MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce the new Food Stamp Mid-Certification Review (MCR) Report form (FA546). Effective with the September 2012 MCR mailing, the new form FA546 replaces the old version of the report, form FA545. A sample of the new report form is attached.

This memorandum discusses the following information regarding the new report:

• Ten Questions
• FAMIS Data
• FSD Information Center and Web Site
• Fair Hearing Request
• Food Stamp Manual, User Guide, and Question & Answers Revisions and Additions

Ten Questions

The Food Stamp Mid-Certification Review Report form (FA546) asks ten questions that must be answered by the EU. The questions are:

1. Are any household members no longer living with you?
2. Do you have any new household members?
3. Has anyone in your household changed, stopped, or started a job?
4. Has earned income for anyone in your household changed by more than $100 per month?
5. Has unearned income for anyone in your household changed by more than $50 per month?
6. Does your household have resources of more than $2000.00 ($3250.00 for elderly/disabled)?
7. Have you moved?
8. If you have moved since your initial application, what is your new rent, mortgage, and utilities?
9. Do you have any changes in child support that you are ordered to pay by the court?, and
10. Will any changes you listed be for more than one month?

Each question requires a "yes" or "no" answer.  If the EU answers "yes" additional information is requested.

FAMIS Data

The new FA546 is revised to display the existing information from the FAMIS system. For each question, as applicable, data from FAMIS is printed on the form for the EU to review.

• For question 1 "Are any household members no longer living with you?" all active EU members' names, relationships, and birth dates are listed on the review. The EU member completing the form can enter the date an existing EU member may have left the household.
• For question 2 "Do you have any new household members?" the EU member completing the form can enter information concerning new EU members.
• Existing earned income with the wage earners' name, the source of the income, and the monthly amount is listed under question 3 concerning starting, stopping, or changing a job, and again under question 4 concerning earned income that may have changed by more than $100. The EU member completing the form can add new employment, end existing employment, or enter the new amount of income being received.
• Existing unearned income with the EU members' name, source, and monthly amount is displayed under question 5. If there is no unearned income then "None Reported" is displayed.  The EU member may also add new unearned income or a new amount of unearned income.
• All resource data existing in FAMIS is displayed for the EU to review under question 6. If the resource is jointly owned, the expense will show for each EU member. The EU may update the amount of the resource or add any new resources they may have acquired.
• The physical address and/or mailing address that is in FAMIS are displayed under question 7 "Have you moved?" If there are any changes the EU member may make those changes or if the EU member has moved in with someone else, the review inquires about boarder status.
• The review does not list the shelter expenses on question 8. If the EU has moved since their initial application, expense information is requested. Expenses are listed by type and the EU completes the amount of the expense paid, who pays the expense, if electric or gas is used to heat or cool their home, and the date of the address change. Telephone numbers are also requested for home, cell, or message.
• Current child support payment information is listed under question 9. Any changes and additions can be made.

FSD Information Center and Web Site

The new FA546 does not include an eligibility specialists' name or telephone number.  The EU is referred to the Family Support Division Information (FSD INFO) Center for assistance or to ask questions.

The new FA546 informs EUs that they can manage their case online.  The EU may apply for benefits, review their benefits information, and report changes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week through the Family Support Division Program Enrollment web site at https://dssapp3.dss.mo.gov/fmwfamisweb/.

Fair Hearing Request

If the EU requests a fair hearing concerning the Food Stamp Mid-Certification Review Report form for the Food Stamp Program, see Income Maintenance Memorandum IM-65 dated October 26, 2011. It is important to send all Agency evidence to the Administrative Hearings Unit as soon as possible. Staff must not delay sending the evidence to the Administrative Hearings Unit.

Fair hearings due to the Food Stamp Mid-Certification Review Report may require the following evidence.

• FA-510 Adverse Action Notice

  NOTE: When a fair hearing is requested while an FA-510 adverse action is pending, the EU has the option to continue to receive the current level of benefits pending the hearing results.  If the EU chooses to continue receiving benefits at the current level, the pending adverse action is placed on hold (HOL).  To place an adverse action on hold due to a hearing request follow instructions found in User Guide Changing An Adverse Action Status.

• FA-150 Claimant Action Notice
• FA546 Food Stamp Mid-Certification Review Report form
• Comments Screens
• Manual sections/legal references
• Budget Summary (Food Stamps) (FM4A) screen for applicable months
• Detail screens of budget entries, as applicable:
  • Income Summary Detail (FM33)
  • Expense Summary (FM34)
  • Income (FMX0) screen
  • Income Amount (FMX3) screen
  • Shelter Expense (FMXK) screen
  • Utility Expense Standard (FMXJ) screen
  • Court Ordered Expense (FMXL) screen
  • Dependent Care Expenses (FMXM) screen
  • Medical Expense (FMXA) screen
• Financial Resource Detail Summary for applicable months if the change/closing is due to resources
• Details screens for resources, as applicable:
  • Liquid Resource (FMW0) screen
  • Prepaid Burial (FMW1) screen
  • Personal Property (FMW2) screen
  • Real Property (FMW4) screen
• Other screens as applicable for the change/closing
• Verifications

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

Provide a copy of the evidence to the EU asking for the hearing and their designated attorney or authorized representative. Staff must send a copy of all notices and evidence for the hearing to the EU and the designated individual.  Schedule a pre-hearing conference.  Advise the EU that the use of an agency conference is optional and that it shall in no way delay or replace the fair hearing process.  An agency conference may lead to an informal resolution of the dispute.  However, a fair hearing must still be held if the EU has requested one, unless the EU makes a written withdrawal of its request.

Please note that if verification of child support income was from a MACSS screen, the verification to support this should be requested from child support staff for the hearing. They can provide a print-out that contains the same information and the print-out can be presented as evidence. If you cannot get this information, contact Food Stamp Program and Policy Unit for assistance. Do not go to the hearing and state that the verification cannot be supplied because the screen cannot be printed; the Agency has access to this information.

NOTE: See MANUALLY CALCULATING A FOOD STAMP BUDGET to be prepared to testify if the fair hearing includes budgeting issues.

NOTE: See Income Maintenance Memorandum IM-47 dated June 1, 2012 when an agency action is rescinded.

Food Stamp Manual, User Guide, and Question & Answers Revisions and Additions

Food Stamp Manual sections 1140.040.00 and 1140.040.15 are revised to include the new form number and additional that additional expenses may be reported.  The FAMIS user guide, Completing a Temporary Assistance/MO HealthNet/Food Stamp Review in FAMIS is revised to include Food Stamps.

MCR Question & Answers is added to the Income Maintenance: Questions & Answers (Q&As) under Food Stamps on the Family Support Division intranet.  To access the information do the following.

• Go to the DSS Intranet page;
• click "Family Support Division";
• under "Programs", click Food Stamps;
• click "Questions & Answers" under the Quick Links heading on the right.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

ATTACHMENTS:

• Sample FA546

JM