SR 97-32 Dated 10/97

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases food stamp program changes affecting October 1997 benefits. These include increases to the maximum food stamp allotments and the gross and net income limits. The annual review of the utility standards resulted in an increase in the utility only and the heat and utility standards. In addition, several unrelated minor corrections or clarifications of existing policy have been included in this SR.

POLICY

Part 511 BOARDER INCOME- FS

Part 511 BOARDER INCOME - TANF

Part 511 BOARDER INCOME - ADULT

Part 601 TABLE E: Food Stamp Maximum Monthly Income Limits - FS

Part 601 TABLE F: Maximum Food Stamp Coupons Allotments - FS

Part 601 TABLE G: Food Stamp Coupon Allotments By Household Size 1-6 - FS

Part 601 TABLE G: Food Stamp Coupon Allotments By Household Size 7-12 - FS

Part 601 TABLE I: Food Stamp Deductions - FS

The food stamp program revisions described below are part of the EMS mass change and will increase:

 Allotment amounts and gross and net income limits for all group sizes.

 The Utilities Standard from $204 to $208

 The Heat and Utilities Standard from $297 to $318

The following did not change:

 The telephone standard at $26

 The standard deduction at $134

 The homeless shelter deduction at $143

 The excess shelter deduction at $250

 The dependent care deduction at $200 for a child under two and $175 for a child two or over.

Unrelated Change to CSD Resource Deduction Table Amounts

Part 601 TABLE D: CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES RESOURCE DEDUCTION - TANF

CSD Resource Deduction Table figures have been updated to reflect the 1997 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. In the future, these amounts will be revised every July 1 to reflect the most current poverty levels.

PROCEDURES

Food Stamp Households Sharing a Utility Expense (Special Program Code 8)

Special Program code 8 identifies food stamp households which have a prorated utility standard and all households whose utility standard is prorated due to an excluded member. Before the mass change is run, a report of open food stamp cases with special program code 8 will be sent to District Offices. Because many of the prorated utility cases are exactly half the appropriate standards, EMS has been programmed to convert any food stamp cases from half the old standard to half the new standard. District Offices must identify cases with incorrect special program codes and/or prorated utility amounts other than half the appropriate standard in order to make any corrections before the mass change. Any overissuance or underissuance resulting from an incorrect utility total must be corrected according to policy.

Systems Changes

 The EMS cut-off for all cases to be included in the mass change is September 30, 1997. The last daily before the mass change will be run September 30, 1997.

 The mass change will be run on September 30, 1997.

 Turnaround 801’s will be generated for food stamp cases which receive a change decision (increase, decrease, close). These will have the notation "OCTOBER 1, 1997 FS MASS CHANGE" and will be available for pickup by October 7, 1997.

 Cases in an advance notice period for closing will not be selected for the mass change.

 Cases in advance notice for a decrease will be recomputed as part of the mass change.

 The major ATI run for October follows the mass change.

 Following the mass change, food stamp closings will be run to terminate all cases with a redetermination date of 9/25/97. These cases have both a mass change turnaround Form 801 and a 545 closing Form 801.

 The 545 closing Form 801 is the most recent and must be used for any subsequent transaction on these cases.

 Cases receiving a mass change Form 801 will be posted to the IS display. The special transaction code for the mass change is XX, the file update date is 9/30/97 and the special batch number is 970930.

IMPLEMENTATION

Manual Issuances - Rollbacks, Special Instructions

 After the mass change cut-off date, all benefits generated by EMS are calculated using the new amounts.

 To issue benefits for months prior to October 1997, use utility standards and income and allotment amounts in effect prior to this SR.

 If a manual issuance is required for a new opening, complete in accordance with procedures contained in Case Action Order Handbook ITEM A.1. September benefits are designated as type 1c, "Variable Basis of Issuance" and months prior to September as type 2g, "Rollback Period." In the explanation block write, "Benefits due prior to October 1997 Mass Change."

 Complete manual issuances for expedited combined allotments according to CAOH ITEM A.1 and manual issuance form instructions. Remember that most manual issuances can now be done on the system.

 Tables and Standards sections for benefits prior to October 1, 1997 should be retained for reference for retroactive benefits until they are no longer needed.

TECHNICAL MANUAL PAGE CHANGES

Part 511 CHILD CARE INCOME (Added) - Adult

Part 511 DAY CARE INCOME (Deleted) - Adult

Section 627.03 Allocation to a Community Spouse - Adult

Section 627.05 Allocation to Dependents Who Reside with the Community Spouse - Adult

In addition to food stamp income and allotment increases in FAM Chapter 600 and the update to the CSD resource deduction amounts in Table D, terminology changes, minor corrections and policy clarifications were made to AAM 500 and 600.

 In AAM Sections 627.03 and 627.05, references in the "Steps to Allocating Income..." tables to, respectively, a community spouse’s and a dependent’s "gross monthly income" were changed to read "countable gross monthly income." This change was made to clarify policy regarding the determination of allocated income to community spouses or to dependents of recipients of Medicaid residing in nursing facilities.

 In AAM Chapter 500, "Day Care Income" was changed to "Child Care Income" and replaced in appropriate alphabetical order. The Key Word Index was revised to note the change in alphabetical ordering of these entries.

 In both manuals, Division of Transitional Assistance has replaced Division of Human Services in the manual page footers.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

The following NOD reason message is generated for cases having an increase as a result of the mass change. Any closings or decreases use a standard message already on EMS:

ON OCTOBER 1, FEDERAL AND STATE CHANGES INCREASED INCOME LIMITS AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FOOD STAMPS YOU CAN RECEIVE. YOUR FOOD STAMP BENEFITS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES. POLICY ITEM: FAMILY ASSISTANCE MANUAL CHAPTER 600.

Because these changes are beneficial to food stamp recipients, no additional client notification is planned.

TRAINING

No training is planned. Any questions will be answered by Regional Administrators on an individual basis.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed after its contents have been noted and its posting instructions carried out.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR only will be distributed according to the narrative distribution list for the FAM and AAM. The SR and pages will be distributed to all holders of the FAM and AAM.

DTA/MGD/s