MEMORANDUM

2017 Memorandums

IM-#064; 06/09/2017

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION
PO BOX 2320
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI
TO:
ALL FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICES
FROM:
PATRICK LUEBBERING, ACTING DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
DISASTER FOOD ASSISTANCE

DISCUSSION:

On June 2, 2017, President Trump declared 27 counties in Missouri including: Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Howell, Jasper, Jefferson, Madison, Maries, McDonald, , Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Shannon, Stone, Taney, and Texas, to be major disaster areas due to the severe flooding. Missouri has been given approval to run a Disaster Food Assistance program in those 27 counties in Missouri.

This memorandum addresses:

 

DISASTER FOOD ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS

To apply for the Disaster Food Assistance program, households must complete a Disaster application. This is a separate application from the regular Food Stamp Program. These applications are available at the local FSD Resource Centers located in the 27 declared counties, or by contacting the Food Stamp Program and Policy Unit at 573-751-3178.

Benefit Period/Disaster Period

The benefit period is the period of time a benefit is intended to cover. The benefit period for the Flood disaster is May 1, 2017 – May 30, 2017. For purposes of this memorandum, the benefit period is also called the disaster period.

Application period

The application period is the periods of time applications for Disaster Food Assistance are accepted. The application period for the Flood disaster is June 12, 2017 – June 16, 2017. Applications will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

Applications for Disaster Food Assistance must be processed and the benefits available in 3 calendar days.

Disaster Area

The disaster area is the area in which the disaster occurred and Disaster Food Assistance was declared. The declared disaster areas are Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Howell, Jasper, Jefferson, Madison, Maries, McDonald, , Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Shannon, Stone, Taney, and Texas.

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligibility for Disaster Food Assistance is determined by:

NOTE: Verification of identity is mandatory. A Disaster Food Assistance application cannot be approved until identity is verified.

No other eligibility criteria apply to the Disaster Food Assistance Program, such as student criteria, work requirements, sanctions or disqualifications, noncitizen status, etc.

Disaster Criteria

To be eligible for Disaster Food Assistance, a household must meet one of the following criteria:

Net (take-home) Pay

The actual net income received during the Disaster period is counted. Do not use gross income, but ask the amount of income they actually brought home during the Disaster period, May 1, 2017 – May 30, 2017.

Accessible Liquid Resources

Only liquid resources that are readily accessible are counted. This includes cash on hand, and funds in accessible checking and saving accounts. Do not count savings bonds, stocks, or CDs, installment or sales contracts, or notes receivables/deeds that are not readily accessible. Exclude from resources disaster insurance payments, or disaster assistance received or expected to be received during the benefit period, and payments from Federal, state or county/local government agencies or disaster assistance organizations.

Household Composition

A household consists of persons living and eating together prior to the Flood on May 1, 2017. The household does not include individuals with whom the applicants are temporarily staying during the disaster.

Using Disaster Standard Expense Deduction for Disaster Related Expenses

Disaster related expenses are expenses that the household has paid out-of-pocket or incurred during the disaster period. If the household has received a reimbursement for these expenses during the disaster period, only the net expense is counted.

EXAMPLE: A household has an expense of $1000 but is going to be reimbursed $750 within the 30 day period. The net $250 expense qualifies as a disaster related expense and would be eligible for the Disaster Standard Expense Deduction based on the EU size.

$2000 + $250 = $2250 - $1622 = $628.00

The disaster gross income limit for a household of 5 is $2787, so this household qualifies for a disaster benefit of $771.

 

VERIFICATION

Identity

Verification of identity is mandatory. A Disaster Food Assistance application cannot be approved until identity is verified. Identity may be verified through one of the following sources:

A collateral contact statement will be provided to households who have no other sources of identification.

Other Verification

When possible, verify residency in the disaster area. If it is not possible to verify, do not hold the Disaster Food Assistance application.

Verify household composition only if questionable.

A blank IM-31A form is being provided for staff to write in the information that the household needs to provide so staff can complete the Disaster Food Assistance application.

 

PROCESSING DISASTER FOOD ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS

A paper Disaster Food Assistance Application is completed by the household. If the household is not active and not in application status, enter the information in FAMIS on the Supercase Member Clearance (FM0E), Application Request (FM0G), and Application Detail (FM0E) screens the same as any application for Food Stamp benefits.

Flow forward to the EU Member Role (FM3Z) screen and confirm the household members if all verification requested is received. If verification is still needed, do not confirm the household members.

During the period of time Disaster Food Assistance benefits can be authorized, the F15=DISWIBCA prompt appears at the bottom of the Select Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area (FMXH) screen.

NOTE: If the household is also applying for regular Food Stamp benefits, go to the Select Worker Initiated Budget Calculation Area (FMXH) screen anytime during the controlled flow.

From any screen in FAMIS, type SELWIBCA or FMXH on the command line and press enter.


2017 Memorandums