Category: IM Memo

IM-111 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENT UPDATED

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENT UPDATED

MANUAL REVISION #
1102.015.50
1102.030.00
1115.090.00
1120.045.00

 

DISCUSSION:

Requirements for exploring management on SNAP Applications have been updated. Management must be discussed with households when the allowable reported expenses exceed the reported income. When the eligibility system shows the expenses exceed income, a management comment must be made.

In most instances, the household’s explanation of management should be considered acceptable.

EXAMPLE: At initial application if a household states they are behind on their bills and are looking for work or have applied for another source of income, such as disability, this is an acceptable statement.

When a household claims expenses that exceed their income at recertification and this was claimed at last application, review the prior management comment and have further discussion with the household to determine if their management explanation at recertification is reasonable.

NOTE: Staff should not ask households how they obtain personal hygiene products, diapers, etc.

FAMIS Resources and the SNAP Caseworker Reference Guide have been updated with the above management guidelines.

Manual Section 1115.090.00 named Very Low Income has been renamed Management. The SNAP Manual table of contents page has been updated to show this change.

Hot Tip, Explaining Management for SNAP, dated 09/30/2020, is obsolete.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff

 

KE/lb

IM-110 INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) MATERIALS UPDATED TO COMPLY WITH 10-DIGIT MANDATORY DIALING CHANGE

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) MATERIALS UPDATED TO COMPLY WITH 10-DIGIT MANDATORY DIALING CHANGE

 

DISCUSSION:

Effective October 24, 2021, 10-digit phone number dialing is mandatory in states with certain area codes. Phone numbers on forms located in the DSS Manuals IM Forms Manual and FSD Intranet IM Forms Manual, eligibility system notices, and IM flyers and brochures are being updated.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/sh/bl

 

IM-109 MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) POLICY MANUAL APPENDICES J AND K UPDATE AND OBSOLETE APPENDIX L AND M

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  MO HEALTHNET FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED (MHABD) POLICY MANUAL APPENDICES J AND K UPDATE AND OBSOLETE APPENDIX L AND M

MANUAL REVISION #
APPENDIX J
APPENDIX K

 

DISCUSSION:

The MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) policy manual has several appendices that contain useful information for staff, participants, and other community stakeholders. Updates to these appendices are described below.

Appendix J is now Appendix J: Eligibility Standards for MHABD. The information provided in this appendix is only used for MHABD eligibility determinations. Appendix J includes information for all MHABD programs with related programs grouped together. An asset maximum effective date column was added.

Appendix K is now Appendix K: MO HealthNet eligibility for people who are Aged (65 and Over), Blind, Disabled, or need treatment for Breast or Cervical Cancer. It contains basic eligibility information, including all income and asset information, about all MHABD programs and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment (BCCT) program.

Appendix L is now obsolete. Appendix L contained income and asset information only and was combined with Appendix K.

Appendix M is now obsolete. Appendix M contained information for Medicare Cost Savings Programs, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary and Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary. The policy information for QMB is in 0865.010.00 Eligibility Requirements and for SLMB is in 0870.010.00 Eligibility Requirements. The resource limits and income limits can be found in Appendix J and Appendix K.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Discard any printed or saved appendices.
  • Immediately use versions showing a 10/2021 revision date.
  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/cj

IM-108 MYDSS CHANGE REPORT UPDATED FOR FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION (FSD) INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PARTICIPANTS

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  MYDSS CHANGE REPORT UPDATED FOR FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION (FSD) INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) PARTICIPANTS

 

DISCUSSION:

On October 25, 2021, the change report available on https://mydss.mo.gov/ will be updated. This update allows participants to report household changes (such as income, address, or changes in household members) without requiring a MO Login Account or a Benefit Change Reporting Account.

The change report can be accessed by participants by clicking on “Report a Change” on the mydss.mo.gov home page. Participants complete the form with changes, attach available verification, and submit electronically. The participant then goes to a thank you page and has the option of printing or saving a PDF of the change report.

The submission page and the copy of the change report will contain a change request document number that the participant can reference when contacting FSD. The change report and attached verification will be electronically sent to FSD to be added to the electronic case file and processed as a change for all IM programs.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/cj

IM-107 LUMP SUM SECTION ADDED TO THE DECEMBER 1973 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MANUAL

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  LUMP SUM SECTION ADDED TO THE DECEMBER 1973 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1030.015.05

 

DISCUSSION:

1030.015.05 Lump Sum Payments has been added to the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements manual. This section clarifies how lump sum payments are to be considered when determining initial and/or ongoing eligibility for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) programs.

For MHABD programs, lump sum payments received are counted as income in the month of receipt. The amount of funds retained until the first of the following month, are then counted as a resource.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/sh

IM-106 SALE OF HOMESTEAD SECTION ADDED TO THE DECEMBER 1973 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MANUAL

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  SALE OF HOMESTEAD SECTION ADDED TO THE DECEMBER 1973 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS MANUAL

MANUAL REVISION #
1030.010.35

 

DISCUSSION:

1030.010.35 Sale of Homestead as an Excluded Resource has been added to the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements manual. This section provides guidance to help staff determine if the sale of a homestead is an excluded resource when determining initial or ongoing eligibility for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) programs.

When a participant sells an excluded home, the proceeds of the sale are an excluded resource if the participant:

  • plans to use the funds to buy another excluded home, and
  • does so within 3 full calendar months of receiving them. “Within 3 full calendar months” means by the end of the last day of the third month after the month in which the funds are received.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/sh

IM-105 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993 MANUAL REVISION

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993 MANUAL REVISION

MANUAL REVISION #
2100.000.00
2100.010.00
2100.020.00
2100.020.10
2100.020.20
2100.020.30
2100.020.40
2100.020.50
2100.020.60
2100.020.70
2100.030.00
2100.040.00
2100.050.00
2100.060.00
2100.070.00

 

DISCUSSION:

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) requires that participants be given the opportunity to register to vote (or change their voter registration) in elections for Federal Office when applying for or receiving public assistance or services.

Section 0105.026.00 has been moved out of the General Manual and into its own National Voter Registration (NVR) Manual. The NVR Manual can by found under “Other IM Manuals” on DSS Manuals and on the FSD Intranet Voter Registration Page.

The NVR Manual shows updated terms (when appropriate), such as:

  • References to “Local office” & “county office” were changed to “location” & “Family Support Division (FSD) location”
  • References to an “individual” were changed to “participant”
  • References to Survey Monkey were changed to ITrackRS

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/mc

IM-103 INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) APPLICATIONS TRANSLATED TO DARI AND PASHTO LANGUAGES

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  INCOME MAINTENANCE (IM) APPLICATIONS TRANSLATED TO DARI AND PASHTO LANGUAGES

FORM REVISION #
FS-1 DARI
FS-1 PASHTO
IM-1SSL DARI
IM-1SSL PASHTO
IM-1TA DARI
IM-1TA PASHTO

 

DISCUSSION:

Several commonly used applications for Family Support Division (FSD) IM programs have been translated to the Dari and Pashto languages to assist in the application process for Afghan refugees that are resettled in Missouri.

The applications can be accessed from the DSS Manuals Forms Manual and should be provided to applicants and community partners upon request.

Translated applications are:

When applications are received from participants, responses and information may need to be translated to English for processing. Send the application and any other attached verification that needs translated to the appropriate program email:

The translated application will be returned by email to the staff that requests the translation. Staff should receive translated documents within 1-2 business days, but times may vary depending on volume.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Staff should send the applications to participants upon request and have available for access in FSD Resource Centers.
  • Staff should send submitted applications that require translation to the appropriate program email address.

 

KE/cj

IM-102 OCTOBER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MASS ADJUSTMENT

Posted on

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

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

MANUAL REVISION #
0815.030.10.10.10
1105.015.04.05
1110.005.00
1115.035.05
1115.035.25
1115.035.25.15
1115.035.25.40
1115.099.00
1135.010.07.05
1140.020.00
Appendix B
Appendix J

 

DISCUSSION:

The October SNAP Mass Adjustment occurred over the weekend of September 11, 2021. All policies and updated information will go into effect for all applicants and participants as of October 1, 2021.

The following issues are related to the mass adjustment:

  • Updates to the Maximums, Utility standards and Deductions
  • Update Process
  • Decreased Benefits or Case Closings
  • Conflict of Actions
  • Cases Not Adjusted
  • Notices
  • Fair Hearing Requests
  • Manual Revisions

Updates to the Maximums, Utility Standards and Deductions

The following updates were made during the mass adjustment:

Allotment Types

 Allotment Amounts
Standard Deductions 1-3 Household Members   $177
4 Household Members   $184
5 Household Members   $215
6+ Household Members   $246
Utility Standards SUA   $415
NHCS   $327
LUA   $134
Telephone    $67
Excess Shelter Deduction $597
Homeless Standard Deduction $159.73
Standard Medical Deduction $170
Gross (130%) Maximum Increased
Net (100%) Maximum Increased
FPL (165%) Maximum* Increased

*These maximums are used to determine if a household whose members are elderly, live with others and are unable to purchase and prepare food due to a disability are eligible as a separate household for SNAP Benefits. The SNAP Manual Section 1105.015.04.05 has been updated with the new chart.

Update to Threshold for Change Reporting

The threshold for reporting required changes for a SNAP household has increased from $100 to $125.

Update to the Resource Limit

The resource limit changed from $3,500 to $3,750 for households with at least one elderly or disabled member and from $2,250 to $2,500 for all other households.

Update Process

The Food Stamp Budget Summary (FM4A) screen and the Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area – WIBCA (FMXN) are updated with the new amounts.

After the eligibility determination is run during the mass adjustment, the following actions on active SNAP cases may be displayed in FAMIS, depending on the action taken during the mass adjustment:

Action EU Log (FM40) Displays Date Benefit Month
Increase INCR 09/11/2021 102021
No Change NOCH 09/11/2021 102021
Reduction REDU 09/11/2021 102021

The reason field on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen displays TUA – Table Update Adjustment (system) for the mass adjustment.

Decreased Benefits or Case Closings

Households with cases that have an allotment decrease and those whose case is closing will receive an FA-150 Action Notice.

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.

Refer to FAMIS user guide Changing An Adverse Action Status for instructions.

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.

Notices

All households with an allotment increase or decrease will be sent an FA-150 Action Notice dated September 29, 2021. 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.

Staff may view the FA-150 on the Document Queue (FMVM) screen in FAMIS.

Fair Hearing Request

If the household requests a fair hearing for SNAP, the agency should follow the current process in your local office for hearing requests.

The following information has been revised on the intranet:

MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD)

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 MHABD manual has been updated to reflect the new standards in Appendix B, Appendix J, and 0815.030.10.10.10 Determining Allotment to the Community Spouse.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ks