MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Effective immediately the use or disclosure of information obtained from Food Stamp applicants or eligibility units, exclusively for the Food Stamp Program, is restricted to the persons indicated in the Food Stamp Manual section 1100.015.00 DISCLOSURE, even with a signed release.

Information available to the EU

With a written request and proof of ID, information in the case file can be copied and given to any responsible member of the EU, its current authorized representative, or a person acting on its behalf to review material and information contained in the case file. Material and information contained in the case file should be made available for inspection during normal business hours. However, the agency may withhold confidential information, such as the names of individuals who have disclosed information about the EU without the household’s knowledge, or the nature or status of pending criminal prosecutions.

If an individual leaves the EU, he or she is only entitled to copies of information that contains his/her information.

EXAMPLE: Mother and father are active on an EU together with their children. The mother leaves the EU. She can get copies of information for the time period she was in the EU, but cannot receive copies of information after the date she left the EU.

Printouts in the case file such as IMES, IIVE, SAVE, etc., are part of the case file, and therefore this information can be shared with the EU. This information, however, cannot be released to other persons outside the EU even with a signed request from the EU.

Special care must be taken when dealing with medical information. Refer to section 0130.005.10 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Information not available to the EU

Information from IBTH, IDTH, and IIRS should never be printed and should not be contained in the case file. This information is not available to the EU or any one else.

Information not available persons outside the EU

A Food Stamp Disclosure hand-out has been prepared for reference of the only times information obtained from Food Stamp applicants or eligibility units, exclusively for the Food Stamp Program, can be given to anyone except a member of the EU. This information is also available in the Food Stamp Manual section 1100.015.00 DISCLOSURE. No information can be given to anyone else outside the EU, even with a signed release.

The following are some examples of situations when Food Stamp information will not be released:

• Law enforcement finds an EBT card at the scene of a possible shop lifting crime. No information can be released to law enforcement regarding the owner of the card.
• Location of the use of the EBT card cannot be released to assist in location of a missing person, or person of interest in a criminal investigation unless law enforcement is investigating Food Stamp fraud.
• The EU signs a release of information for a local charity to receive income information. No information can be released directly to the charity, or any third party, even with a signed release.

The members of the eligibility unit may view their own file, and may request copies of information, which they can provide directly to whomever they choose.

Food Stamp Manual section 1100.015.00 Disclosure has been updated and 1100.015.02 Information Available to the EU has been added. The Food Stamp Disclosure hand-out is available on the FSD Intranet under Other Food Stamp Charts.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

SW/NEY