SR 03-42 Dated 12/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

 

SIGNATURE DATE:

November 13, 2003

FROM:

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR Mary Anne Broshek

AT (OFFICE):

Division of Family Assistance

TO:

DFA Supervisors

Food Stamp Interviewers

 

SUBJECT:

Standardized Medical Deduction in the Food Stamp Program

EFFECTIVE DATE:

December 1, 2003

 

SUMMARY

 

This SR releases a standard medical deduction of $83 a month for elderly or disabled Food Stamp Program recipients (target population) who verify unreimbursed medical expenses of at least $35 a month.

 

Old Policy

New Policy

Food Stamp households containing an elderly or disabled member were entitled to a deduction from household income in the amount of the verified unreimbursed medical expenses that exceeded $35 a month.

Food Stamp households containing an elderly or disabled member are entitled to a standard medical deduction of $83 a month if the household’s unreimbursed medical costs exceed $35 a month.

 

Note: If the household’s verified medical expenses exceed the $83 standard, the individual may claim actual expenses and receive a higher monthly deduction.

 

POLICY

 

Effective December 1, 2003, target population food stamp recipients are entitled to an $83 monthly medical deduction if the household’s monthly medical expenses exceed $35 but are less than or equal to $83. The household need only verify that monthly medical expenses exceed $35.

 

Example: A recipient self-pays Part B premium costs on a monthly basis. No further verification is needed to apply the $83 medical deduction.

 

If the recipient’s monthly medical expenses exceed the new standard medical deduction of $83, the household will continue to receive a higher monthly deduction equal to the household’s verified actual costs.

 

NEW HEIGHTS

 

Follow current procedures when entering Food Stamp Program medical expense information into New HEIGHTS. Effective December 1, 2003, New HEIGHTS will automatically calculate the correct deduction based on the new policy and display that amount in the Excess Medical Expenses field on the Food Stamp Budget.

Note: As part of a major redesign of the New HEIGHTS Food Stamp Budget screens that will be viewable as of December 8, 2003, the Food Stamp Excess Medical Expenses Calculation screen (accessed by selecting the elipsis button associated with Excess Medical Expenses on the Food Stamp Budget) will have a new "Medical Deduction" field. This new field will display the final deduction used in the food stamp budget. For example, if a target population recipient provides verification of $35.01 in monthly medical expenses, the Food Stamp budget will show $83 in Excess Medical Expenses. Clicking the elipsis button will show the calculations used (Total Medical Expenses = $35.01, - $35.00 Med. Std. Deduction = $.01 Excess Medical Expenses, and $83 in the "Medical Deduction" field).

 

On November 20, 2003, New HEIGHTS will recalculate food stamp allotment amounts for pre-identified food stamp recipients currently receiving a medical deduction. If the household’s medical deduction is less than or equal to $83, the household will receive the standard medical deduction of $83 effective for the December food stamp issuance. If the household’s medical expenses exceed $83 a month, no change will be made to the household’s medical deduction.

 

NOTICES

 

Households experiencing a change in their allotment amount due to the mass change will receive the following text in the "Explanation" section of their Notice of Decision (NOD):

 

YOUR HOUSEHOLD GETS A FOOD STAMP INCOME DEDUCTION BECAUSE YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES ARE MORE THAN $35 A MONTH. THIS DEDUCTION HAS CHANGED.

 

RELATED POLICY CLARIFICATION

 

FSM 611.01, Computing Eligibility, and FSM 603.09, Other Allowable Deductions: Shelter Deduction, are being revised to clarify that the homeless shelter deduction is an income deduction, not a shelter allowance. New HEIGHTS has been determining eligibility and benefit amounts correctly, however policy did not accurately reflect the correct procedures. The pages have been updated accordingly.

 

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

 

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

 

PART 601, TABLE I   Food Stamp Deductions

Section 603.09    Other Allowable Deductions: Medical Deduction

Section 603.09    Other Allowable Deductions: Shelter Deduction

Section 611.01    Computing Eligibility

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

The changes identified in this SR will:

 

·   be reflected in the December 2003 food stamp allotments for households currently eligible for a medical deduction; and

·   apply to any new food stamp cases processed on or after December 1, 2003.

 

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

 

Current recipients receiving a medical deduction will be notified in the NOD at the time of the change, as indicated above. Notification will also occur at application, recertification, or whenever requested.

 

TRAINING

 

No special training is planned or needed.

 

DISPOSITION

 

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Division of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DFA/LIBRARY, effective December 8, 2003.

 

This SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all hard copy holders of the Food Stamp manual.

 

DFA/JBV:s