SR 11-30 Dated 07/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR eliminates the Financial Assistance for Unemployed Parent (UP) Program category of financial assistance as a result of budget reductions imposed by House Bill 2, which amends RSA 167:77-e and RSA 167:79,I(b). UP medical assistance will continue to be provided to eligible UP families due to the maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements of the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), signed into law on March 23, 2010.

The following forms were revised as a result of the elimination of UP cash assistance:

·   DFA Form 77a, Financial and Medical Assistance to Needy Families (FANF), and its associated instructions;

·   DFA Form 260, Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) Fact Sheet, and its associated instructions;

·   DFA Form 261, Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) Interview Checklist; and

·   DFA Form 800A, DFA Programs and Services Guide.

The following New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) employment and training services forms, and their associated instructions, are obsolete as a result of the elimination of UP cash assistance:

·   Forms NHEP255(UP), Unemployed Parent Employment and Training Support Services Payment Request Invoice;

·   Form NHEP256(UP), Unemployed Parent Mileage Reimbursement Request Invoice;

·   Form NHEP256A(UP), Unemployed Parent Public/Private Transportation Carrier Provider Invoice; and

·   Form NHEP257(UP), Unemployed Parent Tuition Payment Request Invoice.

POLICY

The Unemployed Parent (UP) Program category of financial assistance has been eliminated. UP cash benefits will no longer be provided. Unemployed 2-parent families may still be eligible for UP medical assistance if all program criteria are met.

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

The evening of June 29, 2011, New HEIGHTS will run all open and pending UP cash cases through a mass change to terminate this category of cash assistance (CEPU and CFPU) effective July 1, 2011. Eligibility for other cash programs will be explored at the time UP cash assistance is terminated. Any cases that close UP cash assistance and are not eligible for any other category of assistance will retain UP medical assistance and receive extended Food Stamp (EFS) benefits. Any UP cases whose cash terminates due to this change and who are not eligible for another DFA cash program, will receive the following special message in the "Explanations" section of the Notice of Decision (NOD) generated:

State funding for the UP cash assistance program ended on June 30, 2011. This is why you are not getting a UP cash benefit anymore. You and your family will still continue to be covered for Medical Assistance. PLEASE KEEP YOUR MEDICAL BENEFIT CARD. Please don’t throw it away. This card is still good and you and your family can still use it to get the medical help you need. NOTE: BECAUSE THESE CHANGES ARE THE RESULT OF A REPEAL OF STATE LAW, YOU CANNOT APPEAL THIS DECISION.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

The following changes were made to DFA Form 77a, Financial and Medical Assistance to Needy Families (FANF):

·   Under the "Who Might Be Eligible" section, text related to under or unemployment was removed;

·   Under the "How Do I Apply" section, additional text was added to emphasize that families may apply online at https://nheasy.nh.gov, that they can print an application from www.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/apply, or the family can contact a District Office for an application.

·   Specific examples of proofs of identification was removed from the "How Do I Apply" section, because changes at the federal level and implementation of the Social Security Administration cross-match in August 2010 removes the burden on most applicants to provide original paper proof of citizenship and identity as a condition of eligibility for financial and medical assistance (see SR 10-31 for more details);

·   Text was edited to bring the reading level of the pamphlet closer an 8th grade reading level;

·   The section "What Is My Resource Limit?" was removed, as this is already discussed in DFA Form 800A, DFA Programs and Services Guide, which is provided to every applicant; and

·   The address and phone numbers for the Salem District Office were removed from the pamphlet, as that office has merged with Southern as of April 2011 (see SR 11-10 for more details). Additionally, the web address was corrected and the TDD access phone number was expanded to also include the option of dialing 7-1-1.

Instructions were updated accordingly.

Offices are to use up the current supply of this form. When the current supply is exhausted, the new version will be printed. Continue to use the Spanish and Bosnian versions of this form, as needed, until the new English version can be retranslated.

The following changes were made to DFA Form 260, Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) Fact Sheet:

·   Text related to all program areas was edited to describe whether the category of assistance offers cash and medical benefits, or just medical benefits;

·   Text was edited to bring the reading level of the document closer an 8th grade reading level; and

·   Text related to Extended Food Stamps (EFS) was removed. All clients receive information about EFS through another DFA Form, so this text is not needed on the FANF Fact Sheet.

The instructions were also updated to better describe when and how this form is used.

Offices are to use up the current supply of this form. When the current supply is exhausted, the new version will be printed. Continue to use the Spanish and Bosnian versions of this form, as needed, until the new English version can be retranslated.

The following changes were made to DFA Form 261, Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) Interview Checklist:

Text directing staff to inform UP cases that both parents will be referred to NHEP was removed from the document as UP MA-only parents will not have a work program requirement.

Because the manner in which this form is used remains unchanged, the instructions for this form were not updated.

Offices are to use up the current supply of this form. When the current supply is exhausted, the new version will be printed. This form is for staff usage only, and is not translated into any other languages.

The following changes were made to DFA Form 800A, DFA Programs and Services Guide:

·   Text related to all program areas under the "Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) Programs" header was edited to describe whether the category of assistance offers cash and medical benefits, or just medical benefits;

·   The DFA website address was updated; and

·   The QMB/SLMB/SLMB135 section was updated to reflect program name changes released in SR 11-04, dated April 29, 2011.

Because the manner in which this form is used remains unchanged, the instructions for this form were not updated.

Offices are to use up the current supply of this form. When the current supply is exhausted, the new version will be printed. Continue to use the Spanish and Bosnian versions of this form, as needed, until the new English version can be retranslated.

The following NHEP forms and their instructions are obsolete as of the release of this SR:

·   Forms NHEP255(UP), Unemployed Parent Employment and Training Support Services Payment Request Invoice;

·   Form NHEP256(UP), Unemployed Parent Mileage Reimbursement Request Invoice;

·   Form NHEP256A(UP), Unemployed Parent Public/Private Transportation Carrier Provider Invoice; and

·   Form NHEP257(UP), Unemployed Parent Tuition Payment Request Invoice.

Any copies of the 2010 version and all older versions, if District Offices have any on hand, may be recycled as of the release of this SR. A Certificate of Destruction has been included below.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics

PART 133  LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY

Section 134.05  Requirements for Two Parent Families

Section 134.07  Length of Extensions

Section 134.13  Reasons for Termination of an Extension

PART 169 EXTENDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO INCREASED CHILD OR SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Section 169.01  Determining the Four-Month Coverage Period

Section 169.03  Changes During the Four-Month Coverage Period

Section 169.05 Redetermination of Eligibility During the Four-Month Coverage Period

PART 171  EXTENDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO EMPLOYMENT

Section 171.03  Termination Due to Employment of an Incapacitated Parent

PART 173  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR 12-MONTH COVERAGE

Section 173.03  Financial Eligibility

Section 173.05  Ineligibility Reasons

Section 173.15  Scheduled Redeterminations of Eligibility

PART 201  PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

PART 203  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (FANF)

Section 203.05  Unemployed Parent (UP) Program Medical Assistance Program

Section 203.07  Families with Older Children (FWOC)

Section 207.11  When Dependent Child Reaches Maximum Age

Section 207.13  Verification

Section 209.19  Unemployment of Principal Wage Earner

Section 209.21  Unemployment: Definition of Unemployed

Section 209.23  Unemployment: Eligibility by Work and Education History

Section 209.25  Unemployment: Eligibility by Unemployment Compensation History

Section 209.27  Unemployment: NH Employment Security

Section 209.29  Unemployment: Refusing an Offer of Employment or Training

Section 209.31 Unemployment: Good Cause Reasons for Refusing an Offer of Employment or Training

Section 209.33  Unemployment: 12-Month Extended MA

Section 211.01  Who Must Be Members

Section 211.03  Disqualified Individuals

Section 211.11  Who Is Not a Member

PART 213  UP ELIGIBILITY

Section 213.01  Unemployment of the Principal Wage Earner

Section 213.03  UP: Definition of Unemployed

Section 213.05  UP: Eligibility by Work and Education History

Section 213.07  UP: Eligibility by Unemployment Compensation History

Section 213.09  UP: NH Employment Security

Section 213.11  UP: Refusing an Offer of Employment or Training

Section 213.13 UP: Good Cause Reasons for Refusing an Offer of Employment or Training

Section 213.15  UP: Ineligibility for UC Benefits

Section 213.17  Termination of UP and Eligibility for Other Programs

Section 213.19  Verification of UP Eligibility

PART 217  SEPARATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE GROUPS

Section 217.01  When Separate Medical Assistance Groups Are Required

Section 217.03  Actions Affecting Separate Medical Assistance Groups

Section 227.03  Striker Eligibility

Section 303.09  Out-of-State Recipient Moves into New Hampshire

Section 305.07  Ineligible Sponsored Noncitizens

Section 311.07  Assignment to DHHS of Rights to Support Income

Section 311.15  Refusal to Cooperate

Section 315.01  Definition of Voluntary Quit

Section 315.07  Informing the Household about Voluntary Quit

PART 403  RESOURCE LIMITS

PART 409  COMMON TYPES OF RESOURCES: LUMP SUM PAYMENT:

NONRECURRING (RESOURCES)

PART 509  VERIFICATION

PART 511  COMMON TYPES OF INCOME: ALLOCATED INCOME

PART 511  COMMON TYPES OF INCOME: DEEMED INCOME

PART 511  COMMON TYPES OF INCOME: LUMP SUM INCOME (INCOME)

PART 601 INCOME LIMITS, PAYMENT STANDARDS, AND ALLOTMENTS

PART 603  DEDUCTIONS AND DISREGARDS

Section 603.01  Earned Income Disregard

Section 603.03  Employment Expense Deduction (EED)

Section 603.05  Child/Dependent Care Deduction

Section 603.09  Other Allowable Deductions: Income Allocated to Dependents

Section 611.01  Computing Eligibility

Section 611.03  Deeming Principles

Section 611.05  Income of Disqualified Individuals

Section 703.01  Purpose

Section 703.11  Applying Recipient Resources

PART 803  NOTIFICATIONS AT APPLICATION

PART 807  WHICH WORK REQUIREMENTS APPLY?

Section 808.01  Initial Appraisal

Section 808.05  Exemptions from Participation in NHEP

Section 808.27  Hourly Participation Requirements

Section 808.31  Compliance Requirements

Section 808.35  Sanctions for Voluntary Quit Or Failure/Refusal to Cooperate with NHEP Work Program Participation Requirements

Section 808.36  Actions Taken During A Sanction Period

Section 808.37  Participation Requirements for 2 Parent Families

Section 808.39  NHEP Activities: Basic Education

Section 808.39  NHEP Activities: Employment

Section 808.39  NHEP Activities: Self-Employment

Section 808.41  Support Services: Support Services for Obstacles to Employment

Section 808.41  Support Services: Transportation Assistance

PART 829  ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

PART 907  NOTICES OF DECISION (NOD)

PART 925  TRAINING OR EDUCATION PREPARATORY TO EMPLOYMENT

Section 925.01  Exceptions to the Two-Year Time Limit

IMPLEMENTATION

The policy released in this SR is effective July 1, 2011. For all forms that required revisions due to the policies released in this SR, offices are to use up the current supply of the form. When the current supply is exhausted, the new versions of the forms will be printed.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

The week of May 26, 2011, a one-time mailing will be generated to the approximately 250 cases impacted by the elimination of the UP cash assistance program. The letter has been attached for reference. Additionally, recipients who lose UP cash assistance during the Mass Change at the end of June will receive the following special message in the "Explanations" section of the NOD generated:

State funding for the UP cash assistance program ended on June 30, 2011. This is why you are not getting a UP cash benefit anymore. You and your family will still continue to be covered for Medical Assistance. PLEASE KEEP YOUR MEDICAL BENEFIT CARD. Please don’t throw it away. This card is still good and you and your family can still use it to get the medical help you need. NOTE: BECAUSE THESE CHANGES ARE THE RESULT OF A REPEAL OF STATE LAW, YOU CANNOT APPEAL THIS DECISION.

TRAINING

This policy change was discussed at the June 9, 2011 Supervisor’s Meeting in Concord, NH. Additionally, the DFA Training Unit conducted a statewide training for Family Services Specialists (FSS) at the end of June 2011. No other special training is planned.

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 www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm, effective August 1, 2011. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Family Assistance and Forms Manuals.

DFA/JBV:s