MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Effective October 1, 2008, the aged/expunged process was changed. This memorandum discusses the following issues related to this change.

• Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance benefits will no longer be aged after 90 days starting in October 2008. The FA-601 will no longer be mailed to the EU at 30 and 90 days. Benefits will stay in the EBT account for 365 days. NOTE: Transitional Employment Benefits and Transportation Related Expenses are subgroups of Temporary Assistance benefits. These benefits are considered Temporary Assistance benefits for the EBT expungment process.
• If an EU has not used Food Stamp and/or Temporary Assistance benefits in 300 days, FAMIS sends an FA-601 advising them the benefits will be expunged permanently after 365 days of non use.
• Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance benefits will be expunged from the EBT card by eFunds after 365 days, if the account is not accessed. This only occurs if benefits have not been used, regardless of what month, for 365 days.

  EXAMPLE: It is October 2009 and Mr. A is currently using his Food Stamp benefits from October 2008. His November 2008 benefits are nearing 365 days. Since he is still accessing his October 2008 benefits, none of his Food Stamp benefits will expunge.

• Food Stamp benefits and Temporary Assistance benefits are considered separate accounts for the expunged process.

  EXAMPLE: Mr. A also has Temporary Assistance benefits from November 2008 on his card. He has not accessed his Temporary Assistance benefits since they were issued to him. When the November 2008 Temporary Assistance benefits become 365 days old, they will be expunged from his EBT card.

• Benefits aged in September 2008 or before, will continue to follow procedures in place prior to October 1, 2008.
  • The aged benefits can be reissued following the procedure found in the User Guide Reissuing Aged Benefits.
  • FAMIS will expunge Food Stamp benefits that have been aged when the benefit reaches 365 days.
  • When all the aged Food Stamp benefits have expunged, the FAMIS process for expunging benefits will be stopped and benefits will only be expunged directly from the EBT card by eFunds.
  • Temporary Assistance benefits aged prior to October 1, 2008, will not be expunged.
• The field "Aging Override" on EBTU is removed. Indicating an EU is saving benefits is no longer necessary. Form IM-69 Notification of Saved Food Stamp benefits is obsolete.

The EBT Manual sections regarding aged and expunged processes are revised to include the process for benefits aged September 2008 or before, as well as the new expunged process effective October 1, 2008.

The FAMIS User Guide Reissuing Aged Benefits is revised to add information on Temporary Assistance as well as including this memorandum.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

CS