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Change #5-2009
August 1, 2009
Transitional Food and Nutrition Services (TFNS) benefits are five months of extended FNS benefits for families who become ineligible to receive Work First Family Assistance (WFFA). Most FNS units are eligible to receive TFNS benefits for a period of five months when WFFA terminates. This includes WFFA open/shut cases. A face-to-face recertification must be done with each TFNS unit during the last month of the certification period. A TFNS unit cannot be recertified as a TFNS case during this time.
A. There are only a few situations in which a household cannot receive TFNS. Those situations are as follows:
1. The FNS unit contains a member who is currently disqualified from the Food and Nutrition Services Program and/or WFFA; or
2. The FNS unit loses WFFA for any of the following reasons:
a. The WFFA case closes due to the following sanctions: Failure to cooperate with Child Support Enforcement and Non-compliance with the provisions of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA) ; or
b. The WFFA Unit moves out of North Carolina; or
c. The WFFA Unit moves to another county in North Carolina; or
d. The FNS unit was receiving more than one WFFA payment prior to the WFFA termination and at least one WFFA payment is still being received.
3. The FNS unit is over the Food and Nutrition Services gross income limits due to the loss of categorically eligible status.
4. The WFFA case is approved as a Benefit Diversion case.
B. The following policies and procedures are important when transferring cases to TFNS:
1. Take action within 10 calendar days of notification of WFFA termination.
2. Use the date the DSS-8125 was processed in EIS to terminate the WFFA case as the date the change was known to WFFA.
3. Add ten calendar days for Food and Nutrition Services to act to determine the initial transitional month.
4. Determine if supplements are due as a result of removing the WFFA.
5. Work requirements and ABAWD status do not apply during the TFNS period.
6. Do not budget new or increased income that made the FNS unit ineligible for WFFA. Use the prior month’s FNS budget less the WFFA payment to determine the TFNS benefit amount.
EXAMPLE: A household reports new earnings toward the end of May. Because of the adverse action time frames, the June WFFA payment and FNS benefits are not changed. When the change is processed, the family becomes ineligible for WFFA effective July. Transfer the FNS case to TFNS effective July through November. The benefit amount would be based on the June FNS budget minus the WFFA payment but not including the new or increased income.
7. Resources are not evaluated or considered when transferring a case to TFNS.
C. It is not necessary for all members of the FNS unit to be WFFA recipients to be eligible for TFNS. This includes, but is not limited to, FNS cases that consist of child-only
WFFA recipients and their adult caretakers. These cases are eligible to transfer to TFNS if all other eligibility factors are met.
Complete the DSS-8590 as follows:
A. Enter Transaction Code 6 in Field 6 of the DSS-8590; and
B. Re-enter the old date of application in Field 8; and
C. Enter a five-month certification period in Fields 10 and 11; and
D. Enter Code “T” in Field 13 of the DSS-8590; and
E. Enter the first month of the TFNS period in Start Issuance Field 14; and
F. Remove the Work First payment amount from Field 80-G.
G. Remove the Work First case number.
H. It is not necessary to remove the work registration code in Field 80E.
NOTE: Do not add, remove, or change any other sources of income when transferring a FNS case to TFNS benefits. If there is a pending Notice of Adverse Action (NOAA), do not make the change. Base the allotment on the prior month’s allotment less the Work First payment. FNS cases that are in a suspense status are eligible for TFNS. Assigning a new five-month certification period is not considered shortening the certification period since the household is eligible for benefits under a new category.
Do not make any changes to the TFNS case during the five-month certification period unless:
A. It is necessary to add a member of a TFNS case to another FNS case. Issue a NOAA and remove the individual following regular Food and Nutrition Services Program procedures. Dual participation is not allowed.
B. The FNS unit chooses to apply for recertification during the transitional period. If the FNS unit requests regular food FNS benefits instead of TFNS:
1. Discuss the pros and cons of recertifying the case, and inform the FNS unit prior to completing the recertification.
2. Determine benefits according to the FNS unit’s circumstances at the time of the recertification.
C. The FNS unit provides a written request of termination.
D. The county discovers a county-responsible underissuance due to not subtracting the WFFA payment. If this occurs, remove the WFFA payment and restore benefits as needed.
E. A FNS unit member receives an Intentional Program Violation disqualification during the TFNS period. If this occurs, impose the disqualification but do not terminate the TFNS.
F. A claim is established. It is acceptable to reduce the allotment amount due to a recoupment.
G. The household no longer resides in North Carolina.
H. A change that results in no eligible individual in the home due to the institutionalization or death of all FNS unit members.
I. Do not react to subsequent WFFA approvals or terminations. TFNS continues for the entire five-month period.
A Food and Nutrition Services Notice of Expiration and Interview Recertification Form, DSS-2435I, will be generated in the fourth month of the TFNS period. Follow regular FNS policy and procedures to complete the interview and determine eligibility.
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
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