Category: Food Stamp Home

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO PROBATION AND PAROLE/COURT COMPLIANCE DRUG CONVICTION EXCEPTION VERIFICATION FORM FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

FORM REVISION #
IM-367

DISCUSSION:

The Current Probation and Parole/Court Compliance Drug Conviction Exception Verification (IM-367) form for SNAP has been updated to include two new buttons to email the IM-367 to the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole (P&P) and for P&P to return the form to Family Support Division (FSD). Fields have also been added in order to capture:

• a participant’s Department of Corrections Number (DOC ID),
• date form submitted to P&P
• if the participant is currently on probation or parole,
• if the participant has been administered a urinalysis (UA),
• the details of the UA such as date and result, and
• the email address of the person completing the form.

The IM-367 is used when a SNAP participant is currently under the supervision of P&P for a felony drug conviction related to the illegal possession or use of a controlled substance and is seeking an exception to 1105.015.10.35 Disqualified for Felony Drug Conviction manual section. The updated IM-367 may no longer be given directly to a participant for completion; instead, the IM-367 will be submitted directly to P&P via email.

While reviewing the criteria in 1105.015.10.35.10 Exceptions to Felony Drug Conviction Disqualification with a participant, an agency representative should explore using the IM-367 if the participant meets all the other conditions for an exception, is currently on Probation or Parole, and agrees to allow the agency to collect this information on their behalf. If found to be eligible for an exception, the agency representative will complete the Participant Identification portion of the IM-367 and click the “Email to Probation and Parole” button.

Note: If the participant has indicated that they are no longer on probation or parole or the Drug Conviction Exception Determination Worksheet (IM-366) indicates the participant will not meet all other requirements in the manual section 1105.015.10.35.10, do not use the IM-367. For discharged parolees who meet the qualifications for a felony drug exception, the IM-368 should be used.

 Clicking the “Email to Probation and Parole” button will display a warning message to advise that the fillable text in the Participant Identification section cannot be altered once it has been submitted. A Send Email dialogue box will pop up prompting staff to choose an email application. The Default email application (Microsoft Outlook) should be selected, and staff should then click continue.

A new Outlook message should open with the email address to P&P already populated, and the message is ready to send. Clicking send will forward the form to P&P for completion. The P&P email address is only to be used for this specific form and must not be given to a participant or used for any other communications to P&P.

Once sent, specialized P&P staff will fill out the “To be filled in by Missouri Division of Probation and Parole:” section and return the form to FSD. After it is completed, the form will display a message at the top which reads “This form has been completed and returned by the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole.” in green to easily identify a form which is ready to be added to a participant’s case record.

P&P will return the form to the SNAP policy team who will then upload the document to be tasked in Current and worked by field staff. The response received back from P&P should be entered as provided when adding the verification of the drug conviction exception in the eligibility system.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATE TO THE ADDRESS CHANGE POLICY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

MANUAL REVISION #
1140.005.50

DISCUSSION:

Food and Nutrition Services has updated the address change policy. While a SNAP household is not required to report an address change, it is necessary to obtain the new shelter expense information when a new address is reported if the new shelter expenses are not also reported with the change.

Staff must investigate and take action on potential changes in shelter costs due to the report of the new address. The following steps are to be taken when new shelter expense information was not provided with the new address.

• Staff must contact the household by telephone call to try and obtain the new shelter expense information.
• If the household cannot be reached by telephone contact, pend the case for the shelter expenses by:

o End dating the old shelter expense(s) for the prior month
o Re-entering the shelter expense(s) for the current month with a $0 amount leaving the verification code blank

• Send a request for information form to the household with details regarding the shelter expense information needed, allowing 10 days to provide the information. Staff must make it clear that the household does not need to await its first regular utility or rental/mortgage payment to provide the expense. Participant statement is acceptable verification.
• Make a comment in the eligibility system detailing whether or not the household was reached by phone to obtain the new shelter expense information, or if a request for information form was sent to the household to obtain the new shelter expenses.
• If a household fails to provide information regarding the shelter costs for the new address within 10 days of the request, the eligibility system will send a notice to the household with the new benefit amount explaining that their allotment was recalculated without the shelter deduction.

See manual section 1140.005.50 Address Changes for more information.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Send questions through normal supervisory channels.

KE/lb

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: REPORTING CHANGES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) (IM-4FSSR) REVISION

FORM REVISION #
IM-4 REPORTING CHANGES FOR SNAP PARTICIPANTS

DISCUSSION:

The “Reporting Changes for the Food Stamps Program” (IM-4FSSR) form has been revised and renamed IM-4 Reporting Changes for SNAP Participants.

The flyer can be printed from the public forms manual or internal forms manual.
Staff should make the flyer available to participants in Resource Centers and other public-facing areas.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Discontinue use of the IM-4FSSR.
• Make the IM-4 Reporting Changes for SNAP Participants flyer available in offices.

KE/vb

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL SECTIONS RELATED TO REPLACEMENT ISSUANCES, AND IM-110 REPLACEMENT REQUEST FORM

MANUAL REVISION #
1150.000.00
1150.005.00
1150.010.00

FORM REVISION #
IM-110
IM-110 Instructions Obsolete

DISCUSSION:

The following SNAP manual sections, 1150.000.00 Replacement Issuances, 1150.005.00 Food Stamp Benefits Lost from an EBT Account, 1150.010.00 Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits Lost in an EU Misfortune were updated with the following terminology changes:

• Food Stamps was changed to SNAP,
• EU was changed to household,
• FAMIS was changed to eligibility system.

Two sections were renamed with updated terminology: 1150.005.00 SNAP Benefits Lost from an EBT Account and 1150.010.00 Food Purchased with SNAP Benefits Lost in a Household misfortune.

Also, the Replacement Request (IM-110) was updated with the following changes:

• Food Stamps was replaced with SNAP and EU with household,
• Identification section was moved to the top of the form,
• Notes were added about what verification may be necessary to approve a replacement request,
• Instructions for the completion of the participant sections were incorporated into the document,
• Replacement Determination section to be filled out by FSD was moved to the back of the form, and
• Contact information was added for a participant to return the form to Family Support Division (FSD).

The form name and document number have not changed. The Replacement Request (IM-110) is posted to the internal and external forms manual.

The IM-110 instructions document is obsolete.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff,
• Destroy all older (10/2017) versions of the IM-110 form.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL SECTION VERIFICATION REQUIRED AT RECERTIFICATION

MANUAL REVISION #
1102.020.00

DISCUSSION:

Updates have been made to manual section 1102.020.00 Verification Required at Recertification to clarify when medical expenses are required to be verified at recertification.

For elderly or disabled participants, medical expenses should only be verified in the following situations at recertification:

• Previously unreported medical expenses totaling more than $35.00,
• All medical expenses totaling more than $170.00, or
• New types of medical expenses reported when the household is already receiving the Standard Medical Deduction (SMD).

The SMD applies to verified medical expenses totaling $35.01 to $170.00. SNAP households already receiving the SMD should not have their medical expenses verified at recertification unless they are questionable or a new type of expense is reported. If a new type of medical expense is reported, verification should be requested of the new expense only.
Examples of when to request verification for medical expenses have been added to the manual section.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO THE EARNED AND UNEARNED INCOME SECTIONS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1115.005.00
1115.010.00

DISCUSSION:

The SNAP Manual was updated to add interest under Unearned Income. It has been removed from the Earned Income section.

Both policies were updated to better identify the income types in each section, and terminology was updated as follows:

• FAMIS was changed to eligibility system,
• Food Stamps was changed to SNAP, and
• EU was changed to household.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Review the FAMIS Income Code Chart as appropriate.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL ACCURACY CLEARINGHOUSE (NAC) PILOT

DISCUSSION:

Louisiana is no longer a participant in the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC).

Louisiana will no longer be adding new data to the NAC Database. Louisiana’s existing NAC data will be maintained for 12 months to allow participating agencies time to resolve dual participation and cross program collisions.

For more information on the NAC Pilot, refer to memo IM-99 NATIONAL ACCURACY CLEARINGHOUSE (NAC) PILOT posted October 1, 2021.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/sh

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT VERIFICATION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

MANUAL REVISION #
1102.015.40

DISCUSSION:

The SNAP policy manual has been revised to instruct staff to verify obligated and actual child support payments through the Missouri Automated Child Support System (MACSS). Staff should no longer utilize the interface screen within FAMIS to verify these payments. Continue to use the INTRFACE screen (FMK0) as reference for potential MACSS payments.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/ks