- TO:
- ALL COUNTY OFFICES
- FROM:
- VALERIE J. DAVIS, ACTING DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- CLAIMS FOR FOOD STAMP BENEFITS INCLUDING ARRA ALLOTMENT INCREASE
DISCUSSION:
On February 17, 2009, the President signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The weekend of March 14, 2009, an April Food Stamp Stimulus mass adjustment occurred due to the increase in Food Stamp benefits resulting from the ARRA. The ARRA requires that the stimulus increase be disregarded when determining the amount of benefits an EU is overpaid for the Food Stamp Program.
Effective immediately, for claim periods from April 1, 2009, to September 30, 2009, the difference in the increase in the allotment amounts due to the ARRA and the allotment amounts in effect on March 30, 2009, is excluded from claim determinations. The Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area (SELWIBCA/FMXH) screen in FAMIS is programmed to calculate the overpayment excluding the ARRA increase; staff will not have to do the calculation.
EXAMPLE: EU applied for Food Stamp benefits for March 2009 and received $14 minimum allotment in March 2009, and $16 minimum allotment in April 2009 due to the ARRA increase. The eligibility specialist determined the EU is ineligible for March and April. The Food Stamp overpayment is $14 for March and $14 for April, totaling $28.
EXAMPLE: An active Food Stamp EU received $311 in February and March 2009, and $355 in April 2009. This includes the $44 ARRA increase, and no other changes. A "CLAIM" budget for April 2009 shows the EU is eligible for $206, which disregards the $44 increase. The $206 is then compared to the $311 pre-stimulus allotment to determine the overpayment of $105.
NOTE: If the ES ran a "TRIAL" budget for April 2009, it would show $250, which includes the $206 plus the $44 ARRA increase. The "CLAIM" budget for April 2009 would show the $206, which disregards the increase.
Continue to process claims for overpayment of Food Stamp benefits using the SELWIBCA screen. For additional information regarding establishing Food Stamp claims refer to CARS user guide REGISTERING A FOOD STAMP CLAIM DISCOVERY AND ESTABLISHING A CLAIM.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.