- TO:
- ALL COUNTY OFFICES
- FROM:
- ALYSON CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- NOVEMBER FOOD STAMP MASS ADJUSTMENT
- FOOD STAMP MANUAL REVISION #38
DISCUSSION:
Effective November 1, 2013 all Food Stamp allotments will decrease. The reason for the decrease is because the section of the federal law, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), increasing Food Stamps benefits will end October 31, 2013. ARRA and the Food Stamp benefit increase was originally introduced in IM Memorandum IM-#16, dated March 13, 2009. The adjustment to Food Stamp allotments for November was completed during the October mass adjustment the weekend of September 7, 2013.
This memorandum addresses the following issues related to the adjustment:
Update Process
The Food Stamp Budget Summary (FSBUDSUM/FM4A) screen and Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area – WIBCA (FMXN) were updated with the new amounts for November 2013 budgets on September 7, 2013.
After the eligibility determination was run during the adjustment, the following actions on active Food Stamp cases may be displayed in FAMIS on the EU Action Log (EULOG/FM40) screen, depending on the action taken during the adjustment:
| Action | EU Log (FM40) Displays | Date | Benefit Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase | INCR | 09/07/13 | 112013 |
| No Change | NOCH | 09/07/13 | 112013 |
| Decrease | REDU | 09/07/13 | 112013 |
| Closing | CLOS | 09/07/13 | 112013 |
NOTE: In some cases you will see the action INCR for both October and November adjustments, even though benefits are decreasing for November. This is because the system is looking at what the individual received for September. If September benefits are less than the adjusted amount both October and November show an increase.
The reason field on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen displays FSA – Food Stamp ARRA Increase Ending (system) for this adjustment. To inquire why an action is taken do the following:
- On the EU Action Log (EULOG/FM40), select the action, and press F17=INQAUTH.
- The Action Authorization (FM3H) screen appears. Press F19=REASON.
- The reason code and the code description appear.
After payroll closing the Payment History (PAYHIST/FM5F) screen displays the appropriate allotment for each EU.
Notices
EUs that received a FA-510 Adverse Action Notice for October, will receive a FA-150 when the FA-510 expires. These FA-150s will be dated September 23, 2013.
EUs with cases that have an allotment decrease, increase or closing will have a November adjustment paragraph on the FA-150 Claimant Notice they received with the October adjustment. The notices are dated September 26, 2013. The FA-150 informs the EU of the following:
- Their Food Stamp allotment for October and November.
EUs with no change in their allotment amounts will not receive a notice. The Action Notice (FA-150) for EUs with no changes will be suppressed.
Staff may view the notices on the Document Queue (DOCQUE/FMVM) screen in FAMIS.
Fair Hearing Request
If a hearing is requested due solely to the federal law change reducing Food Stamp benefit allotments, complete the fair hearing request and forward to the Hearings Unit the same day. The hearings officer will dismiss the hearing request and send a notice to the Food Stamp recipient. A separate memorandum is being issued regarding these hearing requests.
If the EU requests a fair hearing for the Food Stamp Program based on the belief that there was a mistake or misapplication of rules, forward the request to the Hearings Unit the same day as the request is received. 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 with 24 hours. Do not wait until a few days before the hearing to send the 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 Action Notice
- Comment 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 IFMXK) screen
- Court Ordered Expense (FMXL) screen
- Dependent Care Expense (FMXM) screen
- Medical Expense (FMXA) screen
- Financial Resource Detail Summary for applicable months if the change/closing is due to resources
- Detail 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 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.
Manual Revisions
The Food Stamp Manual is revised online. The revisions include:
- Updating the Maximum Allowable Monthly Income Limits and Allotment table (section 1115.099.00)
- Updating the minimum allotment for categorically eligible EUs (section 1130.035.05)
The following information is revised on the Intranet:
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
AC/ks