MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Due to the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, many families and individuals were approved for Disaster Food Assistance.  Households cannot receive both Disaster Food Assistance and the Food Stamp Program in May or through June 20, 2011.  Households can start receiving regular Food Stamp benefits beginning June 21, 2011.

Disaster Food Assistance benefits are listed on the Pay History (FM5F/PAYHIST) screen as Payroll Type DSI and cover the period of time from May 22 to June 20.  To ensure there is no duplicate participation, if an EU applies for the regular Food Stamp Program in June 2011, and received Disaster Food Assistance, record that the EU received benefits out of state on the Received Out of State for FS (FMMW/RECOUTST) screen:

• Enter Y in the (Y/N) field for each EU member who received Disaster Food Assistance;
• enter “062011” in the “Last Recd” field,
• enter any valid state in the “St” field, and
• enter “HC” in the verification field.

This will cause the June 2011 eligibility determination to fail for reason DPA - PERSON ALREADY RECEIVED BENEFITS.  Enter a comment that the Out Of State entries were made to allow issuance of prorated benefits when Disaster Food Stamps had been approved for the same month.

To issue benefits effective June 21, 2011, go to the Select Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area screen (SELWIBCA/FMXH) and prompt for the correct Food Stamp EU.  Press F14=ADDWIBCA and enter the following:

• “Budget Month” 062011
• “Prorate Date” 06212011
• “Appr Date”  06212011
• “Budget Type” SUP

The rest of the WIBCA screen is completed the same as any other WIBCA, using EU composition and income and expense information for 062011.  (NOTE: remember that WIBCA does not convert any periodic income amounts.  You must convert income manually and enter the result as the actual amount on the WIBCA screen).  The WIBCA requires supervisory approval.  The supervisor will press enter, and press F23=AUTH to authorize the benefit.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Use this process until notified that the issue has been resolved.

RT/MRT