SUBJECT:
ENHANCED FOOD STAMP EVACUEE POLICY
DISCUSSION:
Effective immediately, the following Enhanced Evacuee Policy is in addition to the current evacuee policy in place. The Enhanced Evacuee Policy provides a one-month maximum food stamp benefit for an evacuee EU who applies in August, September, or October. Eligibility is based solely on evacuee status for the first month. After the first month, the current evacuee policy outlined in Memorandum IM-#100, Memorandum IM-#105, Memorandum IM-#107, Memorandum IM-#109, Email Memorandum IM-#118, and Email Memorandum IM-#125 applies.
For the first month of application, the following rules apply to an individual making an application for food stamp benefits from one of the affected counties or parishes. This policy is effective for applications through October 31, 2005.
- Verify the individual's identity, using hard copy documentation, collateral contact, or other means available. If the EU has a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) debit card, this is proof of identity.
- Verify the individual resided in a county or parish of Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi on August 29, 2005, that has been declared a disaster area by President Bush. Refer to the list on Areas Affected by Hurricane Katrina
.
- There are no income or resource eligibility determinations for the first month of application.
- The evacuee EU is entitled to a full month of benefits for the EU's size. The allotment is not prorated.
- The EU is treated as separate from other EUs at the same address. If the EU purchases and prepares meals with other individuals, such as extended family members or at shelters, the EU is still considered separate (refer to Email Memorandum IM-#118, dated 09/02/2005).
- Duplicate participation is not a factor in this policy. Issue benefits even if the individual received benefits for the current month in another state.
NOTE: An individual/EU can be eligible under the Enhanced Evacuee Policy for the first month, but not eligible to receive food stamp benefits under the current evacuee policy for subsequent months.
EXAMPLE: Mr. A applies for food stamp benefits on September 15, 2005, and is an evacuee from an affected parish in Louisiana. Mr. A is a full-time student and does not meet eligible student criteria. Mr. A is eligible to receive the full allotment for a one person EU in September, but is ineligible to receive benefits in October due to his student status.
To implement this policy, take the following actions:
- Take a food stamp application as previously instructed following the evacuee policy (refer to Memorandum IM-#100, dated 09/01/2005). Use living arrangement code ND - Natural Disaster to identify these EUs (refer to Memorandum IM-#109, dated 09/09/2005). An application controlled flow must be completed for the evacuee EU. Ask all the questions and complete the controlled flow using the answers that the EU gives.
- If the EU is eligible for food stamp benefits under the current evacuee policy, take the following actions.
- Authorize the approval action for the EU.
- The next day, complete a WIBCA for the month of application, showing zero income and zero expenses. Use an application date of August 1, September 1, or October 1 (depending on the first month of application). Enter the correct number of EU members.
- FAMIS will determine the amount of benefits the EU is going to receive for the month of application and issue supplemental benefits to make up the difference for the Enhanced Evacuee Policy up to the maximum allotment for the EU size.
NOTE: If you do not wait until the next day to complete the WIBCA, the benefits from WIBCA will not be issued. The WIBCA will be reset and will be for a lower amount (the difference between the amount issued and the maximum allotment). An alert is sent to the worker to reauthorize the WIBCA payment.
- If the EU is ineligible for food stamp benefits under the current evacuee policy, take the following actions.
- Authorize the rejection action.
- Complete a WIBCA for the month of application, showing zero income and zero expenses. Use an application date of August 1, September 1, or October 1 (depending on the month of application). Enter the correct number of EU members.
- When the worker presses enter to commit the data, FAMIS will determine the amount of benefits to which the EU is entitled. A supervisor will have to authorize the benefits on WIBCA, as the EU is not active.
- FAMIS will issue the maximum allotment for the EU size.
Do NOT use zero income, zero resources, or zero expenses in the controlled flow to implement the Enhanced Evacuee Policy, unless that is the EU's current situation. Entering information that is not the EU's current situation will cause applications for other types of assistance to be incorrectly determined.
Continue to follow current evacuee policy in Memorandum IM-#100, Memorandum IM-#105, Memorandum IM-#107, Memorandum IM-#109, Email Memorandum IM-#118, and Email Memorandum IM-#125 for the current evacuee policy that applies for the remainder of the certification period.
Cases Certified Prior to Implementation
The Enhanced Evacuee Policy is retroactive to August 29, 2005. FAMIS will run a one-time program to issue supplemental benefits for cases certified prior to the implementation of this policy that are coded with living arrangement code ND. Once the one-time program is run, Program and Policy staff will monitor the cases identified with code ND to ensure the additional benefits were issued.
Program and Policy staff may be contacting county offices for additional information on the cases.
If an evacuee EU was rejected prior to implementation of this policy, and the EU was not identified as an ND, county staff will need to identify the EU and issue supplemental benefits to the EU. Follow the procedures above for rejected EUs in completing the WIBCA.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.