-income-guidelines-and-sliding-fee-chart.

New provider rates are in effect October 1, 2022. The data collected from the 2022 Market Rate Survey in conjunction with House Bill 3002 section 2.505 was used to determine the new rates. Approximately 75% of providers will see an increase in their subsidy rates. Rates are posted on the child care subsidy website at https://dese.mo.gov/childhood.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/hd

IM-132 ELIMINATION OF COMMON PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS FOR EBT CARD HOLDERS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: ELIMINATION OF COMMON PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS FOR EBT CARD HOLDERS

 

DISCUSSION:

Effective 10/16/2022, ebtEDGE will no longer accept common Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. The system will not allow a common PIN, examples include but are not limited to:

1234, 0000, 0852, 1010, 1111, 1212, 2000, 2222, 2345, 2580,
3333, 3456, 4444, 4567, 5555, 5678, 6666, 7777, 8888, 9999

Participants will receive an error message when they attempt to enter a restricted number.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  •  Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/mks

IM-131 MID-CERTIFICATION REVIEWS POLICY UPDATED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MID-CERTIFICATION REVIEWS POLICY UPDATED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1140.020.00

 

DISCUSSION:

Effective 10/17/2022, 1140.020.00 Mid-Certification Reviews policy was updated in the SNAP manual to remove the use or acceptance of any other application or form in place of the Mid-Certification Review/Report Form (FA-546, MCR). Staff can also no longer accept a MCR for use as a new application when a participant’s case has been closed and cannot be reopened.

By removing other forms for use in place of the MCR, it will:

  • Ensure all required information is provided to households in order to complete the MCR,
  • Remove confusion as to what forms are acceptable for participants,
  • Streamline MCR processing for Staff,
  • Better align Missouri with Federal SNAP Regulations, and
  • Improve the overall error rate with Quality Control (QC) and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

Over 75% of QC errors with MCRs involve the agency failing to follow up on incomplete or inconsistent information received on the MCR. SNAP applications rely on an interview and submitting a new application does not provide all of the information requested on the MCR. Staff should no longer accept the FS-1 in place of the MCR.

If the MCR is due and an Application for SNAP (FS-1) is received, review 1120.035.00 Applications More Than 60 Days Prior to Last ATP for how to handle applications received outside of the 60 day timeframe prior to the recertification period. If the application should be rejected, a FA-546 should be reprinted and sent to the participant with the IM-2MCR Mid-Certification Review Request along with the IM-112 Action Taken on Your SNAP Case.

Example 1: Jesse C. submitted an FS-1 online on 10/10/2022. His case is active and the Eligibility Unity Summary (EUSUMM) screen shows his certification is active through 4/2023 with a Mid-Cert Review date of 10/1/2022. As it is not within 60 days of Jesse’s certification end date, his application is desk rejected. An IM-112 is generated with the proper rejection reason. With the IM-112, an IM-2MCR and FA-546 are sent. Upon review of the TA/MA/FS Review History (REINVEST) screen, the IM-2MCR gives Jesse until 10/31/2022 to return the MCR.

Example 2: Cassie S. calls the customer service center on 11/28/2022. She states she just opened her mail and had several notices regarding her SNAP case and the MCR. The automated system told her that her SNAP case is closed. She began filling out a new FS-1 online. Cassie’s SNAP case was closed and her last SNAP benefit was received in 11/2022. Advise Cassie that even though her case is closed, the case can be reopened if she turns in a new MCR before 11/30/2022. If she has her MCR, direct her to fill it out as soon as possible and provide Cassie with the options for returning the form. If Cassie does not have the MCR, a new copy should be generated and mailed to her. If she chooses to complete a new FS-1, it will be used for a new eligibility determination once her interview is completed. The options discussed with Cassie should be noted in the eligibility system.

If a SNAP case is closed due to the MCR not being received, the MCR should no longer be used to help a participant reapply for SNAP benefits if it is received after the timeframe to cancel close the SNAP case. The MCR form does not meet the definition of an application for SNAP benefits since the MCR does not inform participants of the rights they have when applying. Participants needing to reapply must submit a new FS-1.

Example: Pilot S’s SNAP case closed on 10/27/2022 due to failure to return the MCR (reason closing code REI). On 11/2/2022, a completed FA-546 is received. A review of Pilot’s Payment History (PAYHIST) screen shows his last SNAP benefit was issued 10/2022. His case cannot be cancel closed, and an FS-1 should be sent for him to reapply. Case notes should be made noting the receipt of the completed late FA-546 and the sending of a new FS-1.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Effective 10/17/2022, FS-1 and other program applications should no longer be used to complete the MCR, and the MCR should no longer be used to reapply for SNAP benefits.

 

 

 

KE/tl

 

IM-130 UPDATES TO DRUG CONVICTION EXCEPTION VERIFICATION FORMS IM-367 AND IM-368

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO DRUG CONVICTION EXCEPTION VERIFICATION FORMS IM-367 AND IM-368

FORM REVISION #
IM-367
IM-368

 

DISCUSSION:

The Current Probation and Parole/Court Compliance Drug Conviction Exception Verification (IM-367) has been updated with a corrected email address for the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole. The new email address will automatically populate when using the “Email Probation and Parole” button on the form through Adobe.

While no content changes have been made to the Discharged Parolee Drug Conviction Exception Verification (IM-368), the IM-367 and the IM-368 are now only available in the internal forms manual as both forms are only intended to be interagency communications.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Being using IM-367 (revised 9/2022) immediately.

 

 

 

KE/tl