MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Effective January 1, 2016, all Missouri Food Stamp recipients ages 18-49 who do not have a child under the age of 18; are not disabled; are not pregnant; and are not needed in the home of an incapacitated household member are subject to Training/Work Requirements.  Training/Work requirement information is collected on the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen in FAMIS and should not be confused with the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen.

This memorandum outlines the following policy changes:

• What are Able Bodied Adults without Dependents
• How to meet Training/Work Requirement;
• EU members exempt from Training/Work Requirement;
• FAMIS changes;
• FAMIS entries;
• MCR revision;
• Fair hearing request

What are Able Bodied Adult without Dependents

Able bodied adults without dependents age 18 through 49 (ABAWDs) are defined as individuals who:

• Are not in a Food Stamp Eligibility Unit (EU) with a child under the age of 18, even if that child is not eligible for Food Stamps;
• Are not pregnant (any trimester); and
• Are physically and/or mentally able to work.

When an EU member turns 18 years old during the certification period, the individual becomes subject to the training/work requirement the month following the month in which the individual turns 18. EU members are exempt from training/work requirements the month that they turn 50 years old. This information is required to be acted upon.

How to meet Training/Work Requirement

An EU member Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) age 18 through 49 years old who is an must:

• Work 80 hours per month; or
• Participate in and comply with the requirements of a program under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) or the Trade Act of 1974 for 80 hours per calendar month; or
• Perform any combination of working and participating in WIA or the Trade Act at least 80 hours per calendar month; or
• Attend ABE at least 80 hours per calendar month.

EU members exempt from Training/Work Requirement

The following individuals are exempt from the 18 through 49 year old training/work requirement:

• An individual determined to be disabled;
• An individual who is pregnant in any trimester; and
• Any individual residing in an EU with a child under the age of 18, even if the EU member under 18 is not eligible for Food Stamps is exempt from meeting Training/Work Requirement.

FAMIS changes

FAMIS identifies EU members who must meet training/work requirement and tracks non-work months by the information entered on the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen. FAMIS system changes are completed to allow only 3 non-work months in a 36 month period for those individuals who do not meet training/work requirement. The Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen will be part of the controlled flow beginning October 18th, 2015.

Beginning in March 2016, FAMIS will identify any EU member who has used all 3 non-work months and remove those individuals beginning in April 2016. A system generated FA-510, Adverse Action Notice, advising the EU of a benefit reduction or case closing effective April 2016 will be sent to each EU in March 2016. An FA-150, Action Notice will be sent when the FA-510 expires and action is taken.

FAMIS entries

ABAWDs who do not meet the training/work requirement are eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits for 3 non-work months in a 36 month fixed period (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018). Non-work months are tracked on the Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screen in FAMIS. Enter non-work months in the MMYYYY format.

The first information that must be entered is the training/work requirement code. The code tells FAMIS whether the individual is meeting the training/work requirement.

• 01 – zero (0) hours worked/no employment
• 02 – 80 hrs not met
• 03 – training/work to equal/exceed 80 hours
• 50 – no longer identified as an ABAWD (child in EU)

Entry of codes 01 and 02 require entry of non-work months in the lower portion of the screen. Failure to enter non-work months when codes 01 and 02 are entered will result in an ISD on technical eligibility.

Insufficient Data entries in FAMIS:

An ISD (insufficient data) appears on the Supercase Eligibility Unit Summary (FM30) screen when any action is taken on a case that contains an EU member subject to training/work requirement and non-work months have not been entered. Staff must enter non-work months if applicable to clear the ISD. If the individual is not subject to training/work requirement because s/he is exempt from work registration, codes on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) and/or Training/Work Requirements (FMMR) screens must be updated.

The alert “OUTSTANDING ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION” appears on the Alert/Reminder List (FM7M) screen to remind staff to take action to clear the ISD to take any action on the Food Stamp case. It is important for staff to review their alerts and take any actions necessary to clear the ISD.

MCR revision

The Food Stamp Mid Certification Review Report Form (FA-546) is revised to include a question pertaining to training/work requirement. The question is:

• Have you or a member of your household age 18 through 49 worked or participated in a training program for less than 80 hours per calendar month?

The question requires a “yes” or “no”. If the EU answers “yes” additional information is requested.

Fair hearing requests

If the EU requests a fair hearing for the Food Stamp Program, see Income Maintenance Memorandum IM-65 dated October 26, 2011 for procedures for processing the hearing request. It is important to send all Agency evidence to the Hearings Unit as soon as possible but within 10 calendar days of the date of the Application for State Hearing.

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff
• Review all manual changes
• Begin discussing training and work requirements with all customers at each point of contact (at application, recertification, mid-certification, change report, etcetera)

JG/mw