Category: Food Stamp Home

IM-126 COVID-19 FOURTH EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

Posted on

FROM:   KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

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

DISCUSSION:

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allows for 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 have been issued by the Family Support Division (FSD) for March, April, May, June and July 2020 as part of the P-SNAP program.  P-SNAP has been extended through August 2020. Beyond August 2020, participation in P-SNAP will be decided on a month to month basis during the COVID-19 health crisis.

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 that already receive the maximum allotment for their household size will not have a benefit increase.

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/rw

IM-123 RETURNING AN UNSIGNED APPLICATION FOR SIGNATURE(S)

Posted on

FROM:   KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:   RETURNING AN UNSIGNED APPLICATION FOR SIGNATURE(S)

MANUAL REVISION #58
0105.010.00

DISCUSSION:

The Income Maintenance manual has been updated to clarify the requirement to send unsigned applications back to the applicant and the authorized representative or guardian for signature.

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/vb

IM-118 CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVERTIME

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVERTIME

DISCUSSION:

Original memo issued July 6th is revised to include the option of accruing compensatory time.

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff of extended weekend hours will resume July 11th 2020 for the Customer Service Center (CSC).  The CSC will be open from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Any available staff with Cisco phones and the appropriate agent licenses are needed to respond to calls received by the CSC including Food Stamp Interviews for Saturdays only at this time.

Staff working OT on this project will receive paid OT or Compensatory time based on their job classification. If there are any questions about your job classification and OT rate please contact Alison Robison, Human Resources Manager.

The guidelines for this OT project are as follows:

  • Beginning July 11th, and running until notified, overtime will be available at the following times: Saturday 8am – 5pm. Social distancing and flexible schedules should be continued with this project.
  • Employees will earn overtime as long as the employee physically works more than 40 hours during the work week (Sunday through Saturday). If an employee is off for any reason and is unable to physically work 40 hours in the week, they will receive straight time for those additional hours worked, until the 40 hour minimum is met. There will be no exceptions for holiday weeks.
  • Overtime for Saturday will be earned if you worked 40 hours the previous Monday-Friday.
  • All hours worked for OT should be entered into Leave Track after the hours have been worked. This time should be submitted as ADDHR time in Leave Track and approved by the supervisor through the Leave Track system.
  • This OT is available for paid time or compensatory time effective July 20th 2020. Time entered prior to July 20th, is offered as paid only.
  • FIELD REPORTING FOR OT PROJECT:
  • All staff working overtime must enter hours worked in the SharePoint OT site. Staff should use the appropriate OT Task depending on the work that they are completing.
  • For paid OT, each Manager must approve the COVID-19 Overtime Sheet for Payroll (attached Excel file) for each employee and submit to Lisa Yoder via email. It is very important that the ‘Job Class’ portion of the form be completed.
  • Please refer to the deadlines for submitting overtime reports of hours worked as well as the pay date for the overtime. The payroll report schedule is posted on the FSD Work Site under OT Tracking or at this link. Please feel free to contact Alison Robison via email or by telephone at 573-751-4252 if you need additional information or clarification.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/nc

IM-115 ALLOWED MEDICAL EXPENSE FOR SERVICE ANIMALS SNAP PROGRAM

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:   ALLOWED MEDICAL EXPENSE FOR SERVICE ANIMALS SNAP PROGRAM

MANUAL REVISION #56

1115.035.15.10

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff of an allowable medical expense for service animals. The expenses, such as veterinarian visits and food associated with service animals, can be allowable expenses for the SNAP Program.

When entering expenses for service animals, staff need to determine the task that the animal has been specifically trained to perform, outside of the animal’s natural instinct. Participants may present documentation from their doctor prescribing service animals, but this is not verification of the special task the animal is trained to do. Request documents that verify training of this task or duty for the service animal.

Examples:

 Mrs. Garrison has a service animal that she has trained herself according to ADA guidelines to pick up dropped items for her child with muscular dystrophy. She has provided the certificate for the monkey’s training to perform this task. Mrs. Garrison provided a receipt for pet food in the amount of $40.00; this is an allowable medical expense.

Ms. Flora has a prescription from her doctor that states: “This patient needs a cat as a pet for mental health therapy.” The issue is not whether the animal’s presence is therapeutic; the issue is whether or not the animal has received special training to perform a specific task to aid in the service of Ms. Flora’s mental health. The cat’s expenses are not allowable since there is no training or specialized skill the cat performs.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/mm

IM-107 INTRODUCTION OF A NEW INTERVIEW PHONE LINE NUMBER FOR FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION (FSD) BENEFIT APPLICANTS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INTRODUCTION OF A NEW INTERVIEW PHONE LINE NUMBER FOR FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION (FSD) BENEFIT APPLICANTS

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff of a new phone number for applicants to call to complete their interview. The new interview line phone number will be available on July 01, 2020.

Wording on applications, forms, and Web application will be updated to have consistent messaging with regards to the new interview contact phone number, and times applicants can reach a staff member to complete their interview. Once the updates are complete, staff will be informed of those changes.

Please note: The new interview phone number is 855-823-4908, and will be used for all FSD benefit requests that require an interview.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/am

IM-106 COVID-19 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) INTERVIEWS RESUME

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  COVID-19 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) INTERVIEWS RESUME

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff that effective July 1, 2020 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamp) interviews will resume for initial and recertification applications. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has denied Missouri’s request to extend the SNAP/Food Stamp Interview Waiver beyond June 30, 2020.

Interviews will again be required prior to the completion of a SNAP/Food Stamp application or recertification application with the exception of cases that qualify for the Elderly or Disabled Interview Recertification Waiver. Beginning July 1, 2020 staff will see the FA334 Appointment Letter and FA335 Notification of Missed Interview letters being generated.

NOTE: As discussed in IM-102 July 26, 2020 Adjustment to the SNAP Interview Waiver staff are not required to grant face-to-face interviews through July 31, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 SNAP Interview Waiver, staff were not required to complete SNAP/Food Stamp interviews during March, April, May, and June 2020. Staff can expect an increase in call volume and walk in traffic from participants requesting to complete SNAP/Food Stamp interviews.

NOTE: Initial and recertification applications that were received prior to July 1, 2020 that have not had an interview waived and been processed will require an interview.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/rw

IM-105 CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVERTIME

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OVERTIME

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff that extended weekend hours will resume July 11th 2020 for the Customer Service Center (CSC).  The CSC will be open from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Any available staff with Cisco phones and the appropriate agent licenses are needed to respond to calls received by the CSC including Food Stamp Interviews for Saturdays only at this time.

Staff working Overtime (OT) on this project will receive paid OT based on their job classification. If there are any questions about your job classification and OT rate please contact Alison Robison, Human Resources Manager.

The guidelines for this OT project are as follows:

  • Beginning July 11th, and running until notified, overtime will be available at the following times: Saturday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Social distancing and flexible schedules should be continued with this project.
  • Employees will earn overtime as long as the employee physically works more than 40 hours during the work week (Sunday through Saturday). If an employee is off for any reason and is unable to physically work 40 hours in the week, they will receive straight time for those additional hours worked, until the 40 hour minimum is met. There will be no exceptions for holiday weeks.
    • Overtime pay for Saturday will be paid if you worked 40 hours the previous Monday-Friday.
    • Overtime pay for Sunday will be paid if you work 40 hours the following week.
    • All hours worked for OT should be entered into Leave Track after the hours have been worked. This time should be submitted as ADDHR time in Leave Track and approved by the supervisor through the Leave Track system.
    • This OT is available for paid time only; no compensatory time will be earned.
  • FIELD REPORTING FOR OT PROJECT:
    • All staff working overtime must enter hours worked in the SharePoint OT site. Staff should use the appropriate OT Task depending on the work that they are completing.
    • Each Manager must approve the COVID-19 Overtime Sheet for Payroll (attached Excel file) for each employee and submit to Lisa Yoder via email. It is very important that the ‘Job Class’ portion of the form be completed.
    • Please refer to the deadlines for submitting overtime reports of hours worked as well as the pay date for the overtime. The payroll report schedule is posted on the FSD Work Site under OT Tracking or at this link. Please feel free to contact Alison Robison via email or by telephone at 573-751-4252 if you need additional information or clarification.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/nc

IM-102 COVID-19 JULY 2020 ADJUSTMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) INTERVIEW WAIVER

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  COVID-19 JULY 2020 ADJUSTMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) INTERVIEW WAIVER

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff that SNAP/Food Stamp telephone interviews will resume on July 1, 2020 for initial and recertification applications.  

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved Missouri the option of waiving all face-to-face interviews of the SNAP/Food Stamp Interview Waiver

(7 CFR 273.2(e)(2)(i)) through July 31, 2020. This waiver has allowed for temporary changes to the SNAP/Food Stamp Program in order to help keep Missourians safe and healthy during the COVID-19 health crisis.

The continued change is as follows:

  • Family Support Division (FSD) is not required to offer or grant a request for a face-to-face interview to any household at application or recertification.

Note: It is important to make a comment referencing COVID-19 on each case in which a phone interview was conducted in place of a requested face-to-face interview.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/rw

IM-99 COVID-19 THIRD EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (P-SNAP) EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

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

DISCUSSION:

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allows for 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/Food Stamp allotment to the maximum amount for the household size.

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

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 that already receive the maximum allotment for their household size will not have a benefit increase.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

KE/rw

IM-88 COVID-19 HAZARD PAY FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PROGRAMS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  COVID-19 HAZARD PAY FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PROGRAMS

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to discuss hazard pay for the Food Stamp (FS), Temporary Assistance (TA), Child Care (CC), and MO HealthNet (MHN) programs.

Hazard pay is additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship.  If the participant receives hazard pay that is expected to be ongoing, even temporarily such as during an emergency period, it is included as part of their regular gross wages and not excluded as income or budgeted separately.  Hazard pay may also be shown as incentive pay on pay stubs.

Example:  Ms. Teel’s pay stubs for 4/30/2020 and 5/15/2020 verify gross wages in the amount of $550.  Her pay stubs also show she is paid $100 for hazard pay.  Ms. Teel’s gross wages for each pay period would be budgeted as $650.

Staff must enter detailed comments/notes in the eligibility system regarding the portion of wages that are hazard pay.  If the participant or employer indicates that hazard pay will only be received for a specific timeframe, comments/notes must include any information regarding the anticipated end date. 

NOTE:  In MEDES comments must be included on the evidence and person pages.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/rw/hrp/sb/rr/ams