We thank staff from Adair, Boone, Buchanan, Dent, Gasconade, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Ozark, Pike, St. Charles, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Taney, Vernon and Wayne counties who participated in the IM-102 form pilot.  Your feedback provided valuable information for completion of this project.

BUDGET COLUMNS

In our effort to reduce duplication of information, we recommended removing the budget columns on the Food Stamp Worksheet.  Feedback from staff is that completion of the columns is helpful for accuracy in data entry particularly when interruptions occur.  Therefore, the columns are included on the revised worksheet.  Completion of the budget columns is optional.

The goal in making use of the columns optional is to support staff's movement toward computer based processing of food stamp applications.  All levels of staff are encouraged to support elimination of entries in the budget columns which are subsequently repeated by making the same entry in FBCA.

ANTICIPATING INCOME

A new section entitled "Anticipating Income" is added to the form.  The purpose of this section is to provide readily available guidance to staff as earned income budgeting decisions are made.  Review this information on every application containing earned income.

This guidance, along with the questions outlined in the earned income section on page 3, support staff's analysis of earned income.  Staff are not to merely list all available wage information in the columns on page 3.  Staff are to evaluate all wage information and determine which wage information provides the best projection of income for the certification period.  The goal is to achieve improved payment accuracy in budgeting earned income.

OTHER CHANGES

Other changes to the IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet include:

• IMNL references.  Manual references have been included to assist staff with eligibility issues.

 
• A "yes" or "no" response is required for much of the information on this form.  Providing pre-printed selections to capture responses streamlines the application process.

 
• Recording in the "Resource Verification" section has been changed to include a "N/A" block to check for categorically eligible households.  This section is completed using information provided by the applicants on their application.  If it is necessary to verify their statements, enter the results of the verification in the resource area.

 
• New sections added are Social Security Number, Voter Registration, Reference, Management, and Child Support For Non-Household Members.  The intent of the new sections is to aid staff in recording and serve as a guide to correct determination of eligibility.

 
• At the suggestion of staff, we have included the student income budgeting in the Student Eligibility section on page 2.  Completion of the budget portion in this area is optional.

 
• Page 4 now includes a child support section for support paid to non-household members, a dependent care expense section and a section for shelter expense verification.

The form instructions for the IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet are revised.  The IMNL references are included to assist staff in locating policy for a point of eligibility.  Use of the letter "F" in the instructions indicates a form entry is required.  Use of the letter "C" in the instructions indicates a computer entry is required.  If both "C" and "F" appear, completion of both actions is required.

ORDERING A SUPPLY OF THE IM-102 FOOD STAMP WORKSHEET

The revised IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet is being printed and the supply will be sent to the warehouse.  Order the new IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet from the warehouse using normal procedures.  Upon receipt of a supply of the IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet with a revision date of 03/99, destroy all copies and instructions for the IM-102, Food Stamp Worksheet (A) dated 06/97, the IM-102 FBCA Worksheet dated 12/97, and all pilot versions of the IM-102 and FBCA.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

 
• Review the attached IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet and instructions.

 
• Order the new IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet dated 03/99 from the warehouse using normal procedures.  Upon receipt, begin using the revised IM-102 form.

 
• Destroy all copies and instructions for the IM-102, Food Stamp Worksheet (A) dated 06/97 and the FBCA Worksheet dated 12/97.

 
• Destroy all pilot versions of the IM-102 and FBCA.

 
• File the revised IM-102 Food Stamp Worksheet and instructions in the forms manual.