IM-31 03/13/02 COUNTIES WAIVED FROM MEETING THE 18 TO 50 YEAR OLD REQUIREMENT
| SUBJECT: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COUNTIES WAIVED FROM MEETING THE 18 TO 50 YEAR OLD REQUIREMENT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISCUSSION: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri received approval to waive 31
counties and the city of St. Louis from meeting the 18 to 50 year old work
requirement effective March 1, 2002. The work requirement is for
18 to 50 year old able bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to work
or participate in an approved training program an average of 20 hours per
week. The following counties are waived due to an insufficient number
of jobs to provide employment for individuals residing in the area. Use
code 41 in FSU5 field 52 of the individual update screen for ABAWDs residing
in these counties.
Of these counties, Butler, Dallas, Macon, and Ripley, are newly added to the list of counties who have this waiver status. Ozark County's waiver status due to insufficient number of jobs ended February 29, 2002. Caldwell and Montgomery counties waiver status is changed so that ABAWDs in these two counties are exempt to the work requirement due to the 15% exemption instead of insufficient number of jobs. This change is effective March 1, 2002. Use code 42 in field 52 of the FSU5 individual update screen when completing the next transaction for ABAWDs residing in Caldwell and Montgomery Counties. Refer to Memo IM-191 dated 10/23/01 for the current list of exempted counties. Impact on Non-Waived County Effective March 1, 2002, Ozark County no longer meets the waiver requirements. Evaluate the continued eligibility of participants subject to the 18 to 50 year old work requirement at recertification. Evaluate new applicants for the 18 to 50 year old work requirement at application. FTWR will not allow a waiver code for Ozark County. Impact on Newly Waived Counties Individuals residing in the newly waived counties who were denied food stamp benefits because they did not meet the 18 to 50 year old work requirement are eligible as of March 1, 2002. At any interim contact with or recertification application of a household that has a member subject to the 18 to 50 year old work requirement, determine the eligibility of that member and take appropriate action. Individuals rejected due to not meeting the 18 to 50 year old work requirement can receive food stamps if they meet all other eligibility requirements. FTWR Entries Remove March 2002, and later months from FTWR if entered as non-work months for individuals who resided in a waived or exempted county during these months. When making entries into FTWR, do not enter non-work months for any month in which an individual subject to the 18 to 50 year old work requirement resided in a waived or exempted area. 18 to 50 Year Old Work Requirement Flyer Attached to the hard copy of this memorandum is a flyer listing this year's newly waived counties(in Adobe Acrobat). Make this flyer available to community groups, local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, etc. for distribution to individuals that may be affected by the waiver. |
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| NECESSARY ACTION: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution #6 |
| IM-30 |
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