M E M O R A N D U M

IM-138  7/26/01  COUNTING THE 60-MONTH LIFETIME LIMIT



 

SUBJECT:
COUNTING THE 60-MONTH LIFETIME LIMIT
 
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to discuss the process for counting the 60-month lifetime limit.  When participants contact the county office, staff will need to be able to complete a manual hand count if the participant questions the months used.

July 01, 2001 began the 49th month of receipt of Temporary Assistance cash for all individuals who have been active since 07/01/1997.  Because these individuals are in their last twelve (12) months to receive benefits, staff may begin receiving questions on the count and how it is applied.  Letters will be going out to the participants informing them of the months they have received.

An e-mail memorandum announcing this letter will be issued when the letter is ready to mail.

TIME EXEMPTED

The following exemptions stop the 60-month count:

  • Permanently Disabled Individual
  • Caretaker/Payee age 60 or older 
  • Active participants in any Wage Supplementation Program
  • The 2 months on Families Together count as 1 month 
  • Child in the household under the age of 18 (Does NOT apply to Teen Parents Payee)
PARTIAL MONTHS

IPAY will be used to count the 60-month lifetime limit.  Each month a participant receives a check will count unless it is:

  • Canceled (C)
  • Canceled Aged (CA) when it is for the entire check amount
  • Canceled Pending (CP) meaning the check was never issued
  • Undeliverable (U)
  • Returned (I)
  • Received as a Families Together payment
The listing above is just a sampling of codes.  Any time there is a code that designates the participant did not receive a check the month does not count toward the lifetime limit.  Refer to memorandum IM-69 dated June 24, 1998 for IPAY screen instructions.  These instructions will provide you with information to determine amount and date of cash benefits, status of payments, and date payment status changed. 

If a participant receives a prorated grant for $150 and the regular monthly benefits of $342 as an issuance for $492 in June, this will count as one month.  If more that one check is issued in a month, only one month will count toward their 60 months. 

EXAMPLE:  Participant applies for Temporary Assistance on May 01, 2001.  Staff approves the case on May 30, 2001, issues a retroactive payment for May and June combined and enters July 2001 in the first check month field.  In July, the system will only count two months (June and July) even though the time period actually covers three months (May, June and July) IPAY will show checks issued for June 2001, and July 2001. 

SENDING CASE RECORDS TO ARCHIVES

Currently staff sends case records with no activity in three (3) years to archives.  This practice will not change with the counting of the 60-month lifetime limit, but staff may want to consider some alternatives.

    Option 1: Send inactive records to archives.  If a participant requests a manual count or a hearing, retrieve the records from archives. 
    Option 2: Send the records to archives but keep a listing of months exempted and reason exempted in a filing system set up by the county.   The record will still have to be retrieved from archives if a hearing is requested. 
    Option 3: Keep the records in the county office.  Once the time tracking system is available the information will be current.  It will include months exempted and the reason.  There will be the opportunity for staff to make adjustments to include payments received in another state. 
The time tracking system being developed will automatically calculate the countable months, and take into account the time spent as an exempted individual. More information on this system will be available in a later memorandum.

NOTE:  This system will be unable to track the Families Together payments.  County staff will have to use their Families Together Log Sheets to calculate these months.
 
NECESSARY ACTION:
  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
GZ
Distribution #6


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IM-137
IM-139