SR 10-25 Dated 10/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases the 2010 annual Food Stamp Program updates to:

·   the maximum benefit allotments;

·   the gross and net income limits;

·   the standard utility allowances (SUAs); and

·   certain income deductions.

The Food Stamp Program gross and net income limits and maximum benefit allotments will remain unchanged from the 2009 figures.

Form 215, Reporting Requirements Handout, has been revised accordingly.

POLICY

Gross and Net Income Limits

Food Stamp Program benefit allotment amounts and gross and net income limits for all group sizes are generally annually updated for October 1. This year’s figures, however, remain unchanged from the 2009 figures. The reasons for this are as follows:

·   the maximum benefit allotment amounts were increased by approximately 13.6% as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). See SR 09-15, dated April 2009, for further information about the Food Stamp Program changes resulting from ARRA. However, due to the ARRA increase of 2009, the maximum benefit allotments will remain unchanged through 2011; and

·   because of the economy and the fixed status of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), the federal level of the Food Stamp Program, has indicated that the gross and net income limits will also remain the same as the figures effective in October 2009. Those figures were originally released in SR 09-25.

Although there have been no changes made since October 2009, the table listing the income limits and benefits allotments has been provided below for reference purposes only.

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

Standard Utility Allowances

Effective October 1, 2010, the Standard Utility Allowances are as follows:

Income Deductions

Effective October 1, 2010, the Standard Deduction is as follows:

·   the Excess Shelter Expense Deduction decreased from $459 to $458;

·   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 updated to reflect the current Food Stamp federal deductions effective 10/1/10. 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 to calculate food stamp eligibility and benefits for the October 1, 2010 issuance:

·   the updated standard utility allowances; and

·   the income deductions that changed.

The 2010 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 are generally updated annually to reflect the current figures provided by FNS. There were no updates issued for 2010, so this year’s figures remain the same as in 2009. As such, Form 215 was updated with only the current SR number and 2010 date to reflect that it is the most recent version. The Poster was not updated at all, though, due to costs.

Additionally, offices are usually provided with an advance supply of the Form 215 and the new version of the posters but because the income limits are not changing, neither will be supplied in advance. Continue using the 2009 versions of Form 215 until the supplies have been exhausted, then place a reorder through Logistics as usual. No action is needed on the posters as the posters can continue to be used until next year. As such, no Certificate of Destruction is included in this SR.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

PART 601, TABLE E  FOOD STAMP MAXIMUM MONTHLY INCOME LIMITS

PART 601, TABLE F  MAXIMUM FOOD STAMP ALLOTMENTS

PART 601, TABLE G  DETERMINING FOOD STAMP ALLOTMENTS

PART 601, TABLE I  FOOD STAMP DEDUCTIONS

IMPLEMENTATION

Policy released in this SR is effective October 1, 2010. Because the income limits are not changing, no advance versions of Form 215 and no new posters will be distributed to the District Offices. Continue using the 2009 versions of Form 215 until the supplies have been exhausted, after which 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:

The federal government is not making any changes for 2010 to the income limits and maximum amount of Food Stamp benefits you can receive. These amounts will remain the same as for 2009. Based on federal and state law, some of your deductions may have changed on October 1, 2010. Your Food Stamp benefits, as shown in the old and new budget below, reflect this.

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 27, 2010. 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