Temporary Assistance/Case Management Manual

0240.005.10 Drug Screening—Applicants

IM-19 February 20, 2013

Mandatory individuals must cooperate with the screening to receive or continue to receive Temporary Assistance (TA). The screening determines if an individual applying for or receiving TA benefits must be referred for a drug test.

When completing a TA application, the TA Drug Screening Question (TADRUG/FMN0) screen displays during the controlled flow with the following question:

  1. Missouri regulations for the Temporary Assistance program require FSD to ask the following question regarding illegal drug use. How many times in the past year have you used an illegal drug or used prescription medication for non-medical reasons?NOTE: An illegal drug refers to a drug that is against the law;

    If an applicant or participant requests clarification for, “used a prescription medication for nonmedical reasons,” screeners shall provide the following response:

    • For instance because of the experience or feeling it caused.

    NOTE: If the answer to the screening question is changed after completing the controlled flow in FAMIS, a new Interview Summary (FA-102) must be printed and signed by the participant.

The TA Drug Test Waiver (DRTWAIV/FMN4) screen displays after the screening question during the controlled flow with the following question:

  • Some individuals approved for TA will be required to submit to drug testing, based on the screening question. TA participants required to submit to drug testing may waive the testing requirement and be referred to a substance abuse treatment program with the Department of Mental Health (DMH). If you are required to submit to a drug test, do you wish to waive the test and be referred to DMH for substance abuse treatment?

Applicants/Participants can answer:

  • Yes
  • No
  • Decline to answer.

If the applicant is not age 18 on the date of application, the TADRUG screen and the DRTWAIV screen do not display during the controlled flow. However, the screening questions display on the Interview Summary (FA-102) with “not applicable” as the response.