Missouri received approval to waive 28 counties and the city of St. Louis from meeting the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement effective July 1, 2003.  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.
 

Benton	Dunklin	Mississippi	Scott*	Texas
Butler	Iron	Morgan*	St. Francois	Washington
Camden*	Laclede*	New Madrid	Shannon	Wayne
Crawford	Linn	Pemiscot	Stoddard	Wright
Dent	Madison	Pulaski	Stone	St. Louis City
Douglas	Miller	Ripley	Taney

*Newly Waived Counties

In Legacy, use code 41 in FSU5 field 52 of the individual update screen for ABAWDs residing in waived counties.  FAMIS will consider individuals in these counties as waived from the 18-to-50-year-old work requirements.  The worker does not have to enter a waiver code.

Federal regulations allow each state to develop policy that exempts up to 15% of the ABAWD population from the work requirement.

We have determined the following counties have a small number of ABAWDs and insufficient resources to provide training services.  These counties are exempted from the work requirement policy effective July 1, 2003. 
 

Andrew	Dallas*	Maries	Ray
Atchison	Daviess	Mercer	Reynolds*
Barton	DeKalb	Moniteau	St. Clair
Bates*	Gasconade	Monroe	St. Genevieve
Bollinger*	Gentry	Montgomery*	Schuyler
Caldwell*	Grundy	Nodaway	Scotland
Carroll	Harrison	Oregon*	Shelby*
Carter*	Hickory*	Osage	Sullivan
Cedar	Holt	Ozark*	Warren
Chariton	Howard	Perry	Webster*
Clark*	Knox	Pike*	Worth
Clinton	Lewis	Platte
Cooper	Livingston	Putnam
Dade	Macon*	Ralls

*Newly Exempted Counties

Carter, Clark, Dallas, Hickory, Macon, Reynolds, Shelby counties were previously being waived due to insufficient number of jobs, but are now exempt. 

In Legacy, use code 42 in field 52 of the FSU5 individual update screen when completing the next transaction for ABAWDs residing in exempted counties.  FAMIS will consider individuals in these counties as exempt from the 18-to-50-year-old work requirements.  The worker does not have to enter a waiver code.

Impact on Newly Waived or Exempted Counties

Individuals residing in the newly waived or exempted counties who were denied food stamp benefits because they did not meet the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement are eligible as of July 1,2003.  At any interim contact with or recertification application of an EU 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 and FMMR Entries

The Food Stamp Tracking/18 to 50 Work Requirements (FTWR) screen is used to track non-work months in Legacy.  The Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen is used to track non-work months in FAMIS.  Remove July 2003, and later months from the FTWR or FMMR screen if entered as non-work months for individuals who reside in a waived or exempted county during these months.  When making entries on the FTWR or FMMR screen, do not enter non-work months for any month in which an individual subject to the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement resides in a waived or exempted county or city. 

Individuals or EUs already rejected for July, 2003 due to Work Requirement

If an individual in a newly waived or exempt county is rejected for July 2003, review the EU to determine if food stamp benefits are due the EU.

In Legacy, review EUs and individuals rejected in July 2003.  A listing is being sent to newly waived and exempt counties of EUs rejected in July 2003.  If the EU was rejected due to using 6 non-work months in the last 36 months, register the application using the original application date.  Process the application applying the new waived/exempt status for work requirements.  At next contact review individuals rejected for July 2003 due to work requirements.  Issue supplemental benefits if eligible.

In FAMIS, after 08/01/03, review EUs rejected in July in the Managed Reporting system on the Intranet.  To review rejected cases:

• go to the Caseload Report for Counties,
• select the 072003 report month,
• select FS-FOOD STAMPS program,
• select the REJ-REJECTED status, and
• select the REQ-RECEIVED FS IN 6 NON-WORK MONTHS IN 36 MONTHS reason code.
• The CASELOAD REPORT FOR COUNTY is displayed.
• Select the correct caseload and review the cases.

If the EU is rejected for July 2003 due to having used 6 non-work months in 36 months, re-register the application using the original application date.  If the original application date is more than 30 days prior to the current date, use the earliest possible registration date.  The EU is eligible for food stamp benefits no earlier than July 1, 2003.  Complete a WIBCA to issue supplemental benefits.

Example 1:  On August 6, 2003, the worker in a newly waived county determines Mr. A. was rejected for 6 non-work months.  Mr. A. applied on July 3, 2003, which is more than 30 days in the past.  The worker registers the application date as 07/07/2003 and authorizes the benefits.  Since Mr. A. is eligible for food stamps from 07/03/2003, the next day the worker completes a WIBCA budget using July information and enters 07/03/2003 as the prorate date.  The additional benefits are issued from WIBCA.

Example 2:  On August 7, 2003, the worker in a newly waived county determines Mr. B. was rejected for 6 non-work months.  Mr. B applied on June 20, 2003, which is more than 30 days in the past.  The worker registers the application date as 07/08/2003 and authorizes the benefits.  Since Mr. B. is eligible for food stamps from 07/01/2003, the next day the worker completes a WIBCA budget using July information and enters 07/01/2003 as the prorate date.  The additional benefits are issued from WIBCA.

A flyer listing this year's waived counties (in Adobe Acrobat) is on the Intranet.  To view the listing:

• Go to the Division of Family Services Employee Intranet,
• click on IM Charts, and
• click on History of Counties Waived from the Work Requirement. 

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff. 

• Beginning July 28, 2003, apply waived and exempt status to the above counties effective July 1, 2003.

• Review individuals and applications rejected in newly waived and exempt counties due to using 6 non-work months in 36 months.

• Provide the flyer to community groups in the area, local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, etc.