Category: Food Stamp Home

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: OCTOBER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MASS ADJUSTMENT FY2024

MANUAL REVISION #

DISCUSSION:

The SNAP Mass Adjustment will go into effect for all applicants and participants as of October 1, 2023. During the SNAP Mass Adjustment, income maximums, resource maximums, utility standards and deductions are updated to reflect changes based on the cost of living.

The 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
• Standards History Chart

Updates to the Maximums, Utility Standards and Deductions:

Notices: All households with an allotment increase or decrease will be sent a FA-150 Action Notice dated September 27, 2023.

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/ACTRES) screen.
2. Complete the eligibility determination on the Eligibility Determination Resolution screen (FM3Y/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 a verification code is left blank 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 Non-MAGI 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: NEW SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) POLICY ELECTRONICALLY STOLEN BENEFITS (ESB) AND ELECTRONICALLY STOLEN BENEFIT REPLACEMENT REQUEST FORM

MANUAL REVISION #
1150.015.00

DISCUSSION:

Due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2023, section 1150.015.00 Electronically Stolen Benefits has been added to the SNAP manual. The CAA allows states to replace electronically stolen SNAP benefits with federal funds and allows retroactive requests for losses that occurred from 10/01/2022.

Electronically stolen benefits are defined as:

• card skimming,
• card cloning, and
• phishing (or another similar method of fraud)

A new form, Electronically Stolen Benefit Replacement Request (IM-111), was created to capture the details for these types of replacement requests. For the loss to be considered for replacement, the IM-111 will need to be completed and signed by an adult participant or authorized representative of the SNAP household.

Specialized staff have been assigned special security profiles to process these types of benefit losses. A new code of ESB – Electronically Stolen Benefits is now active in the eligibility system for the assigned staff to enter benefit replacement requests.

Staff can view if a benefit replacement has been issued by going to PAYHIST/FM5F to see the payroll type of ESB.

Retroactive requests from 10/1/2022 can be accepted until 12/4/2023. If the participant has already reported the loss on the IM-110, designated staff will review and re-process these past requests.

Note: Benefits replaced due to electronic theft from an EBT account, may be replaced only two times per federal fiscal year (FFY) which is October-September.

Effective today, staff must direct participants to complete the ELECTRONICALLY STOLEN BENEFIT REPLACEMENT REQUEST (IM-111) if the participant indicates they have been a victim of this type of criminal activity. Only IM-110’s received prior to 12/04/2023 and IM-111’s will be accepted for ESB replacements.

Note: P-EBT benefits are not SNAP benefits and cannot be replaced if electronically stolen.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff
• Begin using the new IM-111 to report SNAP benefit losses due to electronic fraud.

KE/ch

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) HOUSEHOLD FORM UPDATED

FORM REVISION #
IM-31B

DISCUSSION:

The form Your Rights and Responsibilities as a SNAP Household (IM-31B) has been updated with the following changes:

• The age range of 18-49 year olds for ABAWDs has been removed, and
• The DSS logo was updated.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin using the IM-31B with the revision date of 08/2023 at the release of this memo to inform SNAP households during interviews of their rights and responsibilities.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CHANGES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS (ABAWD) AGE LIMIT AND EXEMPTIONS

MANUAL REVISION #

DISCUSSION:

The Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023 adds three new exemptions to the ABAWD Work Requirement and gradually increases the upper age limit from 49 years old to 54 years old. These changes are effective 9/1/2023.

New Exemptions

Three new Employment Assessment coding options have been created for the new exemptions:

• 40—Aged out of Foster Care, Under 25 years old:
  • This exemption is for an applicant/participant who is 24 or younger and aged out of the foster care system of any state, district, territory, or tribal organization at age 18 or older.
  • Verification is required.

Note: Exemption will be automatically ended, coding changed to non-exempt (code 22), and non-work months added (if applicable) when participant turns 25 years old.

• 41—Veteran:
  • This exemption is for any participant who served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including Reserves/Guard, regardless of the conditions of their discharge or release.
  • Verification is required.
• 42—Homeless:
  • There has been no change to the definition of homeless. Refer to 1100.010.00 Definitions
  • Status code: EXE
  • Verification is not required.

Note: Code 15 is no longer to be used for homelessness. All participants currently coded 15 will be updated to 42. Coding will need to be reassessed at next mid-certification review, recertification, or reported change.

When a household member is eligible for more than one exemption, staff must select the exemption that is most beneficial to the participant for the duration of certification.

New Employment Assessment Statuses

In order to allow for verification to be requested and for the participant to be exempted from ABAWD requirements but still referred to SkillUP, two new statuses were created for use with the Aged Out of Foster Care and Veteran exemptions:

• AEX – ABAWD-Only Exemption
  • Exemption verified
• PEN – Pending Assessment
  • Pends the case for verification

Once verified, eligibility for the Foster Care or Veteran exemption does not need to be re-verified for subsequent applications or recertifications. When verification is received and the status updated to AEX, a comment must be entered on the Employment Assessment (EMPLOY/FMMS) screen to document how the exemption was verified.

Note: If verification is not provided then the eligibility system will update the coding to non-exempt (code 22) and, if applicable, either add non-work months or reject the member if they have already used their 3 non-work months.

• If a SkillUP exemption applies then a case should not be pended for verification on an ABAWD-only exemption.

Age Limit Increases

The age limit for the ABAWD work requirement will increase as follows:

• 18 – 50 years of age, effective 9/1/2023
• 18 – 52 years of age, effective 10/1/2023
• 18 – 54 years of age, effective 10/1/2024

The age limit increases apply at application/recertification, mid-certification review, and when adding a household member. Non-work months will not be automatically added for active participants. A participant’s work assessment code must be reviewed at every mid-certification review, recertification, or when the participant reports work activities or an exemption.

SNAP Manual Revisions

Updates were made to the manual sections listed in the Manual Revision section of this memo to remove references to the ABAWD age range, update links to re-named sections, update formatting, and to reflect current policy, procedures and terminology.

Additional updates were made to the manual sections below:

ABAWD Policy Updated:

• 1105.035.00 Work Requirement for 18- Through 49-Year-Olds
  • Title updated to: Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Requirement
  • Updated age range and added future increases of upper limit
• 1105.035.15 Exemptions to Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents Training/Work Requirement and Verification
  • Added new exemptions and verification requirements
• 1105.035.30 Evaluating Months for 18- Through 49-Year-Old Training/Work Requirement
  • Title updated to: Evaluating Months for ABAWD Training/Work Requirement
  • Added new exemptions
• 1105.035.35 Identifying and Tracking Non-work Months
  • Added new exemptions

Title Changes

• 1105.015.10 Eligibility Unit Members With an Included (IC) EU Member Role
  • Title updated to: Ineligible Members Included in the Household
• 1105.015.10.25 Failure to Meet the 18- Through 49-Year-Old (ABAWD) Work Requirement
  • Title updated to: Failure to Meet the ABAWD Work Requirement.
• 1105.015.10.25.05 Eligibility Determinations for Failure to Meet the 18- Through 49-Year-Old (ABAWD) Work Requirement
  • Title updated to: Eligibility Determinations for Failure to Meet the ABAWD Work Requirement
• 1105.025.05.05 EU Members Exempt From Work Registration
  • Title updated to: Household Members Exempt From Work Registration
• 1105.025.05.15 EU Members Excluded From Work Registration
  • Title updated to: Household Members Excluded From Work Registration
• 1105.035.05 Counties Waived From 18- Through 49-Year-Old Work Requirement
  • Title updated to: Counties Waived from the ABAWD Work Requirement
• 1115.035.10.05 Ineligible EU Member Paying Dependent Care
  • Title updated to: Ineligible Household Member Paying Dependent Care
• 1115.070.00 Income and Expenses From Disqualified/Ineligible Members for Failure to Obtain or Provide an SSN, Immigration Status, Not Meeting the 18- Through 49-Year-Old Work Requirement, or Comparable Disqualification
  • Title updated to: Income and Expenses From Disqualified/Ineligible Members for Failure to Obtain or Provide an SSN, Immigration Status, Not Meeting the ABAWD Work Requirement, or Comparable Disqualification
• 1120.005.05 Food Stamp Program Explanation
  • Title updated to: SNAP Program Explanation

System generated forms and notices have been updated to reflect these changes.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/mn

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: INTRODUCING INCARCERATION MATCHES FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

MANUAL REVISION #
1141.010.10

DISCUSSION:

Per federal regulations, the Family Support Division (FSD) must compare SNAP household member data to information received from all Federal, State, and/or local detention or correctional institutions to ensure incarcerated individuals do not receive SNAP benefits. When a match is found, a Notice of Match Result (NOMR/FA-601) is sent by the eligibility system advising the household of the match.

The NOMR allows 10 days for the SNAP household to respond and/or dispute the match. After 10 days, if the household does not respond to the NOMR, or if the household responds, but fails to provide enough information to clarify the circumstances, a Notice of Adverse Action (NOAA) is system generated. At the end of the adverse action period, the matched individual will be removed from the household and benefits will be adjusted accordingly, or the case could close.

The Match Notice field will display “Y” on Select Interface (INTRFACE/FMK0) screen in FAMIS if an individual is matched as potentially incarcerated and an entry with source type of SMP will be displayed.

Note: SMP stands for SNAP Match Prison on Select Interface

If a participant is not incarcerated or has been recently released, the Match Notice field should be updated to “N” once the household has provided verification. If an adverse action or closing action was already initiated, it will also need to be voided once the participant provides proof that the household member is not incarcerated.

Only cases with active SNAP participation will display the Match Notice Indicator and be sent a NOMR. All other programs will only show the SMP and Match Notice Indicator on INTRFACE when the matched participant is also active on a SNAP case. For Non-MAGI MO HealthNet and Child Care, no action will be taken by the system even if the matched individual is also active on SNAP; however, Temporary Assistance cases will begin an adverse action at the same time as SNAP if the match is not resolved.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CORRECTIONS MADE TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) UNCLEAR INFORMATION POLICY

MANUAL REVISION #
1141.005.00

DISCUSSION:

Due to feedback received from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), section 1141.005.00 When to Act on Unclear Information of the SNAP policy manual was updated to show unclear information must be:

• Recent (fewer than 60 days old relative to the current month of participation).

Memo IM-06 posted January 19, 2023, incorrectly stated that unclear information is information that is less than 60 days old from the date of receipt.

Also, while correct in 1141.005.00 of the SNAP manual, the memo should have stated:

For information that is older than 60 days, not required to be reported, or not significantly different than information used for the certification, case notes should be made in the eligibility system and the information must be explored at the next mid-certification review or recertification.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/tl

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

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

MANUAL REVISION #

DISCUSSION:

The above SNAP Manual sections were revised to reflect current procedures and updated terminology. However, the below manual sections had additional updates made:

• 1142.030.00 Establishing Claims: the duplicated information involving rejecting a discovery claim referral and registering a discovery claim referral were removed.
• 1142.035.10.05 Determining the Amount of the Claim for Simplified Reporting EUs: the May 1, 2010 to May 31, 2013 all households are subject to simplified reporting requirements sections were removed and the example was updated to clarify the first claim month when a household’s income exceeds 130% poverty.
• 1142.055.00 Collection Procedures: a note was added to explain collections when responsible members reside in multiple SNAP households.
• 1142.055.15.30 Expunged SNAP Benefits: expunged SNAP benefits will be considered when entering the SNAP overpayment in CARS without requiring SNAP Program and Policy approval.
• 1142.080.00 Overpaid Claims: Treasure Offset Program (TOP) was added as a form of payment in which a refund can be explored if the payment created a negative balance.

1142.035.10.10 Determining the Amount of the Claim for Change Reporting EUs section was made obsolete.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/se