MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Missouri received a waiver to exempt residents residing in the entire State from the work requirements due to having insufficient jobs based on the U.S. Department of Labor data that the State qualifies for extended unemployment benefits. The waiver is effective through January 31, 2010. 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.

Effective February 1, 2009, all counties are waived from meeting the 18-to-50 year-old work requirement. The change affects February 2009 Food Stamp benefits. An ABAWDS adjustment is being completed in FAMIS February 7, 2009. Eligibility determinations completed February 9, 2009 and thereafter will consider all counties waived from meeting the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement.

FAMIS considers individuals in all counties as waived from the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement. The eligibility specialist does not have to enter a waiver code and the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen does not appear in the controlled flow.

Individuals already rejected for February 2009 due to Work Requirement

Active EU's with individuals that have a role of IC and a reason code of REQ due to sanction for non-work months will be automatically added back to the EU. A change in ABAWD status is a change that must be acted upon, therefore all previously disregarded changes will also be acted upon.

After the eligibility determination is run during the ABAWD adjustment, the following actions on active Food Stamp cases may be displayed in FAMIS, depending on the action taken during the ABAWD adjustment:

• if the benefits are increased, the EU Action Log (FM40) displays the action INCR, action date of February 7, 2009, and benefit month 022009;
• if there is no change to the benefits, the EU Action Log (FM40) displays the action NOCH, action date February 7, 2009, and the benefit month 022009; and
• if there is a decrease in benefits or closing, the EU Action Log (FM40) displays the action AABR for a reduction and AACL for a closing, action date February 7, 2009, and the benefit month 032009.

Conflict of Actions

FAMIS adjusts active Food Stamp cases during the ABAWD adjustment even if the case has a pending adverse action. If there is a pending adverse action when the ABAWD adjustment is completed, there is a conflict of actions. The eligibility specialist receives the alert “Adverse Action Needs Resolving”. Void the adverse action and process the adjustment adverse action following these steps:

• void the first (pending) adverse action on the Action Resolution (FM50 or ACTRES) screen,
• complete the eligibility determination on the Eligibility Determination Resolution screen (FM3Y or EDRES), and
• authorize the new action, even if the action is a benefit reduction or closing.

Refer to FAMIS user guide Changing an Adverse Action Status for instructions.

If the adverse action is not voided, FAMIS will take the original action as noted in the adverse action notice when the adverse action period expires.

EUs already rejected for February 2009 due to Work Requirement

A report is being generated for EUs that were rejected for February 2009 due to having used 3 non-work months in 36 months, so that the application can be re-registered 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. Review the non-work months on the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen. Remove non-work months as applicable. If the EU is eligible for Food Stamp benefits, the benefits will begin no earlier than February 1, 2009.

EXAMPLE: On February 9, 2009 the ES determines Mr. B. was rejected for 3 non-work months. Mr. B. applied for recertification of Food Stamps on December 14, 2008 and had been residing in a non-waived county that is now waived. The ES registers the application date as January 8, 2009, as the original application date was more than 30 days in the past, and authorizes benefits.

18-to-50-year-old Work Requirement Chart

The chart History of Counties Waived or Exempt from the Work Requirement has been revised. To view the chart:

• Go to the Family Support Division Employee Intranet,
• click Food Stamps in the left corner,
• click Information, and
• click Counties Waived or Exempt (pdf).

Attached to this memorandum is the 18-to-50-Year Old Work Requirement flyer notifying able-bodied adults without dependents that the entire State has been exempted from the 18-to-50-year-old work requirement.

Place the attached flyer in areas of the county office where the public can view a copy. Distribute the flyer to community groups, local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, etc. with which ABAWDS may have contact.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Place the flyer in areas of the county office where the public can view a copy.
• Beginning February 1, 2009, apply waived status to all counties.

CS