SR 09-25 Dated 10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases the 2009 annual Food Stamp Program updates to:

·   the gross and net income limits;

·   the standard utility allowances (SUAs); and

·   certain other Food Stamp income deductions.

Form 215, Reporting Requirements Handout, and the Food Stamp 130% Reporting Requirements Poster have been revised accordingly.

POLICY

Gross and Net Income Limits

Benefit allotment amounts and gross and net income limits for all group sizes are generally part of the annual October Food Stamp Program update. However, this year, due to the economy, increases in the maximum Food Stamp benefit allotments were released earlier in the year. See SR 09-15, dated April 1, 2009, for further information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) changes impacting the Food Stamp Program. Because of the ARRA changes, this year’s annual October Food Stamp Program update only impacts the gross and net income limits and certain income deductions, as noted below. For reference purposes only, the maximum Food Stamp benefit allotment figures have still been listed in the table below. However, those figures represent the increases that were already released in April.

Additionally, beginning in 2010, the October Food Stamp Program update will also begin to include the updates to the new expanded categorically eligibility group (gross income limits at 185% of the Federal Poverty Level). However, because this expansion in the definition of categorical eligibility was just recently released, there are no further updates in those limits that are effective for October 2009. The 185% gross income limits are still listed in the table below, but are for reference purposes only. See SR 09-05, dated May 1, 2009, for more information about this category of eligibility.

1Gross income limits do not apply to the elderly and disabled Target Population.

Standard Utility Allowances

Effective October 1, 2009, the Standard Utility Allowances are as follows:

Income Deductions

Effective October 1, 2009, the Standard Deduction is as follows:

·   the Excess Shelter Expense Deduction increased from $446 to $459;

·   the Homeless Shelter Allowance remains unchanged at $143; and

·   the Medical Deduction remains unchanged at $83.

Extended Food Stamp Benefits

Extended Food Stamp (EFS) benefit allotments will be revised to incorporate the increased Food Stamp federal deductions effective 10/1/09. Refer to Food Stamp Manual PART 249, EXTENDED FOOD STAMPS (EFS), for more information on EFS benefits.

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

The following updates were programmed into New HEIGHTS in August and September to calculate food stamp eligibility and benefits for the October 1, 2009 issuance:

·   the gross and net income limits;

·   the updated standard utility allowances; and

·   the income deductions described above.

Entering the updates into New HEIGHTS in August and September allows the system to build correct budgets beginning with the October 1, 2009 issuance. It also allows workers to act on cases that go into exception prior to the October 1, 2009 issuance. The 2009 October Food Stamp Mass Change Schedule will run as follows:

POST MASS CHANGE REPORTS

The reports below are produced as a result of the October Mass Change. These reports are available in New HEIGHTS each subsequent working day after the mass change is run.

NMC600RA: Status After MC

This report lists all cases that were selected for the Mass Change, including cases that were successfully confirmed as shown on NMC540RA and those that were not confirmed (exceptions shown on NMC550RA). This report is sorted by District Office and contains the following information: D.O., Worker Name, Client Name, Case Number, and Household Size.

NMC600RB: Status Before MC

This report shows the pre-mass change status of cases that were selected for the Mass Change. It contains the following information: D.O., Worker Name, Client Name, Case Number, and Household Size.

NMC540RA: AG’s Affected by MC

This report lists all cases upon which the Mass Change ran successfully through confirmation. It contains the following information: D.O., Worker Name, Client Name, and Case Number.

NMC550RA: MC Exception

This report lists cases that were selected for the Mass Change, but were not confirmed due to some discrepancy in data. These cases require further District Office action. The report contains the following information: D.O., Worker Name, Client Name, Case Number, Reason for Exception, and Mass Change Type.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

Form 215, Reporting Requirements Handout, and the Food Stamp 130% Reporting Requirements Poster have been updated to incorporate the current figures provided by FNS.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

PART 601, TABLE E  FOOD STAMP MAXIMUM MONTHLY INCOME LIMITS

PART 601, TABLE G  DETERMINING FOOD STAMP ALLOTMENTS

PART 601, TABLE I  FOOD STAMP DEDUCTIONS

IMPLEMENTATION

All benefits issued for the months beginning with October 2009 will be calculated using the new figures. Tables and Standards sections for benefits prior to October 1, 2009 need not be retained for reference for retroactive benefits because New HEIGHTS will hold them internally and automatically use them for calculating benefits for eligibility periods prior to October 1, 2009.

Effective October 1, 2009, destroy old versions of Form 215, Reporting Requirements Handout, and the Food Stamp 130% Reporting Requirements Poster and replace them with current versions released in this SR. State Office will provide all District Offices with the Food Stamp posters and an initial supply of the Form 215 while the form is being printed at Graphic Services. Once a District Office needs more of the Form 215 after receiving the initial supply, resume regular ordering procedures through the DHHS Warehouse.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Households experiencing a change in Food Stamp benefits due to the mass change will receive a standard New HEIGHTS Notice of Decision (NOD). The following message will also appear in the "Explanations" section of the NOD:

On October 1, Federal and State law increased the income limits and the amount of deductions you can claim. Your Food Stamp benefits, as shown in the old and new budget below, were adjusted to reflect these changes.

No additional client notification is planned.

TRAINING

No training is planned or needed.

FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS

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.nh.gov/DHHS/DFA/LIBRARY, effective September 28, 2009. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Food Stamp and Forms Manuals.

DFA/KD:s

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CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION

I certify that all copies of Form 215, dated 10/08, SR 08-24, have been destroyed.

District Office Manager of Operations:_______________________________________________

District Office __________________________________________________________________

Return this certificate to the DFA Policy Unit, 129 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301, after the instructions in the SR have been carried out.