The photograph requirement is an eligibility factor for the Food Stamp Program, and no benefit is to be authorized without either the photo or the applicant meeting an exemption.  The edit message, "NO PHOTO OR EXEMPTION FOUND, FISU NOT STORED" will appear on the FISU screen after the worker presses enter to store the issuance information if a photo is not found and there is no photo exemption code in EBTU.

When this edit is received, review the case to determine if the applicant is exempt from the photo requirement.  Enter the exemption code in EBTU.  If the applicant is not exempt from the photo requirement, s/he must comply with the requirement.  Contact the applicant to make arrangements for him/her to have a photo taken.  Once the photo is taken or the photo exemption is entered in EBTU, reenter the FISU request.

The "County Mailing" and "Certified Mail" fields have been removed from the FISU screen.  These fields do not apply to issuance of food stamp benefits via EBT.

A revision of the FISU instructions in the IM Forms Manual will be made in the near future.

• Discuss this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• Ensure all applicants who are eligible for benefits have a photo taken or a photo exemption code entered in EBTU.

 
• Contact any applicant not exempt from the photo requirement and request that s/he comply.

 
• Re-enter FISUs that are not stored due to lack of photo or photo exemption.