Category: Food Stamp Home

IM-79 EXPIRATION OF COVID-19 VERIFICATION FLEXIBILITIES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND CHILD CARE (CC)

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  EXPIRATION OF COVID-19 VERIFICATION FLEXIBILITIES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND CHILD CARE (CC)

 

DISCUSSION:

During COVID-19 staff were allowed to provide flexibilities while working with participants to obtain verifications introduced in memo, IM-22 COVID-19 Verification for Food Stamps (FS), Temporary Assistance (TA) and Child Care (CC), dated 3/27/2020.

Beginning August 1, 2021, participants will be required to meet verification eligibility requirements as flexibilities will no longer be adequate when determining eligibility.

Discontinue using Collateral Contact (CC) to prevent cases from pending for verification that was not easily obtained. Instead, process requests for verifications and pending verifications according to pre-COVID-19 requirements.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ks

IM-78 OBSOLETE FORMS REMOVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) FORMS MANUAL AND INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) FORMS MANUAL

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  OBSOLETE FORMS REMOVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) FORMS MANUAL AND INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) FORMS MANUAL

 

DISCUSSION:

The DSS Manuals IM Forms Manual (public site) and FSD Intranet IM Forms Manual (internal site) have both been updated to remove forms that are obsolete and no longer to be used by Family Support Division (FSD) staff.

Obsolete forms that were removed:

DOI-1 

Referral for Investigation

IM-1

Application for Benefits

IM-2

Application for Benefits

IM-2

Mod Adult Adult Supplement – Spanish

IM-209

Case Reading Form

IM-23

Client Services Postcard

IM-2C

Expenses of Producing Income – Spanish

IM-2U

Eligibility Recording Form

IM-30C

Explanation of Financial Eligibility

IM-30IBCA

Income Maintenance Budget (IBCA)

IM-31A MC+

MC+ Request for Information

IM-32MC

MC+ Approval Notice (Non-premium groups)

IM-32MPW

MC+ for Pregnant Women Approval Notice

IM-32PRM

MC+ Approval Notice (Premium Group)

IM-32QMB

Notice of Approval

IM-32SLMB

Notice of Approval

IM-33A

Notice of Temporary Assistance/Food Stamp Case Action

IM-33MAF

MAF Notice of Case Action

IM-33MC

MC+ Notice of Denial

IM-33MCC

MC+ Notice of Action

IM-34

Change of Status Summary

IM-35

Identification Data Form

IM-36

Vital Statistics Form

IM-37

Insurance Form

IM-38

IM-2 Recording Worksheet

IM-3A

Reinvestigation Notice

IM-4 MA

Information about your Medical Assistance

IM-42

Inter-county Transfer

IM-42A

County Transfer Letter

IM-80MC

MC+ Advance Action Notice

PC-1

Presumptive Eligibility Determination

PC-2

MO HealthNet for Kids Presumptive Eligibility Determination

SPNDDOWN

Spend Down Calculation Document
 

Audit Document Request Form
 

Flow Chart for Pregnant Women Applications
 

Affidavit of Disaster Loss
 

Case Manager Performance Plan
 

Case Worker Performance Plan
 

Program Improvement Plan

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Discontinue use of any forms shown.
  • Discard any unused forms shown if paper copies are being stored.

 

KE/cj

IM-77 COMMON LAW MARRIAGE UPDATE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  COMMON LAW MARRIAGE UPDATE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #
1100.010.00
1105.015.04.15
0205.025.00
1805.030.10.07
1013.000.00

 

DISCUSSION:

If a common law marriage was established in another state, each partner is considered a spouse in Missouri. Common law marriages cannot be initiated in Missouri.

EXAMPLE: Edward and Ana state they are common law spouses. Their marriage began in Kansas, where common law marriages can be established. Consider them spouses for eligibility purposes.

The following manual sections have been updated or created to reflect this information:

Child Care will continue to follow Temporary Assistance policy for specified relatives. Refer to 2010.010.00 Relationship of the Applicant to the Child for more information.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Send questions regarding common law marriages through normal supervisory channels.

 

KE/ers

IM-76 TAX CREDIT CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  TAX CREDIT CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021

 

DISCUSSION:

The ARPA modified the provisions of several commonly used tax credits. Most of the changes are in effect only for 2021. The following tax credits are refundable, meaning the credit amount can be paid directly to the tax filer if his/her tax liability is $0.

 

Child Tax Credit (CTC) Earned Income Credit (EIC) Child and Dependent Care Credit
A credit increase to $3600 for qualifying children ages 0-5; $3000 for children ages 6 through 17. The minimum age to qualify for the EIC is lowered to 19 and the maximum age is removed. The maximum amount of this credit increased to $6000 for one child and $16,000 for two or more children.
One-half of the estimated CTC amount is payable to parents in advance monthly payments starting in July 2021; the other half will be issued as part of 2021 tax refunds. The maximum income for an earner without children is increased to $9820.  
Tax filers will be able to opt out of the advance monthly payments. Some married filers may be treated as unmarried filers in certain circumstances.  

 

Do not count advance monthly payments or lump sum refunds of a refundable tax credit as income or a resource for Income Maintenance programs. For programs that consider resources, count tax credit funds remaining after 12 months as a resource.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ers

IM-73 RETURNED MAIL FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PROGRAMS

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  RETURNED MAIL FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PROGRAMS

MANUAL REVISION #

0240.010.20
0262.010.05
0262.010.10
0262.010.15
0262.010.20
0840.025.00
1140.005.50
1140.025.10.05
1885.020.00

 

DISCUSSION:

Manual revisions have been made to the MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD), Family MO HealthNet (MAGI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance (TA) policy manuals regarding returned mail. There has been no change to Child Care (CC) policy regarding returned mail.

United States Postal Service (USPS) stickers are placed on mail that is undeliverable. This information shows a forwarding Missouri address, a forwarding out of state address, or no forwarding address (unable to locate). Returned mail may be handled differently depending on the program and the information provided on the sticker.

To ensure consistency across all IM programs, the manual sections shown above have been created or revised. The following information summarizes changes made for each program.

Note: No adverse actions will be taken on any MO HealthNet cases during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

MHABD: A new manual section has been added to the MHABD policy manual which addresses returned mail received by the Family Support Division (FSD).

MAGI: The manual section below has been updated regarding returned mail received by FSD.

SNAP: Due to Simplified Reporting, no action can be taken when returned mail is received by FSD. The manual sections below have been updated.

TA: The returned mail procedures outlined in this memorandum will change processes for TA cases. The TA manual outlines specific procedures for returned mail in relation to the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program and TA Drug Testing policy. The manual sections below related to returned mail and unable to locate have been updated to reflect changes in procedure when returned mail is received by FSD.

  • TA Drug Testing Returned Mail Policy 
  • MWA Returned Mail Policy 

CC: Due to Simplified Reporting, no adverse action can be taken when returned mail is received by FSD.

  • 2030.035.00 Address Changes

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/nw

IM-69 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND CHILD CARE SUBSIDY (CC) SLIDING FEE EXPENSE

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FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND CHILD CARE SUBSIDY (CC) SLIDING FEE EXPENSE

 

DISCUSSION:

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) allows for sliding scale fees to be waived for the CC program.

Participants will not be required to pay sliding fees effective June 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.

Sliding fees are not an allowable expense during this time for SNAP, as the participant is no longer responsible for paying it. CC co-payments charged by child care providers continue to be the responsibility of the participant.

Example: Mrs. Potter’s child Harriett is approved for child care subsidy, 23 full time days per month. Mrs. Potter pays a co-payment of $25 per week to the daycare and has a sliding fee of $2 per full time day. On DCEXP (FMXM) screen her expense is currently listed as $154.33.

Copayment: $25 x 4.333 = $108.33
Sliding fee: $2 x 23 = $46
Total: $108.33 + $46 = $154.33

Effective 6/1/2021 her expense will be reduced to $108.33, the copayment only.

NOTE: All other types of expenses listed on the DCEXP (FMXM) screen remain unchanged, such as mileage (MI). MI is added to DCEXP screen as a separate expense, and should not be combined with the co-payment or sliding fee expenses.

Adverse action notices will be sent for active SNAP households prior to any reduction in benefits.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/vb

IM-68 COVID-19 FIFTEENTH EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: COVID-19 FIFTEENTH EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

 

DISCUSSION:

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 allows Emergency Allotments (EA) of supplemental benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) to be issued to eligible SNAP households. The P-SNAP program raises a household’s SNAP allotment to the maximum amount for the household size.

Supplemental benefits were issued by the Family Support Division (FSD) from March 2020 through July 2021 as part of the P-SNAP program. P-SNAP has been extended through July 2021. Beyond July 2021, participation in P-SNAP will be decided on a month-to-month basis during the COVID-19 health crisis.

NOTE: In April 2021, there was a calculation method change to P-SNAP. SNAP households are now entitled to a minimum of $95 in P-SNAP benefits.

SNAP households do not need to apply for P-SNAP. The supplemental benefit will be automatically added to the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

NOTE: Households approved for SNAP benefits, but receiving a zero SNAP benefit allotment, are not eligible to receive P-SNAP.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ks

IM-61 APPOINTING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE (IM-6AR) LARGE PRINT AND SPANISH TRANSLATION FORMS ADDED TO THE FORMS MANUALS

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FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: APPOINTING AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE (IM-6AR) LARGE PRINT AND SPANISH TRANSLATION FORMS ADDED TO THE FORMS MANUALS

FORM REVISION #
IM-6AR LP
IM-6AR SPANISH

 

DISCUSSION:

The IM-6AR with a revision date of 11/2019 has been converted to large print (IM-6AR LP) and translated into Spanish (IM-6AR Spanish). Both versions of the form are now available in the Department of Social Services (DSS) Forms Manual and the Income Maintenance (IM) Forms Manual.

This is NOT a new revision and no information has changed on the English version.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/cj

IM-60 EXPIRATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) TEMPORARY INCREASE TO MONTHLY ALLOTMENTS

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: EXPIRATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) TEMPORARY INCREASE TO MONTHLY ALLOTMENTS

 

DISCUSSION:

A temporary 15% increase to the basic issuance table was introduced as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, outlined in memo IM-01 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Temporary Increase to Monthly Allotments.

This temporary 15% increase in the SNAP monthly basic issuance allotments is ending September 30, 2021. The Basis of Issuance (BOI) table is updated annually and will be provided October 1, 2021.

Participants will be notified of the expiration of temporary allotment increase by a one-time Claimant Information Notice (FA-601) as well as social media postings.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ks

IM-59 EXPIRATION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

Posted on

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: EXPIRATION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

 

DISCUSSION:

Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (P-SNAP) Emergency Allotments are ending. Benefit month August 2021 is the final month P-SNAP Emergency Allotments will be issued.

NOTE: Participants will be notified of the expiration P-SNAP by a one-time Claimant Information Notice (FA-601) as well as social media postings.

P-SNAP was originally introduced in memo IM-27 COVID-19 Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (P-SNAP), dated 03/31/2020.

P-SNAP allotment calculations were modified per memo IM-37 COVID-19 Twelfth Extension of Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (P-SNAP) Emergency Allotments, dated 04/13/2021.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ks