Author: Danielle Protzman

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: 2024 FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI) COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) FOR SSA/SSI INCOME

DISCUSSION:

Effective April 1, 2024, MAGI cases will be updated to reflect a 3.2% COLA for Social Security Administration (SSA) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participants.

Cases Adjusted

Cases that include income types Social Security Adult (disability or received off disabled/deceased spouse), Social Security Adult (retirement), Social Security Child (disability or received off disabled/deceased parent), and SSI are subject to an automatic increase of 3.2%. The eligibility system will end date the previous income and add a new piece of income evidence that reflects the adjusted income amount.

Cases That Did Not Adjust

Some cases will not adjust during COLA. These cases will require manual intervention from staff to add the increased income amounts. As cases are reviewed, check the income on each case to determine if the current income is entered. Update and verify income as required using established procedures.

Notices
For case updates made as a result of COLA, the eligibility system will finalize the decision(s) and send out the appropriate notices.

Note: Due to the Continuous Eligibility requirement during the Transition Period, no cases will have coverage closed or reduced to a lower level of care until an annual renewal has been completed.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, OR STALKING AND APPLICATION FOR TA (IM-1TA) AND REINVESTIGATION FORM UPDATES

MANUAL REVISION #
0204.000.00
0204.010.000

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

DISCUSSION:

Manual Update:

The Consolidated Appropriations Act establishes standards and procedures for TA applicants, potential TA applicants, and TA participants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. New manual sections, 0204.000.00 Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, or Stalking and 0204.010.000 Identifying at Application are now added to the TA manual.

Procedures are in place for the following:

1. Applicants and potential applicants will be informed of assistance available by the state to victims of sexual harassment and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
   1. A link to the MO Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence website (https://www.mocadsv.org/) is available on the MyDSS website.
2. All Family Support Division (FSD) staff will receive training regarding sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
   1. Training will be for any staff member who administers the TA program including but not limited to Benefit Program Associates (BPA), Benefit Program Technicians (BPT), Administrative Office Support Assistants (AOSA), Senior Office Support Assistants (SOSA), Benefit Program Specialists (BPS) (including Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) BPS), Program Specialists, Benefit Program Supervisors, Program Coordinators, and Program Managers.
   2. This training has been developed and the memo will be released with instructions on how to complete this training.
3. To ensure compliance with the Domestic Violence Act already in effect, all applications will be screened for potential victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual harassment. Participants will continue to receive services while active in the TA program. These questions do not affect eligibility and should not hold up processing an application.
   1. Three questions are being added to the TA application (IM-1TA) to assist with the screening process:
      1. Are you or a member of your immediate household currently being physically or emotionally harmed by a family member or current or former intimate partner?
      2. Have you or a member of your immediate household currently or ever been forced to have sex or perform sexual acts when you said no or did not want to?
      3. Have you or a member of your immediate household ever been or are currently being followed around from place to place or being harassed by an individual or group?
   2. Identified victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking will be placed in the confidential load FAMIS load 4613.
      1. FSD staff registering the application will be responsible for reviewing the screening questions and placing applications into the confidential load.
      2. Interview/processing will be completed by the staff who cover this load.
   3. MWA staff will refer applicants/participants to local resources for assistance with their current situations while unable to do traditional work activities.
   4. Every 90 days, MWA staff will review identified active cases. The case will be evaluated for the need of continued special assistance and or if the household is ready for traditional MWA work activities.

Form Updates:

The following questions have been added to the IM-1TA to help identify individuals who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking victims:

• Are you or a member of your immediate household currently being physically or emotionally harmed by a family member or current or former intimate partner?
• Have you or a member of your immediate household currently or ever been forced to have sex or perform sexual acts when you said no or did not want to?
• Have you or a member of your immediate household ever been or are currently being followed around from place to place or being harassed by an individual or group?

The Civil Rights section on the IM-1TA has been updated with the full joint Nondiscrimination Statement (NDS) as well as information on Civil Rights complaints.

Child Care information is updated to direct applicants to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.

Questions related to service in the U.S. Armed Forces have been added to the following forms:

• TANF application (IM-1TA)
• TANF Reinvestigation (FA-202)

The questions below are designed to gather information to allow the Family Support Division (FSD) to provide useful information to veterans and their families. These questions will not affect eligibility and if left unanswered must not cause a case to be rejected, closed, or delayed.

• Question 1: Have you or an immediate family member ever served in the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Question 2: If yes, would you like information about military-related services in Missouri?

The revised IM-1TA form has a revision date of 02/2024. All other IM-1TA forms are obsolete. FSD will accept the obsolete applications until 05/31/2024.

Additional instructions will be provided regarding obsolete applications received after 05/31/2024.

Forms are available in the public forms manual and the internal forms manual.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin using revised IM-1TA 02/2024 immediately.
• Discard and recycle blank obsolete IM-1TA forms.
• Share with community partners.

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION ADDED TO MID-CERTIFICATION REVIEW (MCR) POLICY FOR RETURNING INCOMPLETE OR UNSIGNED REVIEWS

MANUAL REVISION #
1140.020.00

DISCUSSION:

A note specifying to allow the household 10 days to return an incomplete or unsigned review was added to 1140.020.00 Mid-Certification Reviews.

When returning an incomplete or unsigned MCR, the date in the field for “Failure to return this form by ______ may result in a loss of benefits” on the IM-2MCR form should allow 10 days for the participant to complete, sign, and/or return the form.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATE TO 1619 THRESHOLD

MANUAL REVISION #
Appendix J

DISCUSSION:

The threshold amount established by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine eligibility under Section 1619 of the Social Security Act has decreased to $3,690 effective January 1, 2024. Additional information regarding 1619 eligibility is available in manual section 0850.005.20 Financial Need.

Appendix J of the MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) Manual was updated to reflect the new threshold.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/cj

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: JANUARY 2024 – QUARTERLY FORMS UPDATE

DISCUSSION:

Income Maintenance forms and documents are reviewed and revised quarterly, and as necessary. New forms and documents are created as required or requested.

All new and revised IM forms show a revision date of 01/2024, unless otherwise stated. Revised IM forms with older revisions dates are now obsolete. Family Support Division (FSD) will accept obsolete forms until 03/31/2024.

Note: Child Care program information was removed from many FSD forms and documents as Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) systems are used for eligibility (2023 Memo IM-103).

Participants may access the Application for Child Care Subsidy for Children and Families (MO 500-3469) and additional information from the Child Care Subsidy Information for Families webpage on the DESE website.

New and Revised Forms available in the public and internal forms manuals:

New and Revised Online Forms

New and Revised Forms available only to FSD staff in the internal forms manual:

Obsolete forms should no longer be used by FSD staff. These forms are no longer in use with current FSD processes. In addition to forms listed above with older revision dates, the following forms are also obsolete:

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin using revised forms immediately.
• Discard and recycle blank obsolete forms.
• Share with community partners.

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