 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||
| |||||||||||
DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC SERVICES 2-2004 - VOID
(Food Stamps)
TO: County Directors of Social Services
ATTENTION: Food Stamp Supervisors
SUBJECT: Food Stamp Work Registration Code Change
DATE: May 26, 2004
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently notified the Division of Social Services of the requirement that all mandatory food stamp participants must be registered for work, including those individuals living in Workfare counties and counties considered “geographically remote.” Currently, there are no work registration requirements for participants living in those counties. The USDA has also advised that the term “geographically remote” for counties without an Employment Security Commission is no longer valid. Effective immediately, all North Carolina counties, except Workfare counties, will be Food Stamp Employment and Training counties subject to E&T requirements; however, not all counties will have contract services with the Employment Security Commission. A Dear County Director letter dated March 19, 2004, described the option of caseworkers completing a work registration form during the application process to comply with the registration requirement. However, the Division’s automation section has the ability to change the work registration code electronically, saving caseworker time and effort. A paper work registration form is not required. As a result of the change, work registered individuals will be subject to voluntary quit and all other work requirement policies in Section 240 of the Food Stamp Certification Manual. Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) must also comply with policy in Section 245 of the Certification Manual.
II. POLICY PROCEDURES
On the night of May 31, 2004, a mass change will be performed on active cases, cases in suspense, and forms on hold in the Food Stamp Information System (FSIS). All individuals with work registration code “J” (screened out based on geography) will be electronically converted to “R.” (registered). All individuals currently coded “P” (Workfare participant) in Workfare counties will be electronically converted to “R.” A report entitled “DHRSLA WORK REGISTRATION CD CONV” will be generated and available in NCXPTR the day after the conversion. A DSS-8590 will not be generated.
Work registration requirements must be discussed with participants during the application process. For ongoing cases, at the next, recertification or change in situation, the caseworker should evaluate participants for possible work registration exemption and make the code change on the DSS-8590.
Please feel free to contact David Prince at 919-733-4570, or your Food Assistance and Energy Programs Representative if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Jane Schwartz, Chief
Economic Services
dp
cc: Food Assistance and Energy Representatives
This letter was mailed to the following counties:
Bertie |
Mitchell |
Camden |
Northampton |
Caswell |
Pamlico |
Currituck |
Perquimans |
Gates |
Polk |
Graham |
Surry |
Greene |
Swain |
Halifax |
Tyrrell |
Hyde |
Warren |
Jones |
|
For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
|