Food and Nutrition Services - Admin. Letters

DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES 7-2009, Effects of Work First changes on Food and Nutrition Services allotments

(Food and Nutrition Services)

TO:	County Directors of Social Services
ATTENTION:	Food and Nutrition Services Managers & Supervisors
SUBJECT:	Effects of Work First changes on Food and Nutrition Services allotments
DATE:	September 22, 2009

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

The purpose of this letter is to outline Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) procedures for handling the changes associated with households subject to the Work First Benefit (WFB) effective October 1, 2009. On the night of Friday, September 25, 2009, EIS will automatically transfer all AAF cases with at least one adult included, with a payment type ‘1’ or ‘S’ to payment type ‘2’. WFB recipients will be issued Work First cash assistance checks the month after completing all requirements on the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA) for the benefit month.

To prevent a possible hardship on families during the transition to the WFB, work eligible families with at least one adult may receive a one-time crisis prevention check. Participants in the following counties: Cumberland, Guilford, Lenoir, New Hanover, Person, Robeson, and Wilson, will not receive a crisis prevention check due to WFB programs already in existence.

Current payment procedures will remain in effect for child-only cases, and their payment type will not change.

II. POLICY PROCEDURES

A. Crisis Prevention Check

Ongoing FNS benefits are not affected by the October crisis prevention check issued to WFB households.

For FNS applicants who apply in October, the crisis intervention check will not count in the October FNS budget. On the check history screen (PC) in EIS a transaction code 39, 49, or 59 will indicate the WFB crisis prevention check issuance.

B. Work First Benefit (WFB)

If a WFB recipient meets all the requirements, the WFB check is released in the month following the benefit month. Count WFB benefits in the month received for FNS allotments. For example, the November check is released in December. If a check is not released due to failure to comply with the MRA, and the household is certified for FNS benefits at the time of noncompliance, the payment will continue to be counted in the FNS allotment. Delete the payment from the FNS budget one month after termination, providing the client has not reapplied and been reapproved.

EXAMPLE: A WFB recipient is terminated effective November 30 and transferred to Medicaid effective December 1. Count the WFB in the December FNS allotment. Remove the WFB effective with the January FNS allotment.

EXAMPLE: A WFB recipient is terminated effective November 30 and transferred to Medicaid effective December 1. The FNS recipient reapplies for WFB and is approved for benefits effective December. Do not remove the WFB from the FNS allotment.

EXAMPLE: A WFB recipient is terminated effective November 30 and transferred to Medicaid effective December 1. The WFB is removed effective with the January allotment. The FNS recipient reapplies for WFB and is approved for benefits effective March. The WFB is added to the FNS allotment no earlier than April.

III. IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS

This change is effective with each application, change in situation, or recertification taken or processed on or after October 1, 2009.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact the Economic and Family Services Help Desk at 919-334-1100.

Sincerely,



Dean Simpson, Chief

Economic and Family Services Section

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