MEMORANDUM

2015 Memorandums

IM-#89      09/23/15

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION
P.O. BOX 2320
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI
TO:
ALL FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICES
FROM:
JULIE GIBSON, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
OCTOBER FOOD STAMP MASS ADJUSTMENT
FOOD STAMP MANUAL REVISION #41
1105.015.04.05
1115.035.05
1115.035.25
1115.035.25.15
1115.099.00
1135.010.07.05

DISCUSSION:

The October Food Stamp mass adjustment occurred on September 12, 2015. This memorandum addresses the following issues related to the mass adjustment:

Updates to the Maximums, Utility Standards, and Deductions

The following updates were made during the mass adjustment:

Allotments

No Change

Standard Deduction

1 – 3 members          $155

4 members               $168

5 members              $197

6+ members           $226

Utility Standards

 SUA                       $316

 NHCS                     $235

LUA                       $ 54

TELEPHONE          $ 50

Excess Shelter Deduction

$504

Gross (130%) Maximum

Decreased

Net (100%) Maximum

Increased

FPL (165%) Maximum*

Decreased

*These maximums are used to determine if an EU whose members are elderly, live with others, and are unable to purchase and prepare food due to a disability, are eligible as separate EUs for Food Stamp benefits. The Food Stamp Manual section 1105.015.04.05 is updated with the new chart.

Update Process

The Food Stamp Budget Summary (FM4A) screen and Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area – WIBCA (FMXN) are updated with the new amounts for October 2015 budgets effective September 12, 2015.

After the eligibility determination is run during the mass adjustment, the following actions on active Food Stamp cases may be displayed in FAMIS, depending on the action taken during the mass adjustment:

Action EU Log (FM40) Displays Date Benefit Month

Increase

INCR

09/12/15

102015

No Change

NOCH

09/12/15

102015

Reduction

REDU

09/12/15

102015

The reason field on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen displays TUA – Table Update Adjustment (system) for the mass adjustment. To inquire why an action is taken, on the EU Action Log (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 (FM5F) screen displays the appropriate allotment for each EU.

Decrease Benefits or Case Closings

EUs with cases that have an allotment decrease or their case is closing will receive an FA-150 Claimant Action Notice.

Conflict of Actions

FAMIS adjusts active Food Stamp cases during the mass adjustment even if the case has a pending adverse action. A conflict of action is created if there is a pending adverse action when the mass adjustment is completed. The alert “Adverse Action Needs Resolving” is sent to the eligibility specialist. The eligibility specialist voids the adverse action and process the mass adjustment adverse action following these steps:

  1. Void the first (pending) adverse action on the Action Resolution (FM50 or ACTRES) screen.
  2. Complete the eligibility determination on the Eligibility Determination Resolution screen (FM3Y or EDRES).
  3. Authorize the new action, even if the action is a benefit reduction or closing.

Refer to FAMIS user guide Changing An Adverse Action Status for instructions.

Cases Not Adjusted

Pending applications and cases with pending changes cannot be adjusted during the mass adjustment and require the eligibility specialist to take action. When the eligibility specialist completes the appropriate action, the case will be automatically adjusted. The following are examples of cases not adjusted:

Notices

All EUs with an allotment that increases are sent an FA-150 Action Notice. The notices are dated September 21, 2015 to allow for mail processing. The notice informs EU of the following:

Staff may view the notices on the Document Queue (FMVM) screen in FAMIS.

Fair Hearing Request

If the EU requests a fair hearing for the Food Stamp Program the Agency needs to:

  1. Fax the request to the Hearings Unit the same day as the request is received.
  2. Send all Agency evidence to the Hearings Unit as soon as possible.
    1. Hearing exhibits should be sent as soon as possible. Do not wait until a few days before the hearing to send the exhibits.
  3. Send the action notice to the Hearings Unit with the original request for hearing within 24 hours.

Manual Revisions

The Food Stamp Manual is revised online. The revisions include:

The following information is revised on the Intranet:

NECESSARY ACTION:

JG/ks


2015 Memorandums