Attached is a report entitled "Out-of-State
Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance EBT Activity Report". This report
is sorted by county and load number. The report shows food stamp/cash
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) activity that occurred outside Missouri.
The report includes the DCN and head of household, the state in which the
transaction occurred, the type, date and amount of the transaction, and
the retailer terminal ID number. The criteria for a transaction to
appear on this report is:
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food stamps: more than three transactions
in a month OR one transaction in at least two consecutive months;
-
cash: more than one transaction in a
month OR one transaction in at least two consecutive months.
For a period of time, staff will contact participants
to determine their reason for using food stamp/cash benefits in another
state. The information gathered will assist Program and Policy in
developing EBT policy for the Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance Programs.
Upon receipt of this memorandum and report,
take the following action:
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Review the information for each DCN provided
on the report.
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Review the case record to determine if the
participant reported a move or a temporary absence from the state.
-
Complete a PADX inquiry for participants conducting
EBT transactions in states that are included in the PADX system.
These states are Iowa, Kansas and Illinois.
-
Contact the participant to verify the reason
the EBT card was used out of state.
-
If unable to contact the participant, contact
the state in which the EBT activity occurred to verify if the participant
moved to that state and applied for benefits.
NOTE: Additional information
about the transaction can be obtained through the Transaction History,
Transaction Summary, and History Detail screens in MOP.
-
Using the codes listed below, record on the
"Out-of-State Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance EBT Activity Report"
why the EBT card was used outside the state of Missouri. These codes
are also listed at the bottom of each page of the report. A reason
column is provided on the report for recording this code information.
1 - Moved out of state
2 - Traveling out of state
3 - Work in another state, buy there
4 - More convenient to shop at out of
state store
5 - Duplicate participation - household
participating in another state and in Missouri
9 - Other, specify
For "Other", specify on the report
the reason for the out-of-state activity.
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Return the entire county report to the Food
Assistance Program Unit in Central Office, ATTN: Paul Spicer, P.O.
Box 310, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0310. The Food Assistance Program
Unit will be monitoring this report. Correspondence from this unit
should receive a prompt reply from county staff.
-
Please do not send separate pages of the report
one at a time. Metro areas may return the reports by units/offices
(for example - Jackson: KCOB, East, South).
-
Subsequent reports are due on the 15th day
of the month following the report run date (for example: report run
date is 5/10/99, the due date is 6/15/99). The first report is due
04/15/99.
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For participants who have moved out of the
state of Missouri, take appropriate action to close the case. Complete
a claim if necessary.
If you suspect the participant knowingly received
benefits from both states, make a referral to the Welfare Investigation
Unit (WIU). Use the DOI-1 to refer the case to WIU for investigation.
Send any information or documentation obtained with the DOI-1 when fraud
is suspected as the reason for the out-of-state activity.
These referrals will be a priority for
WIU. WIU will contact county staff if they need assistance with the
investigation. WIU will investigate the suspected duplicate participation.
If WIU determines the household did intentionally receive food stamp or
cash benefits from both states, they will obtain a waiver of administrative
disqualification hearing or return it to county staff for an administrative
disqualification hearing.
-
Record on the report the names and DCNs of
those cases that are closed as a result of this report and follow-up investigation.
Also list the names and DCNs of cases for which claims are filed.
This information can be shown on the report or on a separate piece of paper.
The out-of-state report will be sent to county
offices every other month for an indefinite period of time. Retain
this memorandum as a reference for working these reports. Area office
staff must ensure county office staff are making contact with participants
shown on the report and that the reports are returned by the deadline.
Future reports will not contain cases previously
coded with a reason code 1, 3, or 4. Cases coded 2, 5, and 9 will
continue to be shown on future reports if out-of-state EBT transactions
continue.
WIU will also be reviewing the out-of-state
activity report for fraudulent activity. Staff may be contacted by
WIU and must cooperate by providing any information WIU requests.
Go through your normal supervisory channels
for any questions you might have.
If no report is attached with your copy
of this memo, retain and refer to this memorandum when future reports are
received in your county. A bi-monthly listing of counties that receive
a report will be sent to area offices for follow-up. |