Staff must close the food stamp case and convert benefits when a participant moves out of state.  For combination cash and food stamp cases, there are situations in which the Temporary Assistance case will remain open.  In these instances, the converted food stamp benefits are mailed to the address shown on the open Temporary Assistance case.

To prevent converted food stamp benefits from being mailed to an incorrect address, staff must take the following actions.

PARTICIPANT MOVES OUT OF STATE

• If the participant has a Temporary Assistance case which cannot be closed until an IM-80 (Notice of Adverse Action) expires, do not convert the food stamp benefits.

 
• Close the food stamp case, using normal procedures, to prevent additional benefits from being issued.

 
• When the Temporary Assistance case is closed, convert the food stamp benefits using code "08" in the action field and "36" in the reason field of FSU5.

• If the participant is temporarily out of the state for no more than one month, food stamp benefits can be converted to coupons by Central Office, leaving the food stamp case open.

 
• If the participant is temporarily out of state for more than one month and the cash case will remain open, the food stamp case must be closed.  Benefits in the EBT account will be converted by Central Office.

 
• Fax the conversion request to the Food Stamp Program and Policy Unit in Central Office for all temporarily out of state situations.  The fax number is (573)522-4333.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

 
• Convert food stamp benefits in the EBT account to coupons after the Temporary Assistance case is closed.

 
• Fax conversion requests to Central Office when the Temporary Assistance case is not closed due to a temporary absence from the state.