MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to inform staff of a new income and resource disregard due to the Strengthening Missouri Families Act (Senate Bill 24, 2015).

To help Temporary Assistance (TA) participants transition from assistance, a temporary disregard of all income and resources of a new spouse now occurs when they marry an active Temporary Assistance (TA) recipient.

This disregard is available for six (6) consecutive months the TA participant receives a TA benefit and is:

• Allowed once-in-a-lifetime for the TA recipient that marries, and
• Applied to both parents in a two parent household that marry, if both are active TA recipients on the marriage date.

Verification of the marriage is required before this disregard will be applied, and is only allowable for marriages occurring on or after August 28, 2015.

The head of household (HOH) must be actively receiving TA prior to the date of marriage date. This is only applied to the first marriage that occurs while receiving TA on or after August 28, 2015.

• If the TA recipient marries another individual after receiving this disregard, the TA recipient is not eligible for this disregard again.
• If the TA recipient has received the benefit of the new spouse disregard for less than the 6 months, and is still married to the same individual, the remaining months are available for use until six months of the disregard is received.

Example: Wendy marries Jim on February 14, 2016 and they have no children together. Jim earns enough money to close the TA case.  Wendy notifies FSD of the marriage on February 22nd. FSD adds Jim to her case on February 26th.  The first month any impact could occur to Wendy’s case due to marriage is April 2016. Jim’s income and resources will be disregarded from her TA benefit case from April 2016 through September 2016. Wendy could never receive this disregard again, but Jim could if he is on TA and remarries.

“Consecutive Months” Example: Bob receives TA and has one child. Michelle works part-time. He reports to FSD that he and Michelle were married on May 1, 2016. The first month any impact to Bob’s TA case would occur is June 2016. Michelle’s income will be disregarded beginning June 2016. Bob’s TA case closes effective September 2016. He reapplies and is approved in November 2016. The total disregarded months are as follows:

1. June 2016
2. July 2016
3. August 2016
4. November 2016
5. December 2016
6. January 2017

“Two Parent” Example: Sarah and Gary live together, have two children and receive TA as a two-parent household.  They get married March 7, 2016, and report this to FSD on March 21st. The first month any impact would occur to their TA case due to marriage is May 2016. Even though neither currently has any income, the disregard begins May 2016 and continues through October 2016.   Both Sarah and Gary will not have the benefit of this disregard again.

“Untimely Report” Example: John receives TA and has one child. He has been living with his girlfriend Linda for two years. Linda works part-time. John and Linda were married on September 24th. When John completes the TA annual review form in January 2016, he reports he and Linda were married four months earlier. The first month any impact would occur was November 2016. Linda’s income will be disregarded beginning November 2015 through April 2016. John will not have the benefit of this disregard again, but Linda could if she is on TA and remarries.

FAMIS UPDATES

For single parent households:

• Determine if the new spouse is already known to FAMIS using the Supercase Member Clearance (SCMBR/FM0E) screen, and establish relationships;
• Update the marital status relationship on FM0E/SCMBR;
• Go to FM0G/REQUEST and do an add-a-person application,

For existing 2-parent households:

• Update the relationship status from NRP to SPO on FMA4/RELATION
• Update the marital status relationship on FM0E/SCMBR

Send an email message to FSD.COLETAPOLICY@DSS.MO.GOV , with the following information:

• Subject Line: New Spouse Disregard;
• Provide the TA HOH name and DCN; and
• Provide the marriage date

TA Program & Policy staff will make appropriate entries when FAMIS updates are available. These updates will be in FAMIS on or before September 30th. Staff will be notified at that time regarding appropriate entries for this disregard ongoing.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
• Notify the TA Program and Policy Unit of any cases addressed in this memo.

JG/jkh