Category: Food Stamp Home

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL AND SYSTEM UPDATE TO ADD INTERVIEW TIMEFRAME FOR EXPEDITE BENEFITS

MANUAL REVISION #
1125.000.00
1125.010.00
1125.020.05
1125.020.20
1125.025.00

DISCUSSION:

Effective 11/01/2024 and in accordance with federal guidance, the SNAP Manual and eligibility system are updated to reflect that an interview must be completed within 6 days of the application date for the agency to provide expedited service.

If a required interview is not completed within 6 days of the application date, then expedited service cannot be provided within the expedited service timeframe and the normal 30-day processing timeframes will be followed. The eligibility system has been updated to follow and track this process.

The FA-110 Expedited Service Notice has also been updated.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/cs

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) CLAIMS PROCESS MANUAL SECTION

MANUAL REVISION #
1142.010.00

DISCUSSION:

Effective October 1, 2024, the threshold for establishing claims due to Administrative Error (AE) and Inadvertent Household Error (IHE) increased to $325 for participating households and $600 for non-participating households.

For Suspected Program Violation (SPV) and Intentional Program Violation (IPV) claims, the threshold remains $0 for both participating and non-participating households.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/se

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATE TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) POLICY ELECTRONICALLY STOLEN BENEFITS (ESB) REPLACEMENT POLICY

MANUAL REVISION #
1150.015.00

DISCUSSION:

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 allowed states to replace electronically stolen SNAP benefits with federal funds through September 30, 2024, as outlined in memo IM-77 New Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Electronically Stolen Benefits (ESB) and Electronically Stolen Benefit Replacement Request form.

The authority to replace SNAP electronically stolen benefits has been extended to December 20, 2024.

As a reminder, ESB are benefits stolen as a result of:

• Card skimming,
• Card cloning, and
• Phishing (or another similar method of fraud)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) manual section 1150.015.00 SNAP Electronically Stolen Benefits has been updated to the reflect the new extended timeframe.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/lp

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: DRUG CONVICTION DISQUALIFICATION EXCEPTION POLICY UPDATED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1105.015.10.35.10

DISCUSSION:

SNAP Manual 1105.015.10.35.10 Exceptions to Felony Drug Conviction Disqualification was updated with a note that medical use and adult use (over age 21) of cannabis (marijuana) in Missouri is legal pursuant to Article XIV of the Missouri state constitution. Under 21 requires a medical marijuana card to be considered legal.

Testing positive for marijuana does not necessarily prevent participants from being eligible for the Drug Conviction Disqualification Exception.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/cs

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (FA-325) UPDATED

NOTICE REVISION #
FA-325

DISCUSSION:

Effective October 8, 2024, the different methods for how participants may return requested information have been added to the front of the Request for Information (FA-325) notice. Then on page 2, the ways to return information were updated to provide participants with the Family Support Division Mail Center address and the website to find an office.

The FA-325 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) lists the ways participants may return instructions on the (formerly blank) page after the nondiscrimination statement, which isn’t included for other programs.

Front page FA-325

Page 2

SNAP Only, Last Page

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MISSOURI SUN BUCKS SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (SEBT) ELIGIBILITY POLICY

DISCUSSION:

SuN Bucks, Summer EBT (SEBT) provides food assistance for eligible children during the summer months when school is not in session. In 2024, each eligible child will receive a $120.00 benefit on an EBT card. While the benefits can be spent like SNAP, it is important to note these benefits are not SNAP, and eligibility and administration of the program is different.

Eligibility Categories:

Eligibility can be established in 3 ways:

1. School age and categorical eligibility – Missouri children ages 7-17 (up to but not including the 18th birthday) are required to attend school. This is known as Missouri’s compulsory age of attendance. Categorically eligible children are children who are receiving SNAP or TA, in Foster Care, homeless, migrant, or runaway. Children ages 7-17 and categorically eligible are automatically eligible for SuN Bucks. SNAP, TA, and Foster Care information from DSS, along with homeless, migrant, or runaway data from DESE, is used to determine eligibility under this category.
2. National School Lunch Program (NSLP) enrollment – Children enrolled in NSLP (sometimes known as free and reduced lunch) at their school are automatically eligible for SuN Bucks. Schools gather and report this information to FSD.
   • Note: Children who qualify under categories 1 and 2 for any one day in the previous school year are eligible for SuN Bucks.
3. Income eligibility and enrollment at an NSLP school – Children whose household income is below the threshold for NSLP and who attend a school participating in NSLP are eligible for SuN Bucks. These children must apply to be determined eligible for SuN Bucks.

Citizenship and a social security number are not eligibility factors for SuN Bucks; however, social security numbers are requested for DCN assignment purposes.

Household Composition:

The household is made up of related or unrelated individuals living as one economic unit. Self-attestation is generally accepted for household composition.

Income Eligibility:

For children whose eligibility is established partly through income eligibility, household income must be under 185% FPL.

Summer Operational (SO) Period:

The summer operational (SO) period is the months the benefits are intended to cover and generally includes the period between the end of the current school year and the start of the next school year. The Missouri SuN Bucks SO period for Summer 2024 is from June 15, 2024 – August 31, 2024.

Note: Applications can be submitted year-round. Applications received after the SO Period ends will be used to determine eligibility for Summer 2025.

Period of Eligibility (POE):

The period of eligibility (POE) runs from the first day of the school year before the SO period through the last day of the SO period. Children who meet the eligibility requirements in categories 1 or 2 above for even one day during the POE are eligible for SuN Bucks.

The Missouri SuN Bucks POE for Summer 2024 benefits is September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024. The POE for Summer 2025 started September 1, 2024.

Verification of Eligibility:

In 2024, self-attestation of household circumstances and income is accepted unless FSD is aware of conflicting or inconsistent information. FSD may verify the accuracy of the information provided on the application on a case-by-case basis.

Notice Information:

All participants approved for SuN Bucks will receive an action notice. Additionally, all participants who applied and were determined ineligible for SuN Bucks will receive a rejection notice. When possible, notices will be sent by email or text message. Approval notices will also include information regarding expungement.

Hearing Rights:

Participants have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of the end of the SO period if they believe the Family Support Division made an incorrect determination. Requests can be made using established procedures. Participants have the right to confer with legal counsel about any eligibility decision. The deadline for 2024 SuN Bucks hearing requests is November 30, 2024.

Changes in Circumstances:

Households are not required to report changes in circumstances during the school year or SO period. However, households are encouraged to report changes in contact details, including electronic contact details.

Expungement:

Summer EBT benefits will be removed 122 calendar days after issuance. Once the expungement is completed, benefits cannot be reinstated.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/as

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: FORM AND NOTICE UPDATES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS (ABAWD)

FORM REVISION #
FA-150
FA-510
FA-544
FA-546
FA-601
IM-4

DISCUSSION:

As previously introduced in IM-71 8/31/2023, SNAP ABAWD age limits are increasing to 18-54 years of age effective 10/1/2024 due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023.

Effective 10/1/2024, the following system-generated documents will be updated to include the increased age limits for ABAWD individuals:

• FA-150 Action Notice
• FA-510 Adverse Action Notice
• FA-544 Change Report Form
• FA-546 SNAP Mid-Certification Review/Report Form
• FA-601 Consolidated Work Requirement Information Notice

The IM-4 Reporting Changes for SNAP Participants flyer was also updated.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: OCTOBER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MASS ADJUSTMENT FY2025

MANUAL REVISION #

DISCUSSION:

The SNAP Mass Adjustment will go into effect for all applicants and participants as of October 1, 2024. During the SNAP Mass Adjustment, income maximums, resource maximums, utility standards and deductions are updated to reflect changes based on the cost of living.

Policy sections listed above were updated along with the following documents:

• Change Reporting Requirements
• Basis of Issuance Tables
• Manually Calculating a Food Stamp Budget
• SNAP Program Changes Flyer
• IM-4 Reporting Changes for SNAP Participants
• Standards History Chart
• IM-145 Change Report
• SNAP Mid Certification Review/Report Form (FA-546)
• SNAP Change Report (FA-544)

Updates to the Maximums, Utility Standards and Deductions:

Update to Threshold for Change Reporting: The threshold for reporting required changes for a SNAP household remains at $125.

Update to the Resource Limit: The resource limit increased to $4,500 for households with at least one elderly or disabled member and to $3,000 for all other households.

Update to the threshold for reporting substantial lottery or gambling winnings: Has increased to $4,500.

Notices: All households with an allotment increase or decrease will be sent a FA-150 Action Notice dated 09/25/2024.

The notice informs the household of the following:

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

Fair Hearing Request: When a fair hearing is requested, follow current fair hearing request procedures.

Conflict of Actions: FAMIS will adjust active SNAP 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 should void the pending adverse action and process the mass adjustment adverse action following these steps:

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

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 complete the appropriate action, the case will be automatically adjusted.

The following are examples of cases not adjusted:

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

MO HealthNet Non-MAGI Vendor Allotment: The SUA or the telephone standard is used in calculating the community spouse (CS) allotment for vendor cases. This calculation is completed by the eligibility system on the shelter expenses and utility standards entered by staff. The MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Manual has been updated to reflect the new standards in Appendix B and Appendix J.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) CARDHOLDER PORTAL MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA) UPDATE

DISCUSSION:

Effective 09/15/2024, FIS Government Solutions (EBT Card Vendor ebtEDGE) is enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for cardholders accessing the Cardholder Portal (ebtEdge) to enhance data security.

MFA requires participants to use more than one method of authentication to log in. The cardholder portal and mobile application allow the user to select one of the options below:

User opts into MFA One-Time PIN (OTP) by email

• An OTP will be sent to the user’s registered email address. The user will enter this OTP along with their User ID and Password to log in to the application.

User opts into MFA OTP by text message

• An OTP will be sent to the user’s registered phone number. The user will enter this OTP along with their User ID and Password to log in to the application.

User opts out of MFA OTP

• No OTP will be sent to the cardholder. Instead, the user must correctly answer a challenge question to log in to the application.

For assistance with Cardholder Portal issues, advise participants to email ebtEDGE.Cardholder.portal@fisglobal.com and to include their Cardholder Portal User ID, the last 4 digits of their card number, state, and the name on the card.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/nw

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MULTI-LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES (IM-4 MLIS) ADDED TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) NOTICES

DISCUSSION:

Beginning September 1, 2024, the IM-4 MLIS form will be included in the mailings of the following SNAP notices:

• FA325 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
• FA334 APPOINTMENT LETTER
• FA335 NOTIFICATION OF MISSED INTERVIEW
• FA520 FOOD STAMP EXPIRATION NOTICE
• FA546 FOOD STAMP MID CERT REVIEW REPORT

As notices are updated to include the IM-4 MLIS form, a new memo will be released to include newly updated notices.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/vb