MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Effective November 9, 2009, enter all Temporary Assistance (TA) claims in the Discovery tracking system. The TA claims process is similar to the Food Stamp claims process and uses the same screens in the Discovery tracking system.

This memorandum makes the claims process for TA as described in IM-#62 (06-08-05) obsolete. Demand letters generated by the system replaces the process of workers manually sending Adverse Action (IM-80) notices for TA claims. FAMIS continues to interface with CARS and recoupment continues to be automatic based on the information entered.

The following memorandums outline screens and procedures for entering Food Stamp claims into the Discovery tracking system, and how a claim is processed in the Discovery system. These procedures and screens are used for TA claims, with differences outlined in the CARS User Guides, referenced below.

• IM-144 08/03/01 FOOD STAMP CLAIM PROCEDURES
  This memorandum explains Food Stamp procedures for entering a claim using the Discovery system.
• IM-146 08/03/01 FOOD STAMP CLAIM POLICY REVISION
  This memorandum explains Food Stamp policy for entering a claim.
• IM-147 08/03/01 CARS DEMAND LETTER POLICY
  This memorandum explains CARS Demand letter policy for Food Stamps.
• IM-151 08/08/01 CARS SCREENS
  This memorandum explains new screens that were developed to support the revised Food Stamp claims policy and procedures.

The Discovery tracking system tracks possible overpayments and is used to:

• register the discovery claim referral;
• establish the period of overpayment;
• compute the amount of the overpayment;
• establish the claim;
• attach the responsible members to the claim;
• issue a demand letter, which moves the claim from the discovery tracking system to the Claims Accounting and Restitution System (CARS) at such time; and
• reject a claim referral.

The CARS system includes:

• entering a hearing request, if requested;
• tracking collections; and
• changing the debtor’s information.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TA AND FS CLAIMS

• Responsible members: TA responsible members are the head of the household and spouse or second parent (if not married) when in the eligibility unit (EU) at the time the overpayment occurred. For a TA claim, the responsible member must manually be added. There is not a list on the Member Add (OVBA) screen to choose a member. At this time recoupment is only processed for the head of the household.
• Threshold: TA does not have a threshold. Restitution and recovery is required when it is determined that a participant has received TA benefits to which s/he was not entitled
• Recovery Restrictions (Time Limits): There are no time limits for TA cases. Recovery will be attempted on any overpayment. However, the Discovery/CARS system only allows entry for the previous 108 months. When there is a claim for more than 108 months, contact the Temporary Assistance Program and Policy unit for further instructions.
• Underpayments: Offset the overpayment with any outstanding underpayment for TA.
• Work Expense/Disregards: Do not apply the earned income disregards to that part of any earned income that the EU failed to report in a timely manner when that is the basis for the claim. Earned income disregards include Standard Work Expense, Child/Incapacitated Parent Care Cost, $30 plus 1/3 Disregard, $30 Disregard and Two-Thirds Disregard.
• Recoupment:
  • FAMIS is currently recouping from multiple TA cases for the head-of-household.
  • FAMIS automatically recoups the following amounts from TA cases, whether an agreement is completed and signed or not:

    Eligibility Unit	Amount of Reduction
    1	$12
    2	21
    3	27
    4	32
    5	36
    6	40
    7	44
    8	48
    9	52
    10	55
    11 or more	add $4 for each additional person

    NOTE: The amount of reduction cannot exceed the amount of the grant. For grants less than the amount of reduction, shown in the table, the system recoups the total amount of the grant the participant is eligible to receive until the entire amount is recouped.

• Restored and Expunged Benefits: A TA claim is not automatically reduced by restored or expunged benefits.  This process is being reviewed as a future enhancement.
• Compromising Claims: Compromise means reduce a claim amount.  A TA claim can be compromised only by the Welfare Investigation Unit (WIU) or by a judicial determination. 
• Terminating a Claim: A TA claim can be terminated when the claim is paid in full, the claim was entered in error, or with a hearing decision reversal.

TA CLAIMS MANUAL

The TA claims section is added to the online Temporary Assistance manual. This replaces Chapter X Section V Claims and Recovery.

USER GUIDES

The following CARS User Guides are revised to include TA claim procedures:

• Changing or Reviewing Claim Information Before the Claim is Established;
• Deleting Moved Claim Information;
• Entering and Tracking Fair Hearing Requests in CARS;
• Entering Repayment Agreements and Processing Payments in the Claims Accounting and Restitution System (CARS);
• Printing A CARS-3 Demand Letter;
• Reducing or Increasing the Amount of an Established Claim;
• Registering a Discovery Claim Referral and Establishing a Claim;
• Rejecting a Discovery Claim Referral; and
• Terminating or Closing a Claim.

MO HealthNet Claims

The MEDICAID field that was included on the OVCA – Claim Add screen in CARS when a TA claim was entered to indicate a possible MO HealthNet claim is not included in the Discovery system. Therefore, if a TA claim is entered for an individual and there is a potential MO HealthNet claim, the MO HealthNet claim must be entered separately in CARS claim tracking system on the OVCA – Claim Add screen.

If you do not know the amount of the Medicaid loss, leave the amount of the claim blank. Complete the MEDICAID field to indicate the nature of the loss, 10 – potential loss for everyone in the case, or 20 – potential loss for one or more, but not all individuals.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Effective November 9, 2009 begin entering TA claims in the Discovery system.

CSR