IM-144 REVISIONS TO POLICY SECTIONS TO REPLACE OBSOLETE LINKS

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: REVISIONS TO POLICY SECTIONS TO REPLACE OBSOLETE LINKS

MANUAL REVISION #
0110.000.00
0110.060.15
0210.005.05
0815.010.00
0820.020.00
0855.010.00
1020.005.00
1802.020.45.10

 

DISCUSSION:

Several policy sections in various policy manuals have been revised to remove links to obsolete policy sections.

The revisions include corrected links or policy updates to remove outdated processes. Sections were also revised with updated terminology if necessary.

The following sections were updated and replace all other versions of policy previously released:

General Information Manual:

Temporary Assistance Manual

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

December 1973 Eligibility Requirements Manual

Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) Manual

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

 

KE/cj

IM-143 JANUARY 2023 COLA ADJUSTMENT OF SSA/SSI/VA/RR INCOME FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS EXCEPT FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI)

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: JANUARY 2023 COLA ADJUSTMENT OF SSA/SSI/VA/RR INCOME FOR ALL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS EXCEPT FAMILY MO HEALTHNET (MAGI)

MANUAL REVISION #

0410.010.15 APPENDIX B
0805.020.15 APPENDIX D
0865.010.15 APPENDIX E
1030.010.05 APPENDIX J
1030.035.10 APPENDIX K
1030.035.20  
1030.035.25  

 

 

DISCUSSION:

In January 2023, all Social Security Administration (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Administration (VA), and Railroad Retirement (RR) participants will receive an 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

The weekend of December 10, 2022, a mass adjustment will be completed in the eligibility system for Child Care (CC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (TA), and MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) cases. Income increases for SSA, SSI, VA, and/or RR and other adjustments will be completed. Medicare Premium amounts and federal eligibility standards will also be updated.

Note: The 2023 COLA will have the following effect on SNAP cases:

  • Increase in SNAP benefit reductions for January 2023
  • Increase in SNAP closures for December 2022

SSI Increases

SSI TABLE 2022 AMOUNT 2023 AMOUNT INCREASE
SSI Individual maximum (in own household) $841 $914 $73
SSI Couple maximum (in own household) $1,261 $1,371 $110
SSI Individual in household of another $561 $609 $48
SSI Couple in household of another $841 $914 $73
SSI Essential person/own home $421 $458 $37

 

MHABD Standards Adjustments

NEW MHABD STANDARDS 2022 AMOUNT 2023 AMOUNT
Maximum Allotment of Community Spouse $3,435 $3,716
Minimum Maintenance Standard for Allotments $2,289 $2,289
Maximum Allocation to a child $420 $457
Maximum Allotment to a child $726 $763
Minimum Spousal Share $27,480 $29,724
Maximum Spousal Share $137,400 $148,620
Maximum Home Equity $636,000 $688,000
HCB Maximum $1,470 $1,598
SAB Standard $908 $987

 

Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Premium Adjustment

The standard SMI, commonly known as Medicare Part B, premium will decrease for 2023 to $164.90. The SMI premium for those who begin receiving Medicare in 2023 will be $164.90. Premiums for Medicare participants who pay less than the standard premium amount will not have an increase of more than the amount of the increase in Social Security benefit the individual received.

 

Additional MHABD Program Increases

Resource Limits for Medicare Savings Programs (QMB/SLMB/QI-1)
For a single individual, the resource limit increases to $9,090 for a married couple, the resource limit increases to $13,630. There is no change in policy regarding how to determine available resources.

Vendor Maximum Monthly Maintenance Standard
The 2023 Maximum Monthly Maintenance Standard is $3,716.

Minimum and Maximum Spousal Share
The 2023 minimum spousal share is $29,724. The new maximum spousal share is $148,620. Both amounts become effective for any assessment completed on or after January 1, 2023.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
The SGA monthly amounts increase and are as follows:

  • $2,460 for statutorily blind individuals
  • $1,470 for non-blind individuals

 

Policy and Appendices Updates
The following appendices were updated to show the new amounts:

Manual sections 0410.010.15, 0865.010.15, 1030.010.05 and 1030.035.10 are revised to remove outdated information and reference Appendix J for current information.
Manual sections 0805.020.15, 1030.035.20 and 1030.035.25 are updated to specify that data contained in examples are for illustrative purposes only and do not contain current numbers.

 

Adjustments by Program and Mass Adjustment Process
All programs will be adjusted according to program. Review FAMIS Resources for further information about the mass adjustment process.

Senate Bill 577 (2007) authorized the disregard for Social Security COLA increases for certain MO HealthNet (MHN) programs with income eligibility based on federal poverty level (FPL) until the next FPL adjustment in April. All SSA, SSI, VA, and RR income sources will be updated with the new income amount and verification code “CO” for COLA adjustment.

Note: For budget months prior to January 2023, do not use the “CO” – COLA verification code.

Note: The Families First Coronavirus Response Action of 2020 (FFCRA) requires that MO HealthNet (MHN) coverage for individuals be maintained at the same level or better for the duration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). There will be no adverse action to reduce or end MHN coverage due to COLA changes until the end of the PHE.

 

Reports with Actions Needed
Reports with action needed will be distributed to the SNAP, TA/CC, and MHN Program Managers for assignment. Follow the instructions in FAMIS Resources on how to process each type of report.

 

Request for Hearing/Continued Benefits
When a fair hearing is requested, follow current fair hearing request procedures.

 

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
  • Search “COLA” or “Adjustment” in FAMIS Resources for processing guidance.
  • State Office will provide the SSA/SSI/VA/RR Needing Review report to designated staff.
  • Allow MHN Policy for “CO” income verification to disregard SSA and SSI COLA Adjustments until the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Adjustment in April.

 

 

KE/mc

IM-136 UPDATES TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) FORMS

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) FORMS

FORM REVISION #
FA-202
IM-1TA
IM-1TA-SPANISH

 

DISCUSSION:

TA forms have been updated to replace outdated information.

The TA Eligibility Review Form (FA-202) has been updated as follows:

  • References to the FSD.Documents email address have been replaced with mydssupload.mo.gov (FSD Upload Portal).

The IM-1TA and IM-1TA Spanish application forms have been updated as follows:

  • References to the FSD.Documents email address have been replaced with mydssupload.mo.gov (FSD Upload Portal).
  • Section 34 “Important Information About Your Hearing Rights” of the TA Application has been updated to only give information on the rights, timeframes, requesting a hearing, and the Civil Rights Law.

Individuals can use mydssupload.mo.gov to submit a variety of documents to the Family Support Division including, but not limited to, applications, reviews, changes, or supporting documents.

The following forms in the public dssmanuals.mo.gov and internal forms-manual forms manual have been updated.

  • IM-1TA
  • IM-1TA Spanish

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

 

KE/hd

 

 

IM-110 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTANENCE (IM) PROGRAMS

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASE FOR ALL INCOME MAINTANENCE (IM) PROGRAMS

FORM REVISION #
APPENDIX J

 

DISCUSSION:

The state mileage rate used to calculate expenses for all IM programs increased from $.49 per mile to $.55 per mile effective 07/01/2022. Use the rate of $.55 per mile when calculating mileage expenses.

Effective 7/25/2022, the eligibility system has been updated to reflect the rate increase. Appendix J of the MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled manual has been updated to reflect the change.

Note: Final approval for the increased rate was received after July benefits were created. Affected cases have been adjusted to reflect this change for July 2022 and notices will be generated.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/nw

IM-109 UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE GUIDANCE FOR ALL PROGRAMS

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN PAROLEE GUIDANCE FOR ALL PROGRAMS

 

DISCUSSION:

Due to section 401 of the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-128), Ukrainian individuals issued an immigration status of Humanitarian Parolee between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 are considered Qualified Immigrants.

Effective May 21, 2022 these individuals are not subject to the five-year waiting period for MO HealthNet (MHN), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (TA) and Child Care (CC). If an individual was paroled and entered the United States between February 24, 2022 and May 21, 2022, their date of eligibility for MHN is February 24, 2022 and for SNAP, TA, and CC it is May 21, 2022. If they entered the United States after May 21, 2022, their date of eligibility is their date of humanitarian parole but they are eligible for prior quarter for MHN. Ukrainian parolees who previously applied and were denied benefits may reapply with eligibility determined from the date of reapplication or the corresponding prior quarter dates for MHN.

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees are treated like refugees and should be coded in eligibility systems as refugees. The following documentation and codes indicate that an immigrant is a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee:

• A form I-94 noting Humanitarian Parolee;
• Foreign passport with Department of Homeland Security / U.S. Customs and Borders (DHS/CBP) admission stamp noting Uniting for Ukraine (U4U);
• Foreign passport with DHS/CBP with a stamp admitting them as a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee (UHP);
• Foreign passport with DHS/CBP admission stamp noting Parolee (DT);
• A Form I-765 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with code C11;
• A Form I-766 EAD with code C11; or
• A non-Ukrainian immigrant who last resided in the Ukraine, can be eligible if they provide one of the above documents AND documentation of their last habitual residence in Ukraine.

NOTE: Applications received for Humanitarian Parolees from the Ukraine must be sent to the FSD Refugee Unit at: FSDREFUGEE@ip.sp.mo.gov. Special entry is required to allow this population to be coded correctly. Do not process these applications.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/hrp

IM-104 POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  POLICY REVISION TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR MO HEALTHNET (MHN), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE (TA) AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

MANUAL REVISION #
0105.010.00
0203.020.00
1120.025.00
1802.020.05
1802.020.15

 

DISCUSSION:

An electronic or typed signature is considered a valid signature for MHN, TA, and SNAP documents when accompanied with an attestation. The attestation must accompany any typed signature and state that the electronic or typed signature has the same legal effect and can be enforced the same as a handwritten signature.

NOTE: At this time, FSD CANNOT accept an electronic or typed signature on the Authorization for Disclosure of Consumer Medical/Health Information (MO 650-2616).

Policy has been updated to allow electronic or typed signatures:

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/cj

IM-89 ALL PROGRAM UPDATE TO POLICY WHEN NO DATA IS SHOWN ON IMES AND “NO DATA” DEFINITION

FROM:  KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT:  ALL PROGRAM UPDATE TO POLICY WHEN NO DATA IS SHOWN ON IMES AND “NO DATA” DEFINITION

MANUAL REVISION #
0110.025.05
0110.025.10
1805.030.05

 

DISCUSSION:

Policy for all programs is updated to explain necessary actions when an Income Maintenance and Employment Security interface (IMES) returns “no data.” The General Information Manual and Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) Manual policy are revised with this change; content in policy manuals for programs other than MO HealthNet does not require an update at this time.

IMES Used to Support an Income Determination

IMES is required in the record if it is accessed to review income information and reflects something other than “no data”. An IMES is considered to contain “no data” when the IMES:

  • is completely blank

or

  • has no earned income data for the last 12 months, and displays no unemployment compensation received for the last 12 months

When IMES displays “no data”, document in the eligibility system the date the IMES was viewed and why the IMES was not considered useful in an income determination.

IMES Used to Support Non-Financial Eligibility Requirements

Retain a copy in the case record if IMES is used to confirm non-financial information, such as, but not limited to:

  • Application status for other benefits such as unemployment compensation
  • Missouri residency or address information

FAMIS Resources guides are updated to include this information.

 

NECESSARY ACTION:

  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

 

KE/ers

IM-73 UPDATES TO THE LEGAL ASPECTS MANUAL AND FSD-4 CUSTOMER SERVICE FORM

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: UPDATES TO THE LEGAL ASPECTS MANUAL AND
FSD-4 CUSTOMER SERVICE FORM

MANUAL REVISION #
0130.010.00
0130.010.05
0130.010.10
0130.010.15
0130.010.15.15

FORM REVISION #
FSD-4 Customer Service

DISCUSSION:

Revisions have been made to the Legal Aspects Manual located within the General Information Manual. The Customer Service Complaints and Comments policy section and the FSD-4 Customer Service form have been updated to include the following language:

• Eligibility Specialist changed to staff
• FAMIS changed to eligibility system
• Individual and Claimant changed to participant
• Food Stamps changed to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

KE/mc

IM-72 REVISIONS TO WAIVER OF 10-DAY ADVANCE NOTICE (IM-80A)

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: REVISIONS TO WAIVER OF 10-DAY ADVANCE NOTICE (IM-80A)

FORM REVISION #
IM-80A

DISCUSSION:

The IM-80A was updated with current Family Support Division (FSD) terms. Other changes were made to allow streamlined use for all FSD programs.

The FSD Staff section, at the bottom of the form, allows staff to provide their name and title and removes the requirement to witness the participant’s signature. This allows the IM-80A to be used by FSD staff interacting with participants by methods other than in person.

The IM-80A shows a revision date of 6/2022 and is available in the public and internal forms manuals.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Begin using the revised IM-80A immediately.

KE/cj

IM-71 INTRODUCING THE SIGNATURE REQUEST FORM (IM-2SR)

FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: INTRODUCING THE SIGNATURE REQUEST FORM
(IM-2SR)

MANUAL REVISION #
0105.010.00
0203.020.05
1120.010.00
1802.020.05

FORM REVISION #
IM-2SR
IM-2SR Spanish
Signature Request Letter obsolete
Signature Request Letter (Spanish) obsolete

DISCUSSION:

The Signature Request Form (IM-2SR) and Signature Request Form Spanish (IM-2SR Spanish) have replaced the English and Spanish versions of the Signature Request Letter, which are now obsolete. The IM-2SR has fewer fillable fields, one return address for all program types, and is available in the internal forms manual.

The following manual sections were updated to include a link to the IM-2SR:

• General Information Manual Section 0105.010.00 Signing the Application
• Temporary Assistance/Case Management Manual Section 0203.020.05 Application with No Signature
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Manual Section 1120.010.00 Applications Received by the Agency
• Family MO HealthNet (MAGI) Manual Section 1802.020.05 Application with No Signature

When registering an application, be sure to review for a signature.

• If there is no signature, follow the Unsigned Applications instructions located in ECM Resources.
• Do not register the application.
• Return all pages of the original unsigned application with the IM-2SR to the participant within three business days.
• If staff find an unsigned application has been scanned to the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system, submit a ticket to have the unsigned application removed.
o The ECM team will reach out to the individual that scanned the paper unsigned application and they will be instructed to return all pages of the original application to the participant along with the IM-2SR.

If the document was received digitally (e.g., by FSD Upload Portal or by email), the staff member that has encountered the unsigned application must print and return all pages of the unsigned application to the participant along with the
IM-2SR.

NECESSARY ACTION:
• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Use the new forms immediately and discard all previous versions.

KE/sh