MEMORANDUM

2012 Memorandums

IM-#50      06/11/12

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION
P.O. BOX 2320
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI
TO:
ALL COUNTY OFFICES
FROM:
ALYSON CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
FAMIS SAB AND BP MASS ADJUSTMENT
MANUAL REVISION #30
0415.005.00
0510.000.00
APPENDIX A: BP PRORATION CHART

DISCUSSION:

Effective July 1, 2012, the maximum grant for Supplemental Aid to the Blind (SAB) and Blind Pension (BP) increases from $707.00 to $711.00. A Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS) mass adjustment was completed the weekend of June 9, 2012.

This memorandum discusses the following:

EUS IN THE CONTROLLED FLOW

If an eligibility unit (EU) with existing SAB/BP income is in the FAMIS controlled flow, the SAB/BP grant amount will not be adjusted. These cases will appear on the "Cases Not Adjusted/Error" Report and will not be adjusted by the system until the controlled flow is completed.  Priority attention must be given to this listing as participant's SAB/BP grant amount will be incorrect beginning July 1, 2012.

When the case is taken through the flow a July 2012 budget and subsequent budget months must be entered, FAMIS will then calculate the deficiency or retroactive SAB/BP grant amount and issue those payments to the participant. To check for deficiency or retroactive SAB/BP payment issuance after the overnight batch process, view the Payment History (PAYHIST/FM5F) screen.

Deficiency (DEF) payments are issued if the month for which they are intended has passed; retroactive (RTO) payments are issued if the month for which they are intended is the current month.

EUS ON THE MANUAL CONVERSION LIST (MCL)

If an EU with existing SAB/BP income is on the MCL for MHABD, the grant increase will not be applied in Legacy. A listing of cases will be provided to counties who have cases on the MCL. Priority attention must be given to this listing as participant's SAB/BP grant amount will be incorrect beginning July 1, 2012.

When the case is converted to FAMIS and taken through the controlled flow, a July 2012 budget and subsequent budget months must be entered. FAMIS will then calculate the deficiency or retroactive SAB/BP grant amount and issue those payments to the participant.  To check for deficiency or retroactive SAB/BP payment issuance after the overnight batch process, view Payment History (PAYHIST/FM5F) screen.

Deficiency (DEF) payments are issued if the month for which they are intended has passed; retroactive (RTO) payments are issued if the month for which they are intended is the current month.

If the case has an active Income Source B1 BLIND PENSION or F1 SUPPLEMENTAL AID TO THE BLIND in FAMIS, that income will be updated. SAB/BP cases that have other types of assistance in FAMIS will be adjusted.

CONFLICT OF ACTIONS

FAMIS adjusts the income on EUs with a pending adverse action at the time of the mass adjustment.  This results in a conflict of actions because one adverse action must be completed or voided before an action can be taken. The eligibility specialist receives the alert "OUTSTANDING ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION". The conflict must be resolved by the eligibility specialist.

Access the Action Resolution (ACTRES/ FM5O) screen and void the pending adverse action.  Refer to the user guide Changing an Adverse Action Status for instructions.  After voiding the adverse action, access the Eligibility Determination Resolution (EDRES/ FM3Y) screen, run a new eligibility determination, and authorize the new adverse action.  FAMIS will produce an Adverse Action Notice (FA510) or a MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice (FA410) and take action when the notice has expired.

OTHER ACTIONS

For eligibility determinations completed on or before June 08 2012, FAMIS will use the previous SAB/BP grant amount for the budget months through June 2012. For eligibility determinations completed June 09, 2012 or after, FAMIS will use the previous SAB/BP grant amount for budget months through June 2012 and use the new SAB/BP grant amount for the month of July 2012 and ongoing.

FOOD STAMP SIMPLIFIED REPORTING EUS

The change in the SAB/BP grant is a change that must be acted upon for simplified reporting EUs for the Food Stamp Program.  All previously disregarded actions during the certification period will be included if the grant is adjusted during the mass adjustment.

Simplified reporting EUs with previously disregarded actions (action status DIS) are adjusted using all information known to FAMIS.  Simplified reporting EUs whose Food Stamp benefits are decreasing as a result of cumulative changes and the mass adjustment will have benefits decreased for the month of July 2012.  If there was a previously disregarded Adverse Action to Remove a Person (AARP), the adverse action will be re-generated as a result of the mass adjustment.  Do not disregard the action.

NOTICES

An Adverse Action Notice (FA510) is sent for Food Stamp cases with previously disregarded actions that are adjusted during the mass adjustment.

A Claimant Action Notice (FA150) is sent for the following types of cases during the mass adjustment, notifying them of the July 2012 change of benefits:

No action notice is being sent for Food Stamps, Family Healthcare or Temporary Assistance cases that result in no change (NOCH) in benefits due to the SAB/BP mass adjustment.

A MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice (FA410) will be sent for Family Healthcare cases that result in a change in benefits due to the SAB/BP adjustment.  A MO HealthNet Action Notice (FA450) will be sent once the adverse action notice expires.

An Adult MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice (FA420) will be sent for Adult MO HealthNet cases that result in a change in benefits due to the SAB/BP adjustment.  An Adult MO HealthNet Benefit Notice (FA460) will be sent once the adverse action notice expires.

ERROR REPORT

Active SAB/BP cases that are not shown as income in FAMIS prior to the mass adjustment will not be added during the mass adjustment.

FAMIS will generate reports in the Managed Reporting system listing active EUs that are not adjusted.  Each eligibility specialist must access the report for his/her primary caseload.  To review the reports:

The error reason is included for each EU member on the report.

FAIR HEARING REQUEST

If the EU requests a fair hearing, send the request to the Hearings Unit the same day. It is important to send all Agency evidence to the Hearings Unit as soon as possible.  All available evidence should be sent to the Hearings Unit with the original request for hearing within 24 hours.  Do not wait until a few days before the hearing to send the evidence.

For budget adjustments or closings, evidence includes, but is not limited to:

NOTE:  If taking actions on cumulative changes, it is necessary to include notices and budgets from previous actions.

Provide a copy of the evidence to the EU asking for the hearing, and their legal representative and schedule a pre-hearing conference.  If the EU designates an attorney or authorized representative for the hearing, send a copy of all notices and evidence for the hearing to the EU and the designated individual.

Please note that if verification of child support income was from a Missouri Automated Child Support System (MACSS) screen, the verification should be requested from child support staff for the hearing. They can provide a print-out that contains the same information that can be presented as evidence. If the local office cannot get this information, contact the Program and Policy Unit for assistance. Do not go to hearing and state that the verification cannot be supplied because the screen cannot be printed, as the FSD has access to this information.

NECESSARY ACTION:

HA

2012 Memorandums