016.20.99 Ark. Code R. 015
FSC 11000 - Summary of Changes
The following changes have been made throughout this entire section of policy:
* The policy has been generally updated and rewritten.
* The words "food stamp benefits" have been substituted for "food stamp allotment."
* References to AFDC have been replaced by references to TEA.
* Policy references have been corrected and/or updated.
* Instructions for keying information to FACTS have been deleted.
Specific changes are explained below:
FSC 11330 - Information about TEA has been added.
FSC 11420 - A paragraph has been added to explain how to handle deductible expenses when verification is requested but not supplied by the household.
FSC 11510 - Information about SFSP households has been added.
FSC 11530 - The procedures for handling forms received on the last day of the month have been clarified.
FSC 11550 - A statement has been added to clarify how to handle verification of income supplied voluntarily by the household.
FSC 11640 - This policy has been corrected to agree with the current FSC policy regarding medical deductions. Additional information about allowing one-time medical expenses was added.
Inquiries to: Betty Helmbeck, Food Stamp Section, (501) 682-8284
SECTION: REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Ongoing food stamp eligibility and benefit amount are based on a household's current situation. To ensure current information about a household is available, reporting requirements are imposed on all households that apply for food stamp benefits and all households that receive food stamp benefits.
There are two types of reporting requirements - occasional reporting and quarterly reporting. Occasional reporters must report specified changes within 10 days of the date the change becomes known. Quarterly reporters must submit a report every third month but have no additional reporting requirements.
Both occasional and quarterly reporters must report the following changes.
All changes in residence and/or address must be reported. If a change in residence results in a change in the household's shelter cost, the new shelter costs must be reported.
The addition or loss of any eligible or ineligible household member must be reported.
The acquisition of any licensed vehicle must be reported.
Total liquid resources (cash on hand, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, etc.) which reach or exceed $2,000 must be reported.
Quarterly reporters must report and verify all earned income when the quarterly report is submitted. (Exception: Self-employment income which has been annualized need not be reported and verified each time a quarterly report is submitted.) Quarterly reporters must report and verify child support payments if these payments are to be deducted. Quarterly reporters must report changes of more than $25.00 in unearned income and changes in sources of unearned income on the quarterly report.
Occasional reporters must report the following changes in both earned and unearned income within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household.
Changes in a source of income. This includes new income from any source or income from any source which has stopped.
Changes of more than $25 in the household's total gross monthly income. This includes both increases and decreases in income.
The following changes in income need not be reported by either quarterly reporting or occasional reporting households.
Changes in TEA cash assistance payments.
Child support refunds paid to TEA recipients.
These changes must be reflected in the household's food stamp benefit amount. (This applies to both quarterly reporters and occasional reporters.) See FSC 12510 - 12520. See FSC 5704.1 for instructions on handling child support refunds.
H310Applicant Households
During the application interview, the applicant must report changes which occur after the application is prepared. Occasional reporters must report changes which occur after the interview but before the application is approved within 10 days of the date of the approval notice. Quarterly reporters may report these changes on the first quarterly report form.
Categorical eligibility is explained in FSC 1920. Categorically eligible households have the same reporting requirements as any other household. In most instances, a categorically eligible household will be classified as an occasional reporting household.
If a categorically eligible household reports a change and as a result is no longer categorically eligible, the household becomes subject to applicable income and resource limitations. The case will be closed if necessary.
If a regular or aged/disabled household reports a change and as a result becomes categorically eligible, the income and resource limitations will no longer apply.
In a PA food stamp household all members are receiving or have applied for a state, or a combination of a state and federal, public assistance grant. In Arkansas, state public assistance grants are paid as Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) cash assistance. Supplement Security Income (SSI) payments are federal public assistance grants. See the "Glossary", definition of a PA Household, for additional information.
* PA households participate in the Simplified Food Stamp Program (SFSP). Households that participate in the SFSP are only required to report changes under TEA rules. See FSC 8970-8979.
Quarterly reporting households must report and verify earned income when the quarterly report is submitted. Quarterly reporting households have no additional requirements for reporting changes in earned income. Other changes as specified in FSC 11200 must be reported only when the quarterly report form is submitted.
Quarterly reporting households will not be subject to any other reporting requirements. However, changes reported independent of the quarterly reporting system will be processed according to the standards in FSC 11410.
A quarterly reporting household that fails to report a change on the first quarterly report form issued after the household becomes aware of the change is considered to be at fault for any resulting over issuances or under issuances of food stamp benefits. If an under issuance occurs because the household failed to report a change on the quarterly reporting form, no restored benefits will be issued to the household. See FSC 13000. If an over issuance occurs, an overpayment will be prepared as instructed in FSC 15400.
All households not subject to the quarterly reporting requirements are considered to be occasional reporters. Currently, certified households classified as occasional reporters must report the changes specified in FSC 11200 within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household.
Occasional reporters may report changes on a Change Report Form (DC0-234) or may send a letter describing the change. Changes may also be reported by telephone or in person. Changes submitted by telephone or in person will be recorded by the county worker on a Telephone Report (DC0-271).
An occasional reporting household which fails to timely report a change is considered to be at fault for any resulting over issuances or under issuances of food stamp benefits. If an under issuance occurs because the household failed to timely report a change, no restored benefits will be authorized. If an over issuance occurs, an overpayment will be prepared as instructed in FSC 15400.
The following actions must be taken on all changes reported by occasional reporters:
Each county must devise a record of changes reported by occasional reporters. The minimum requirements for the record are the name and SSN of the head of the household, the date the change was received and the date the change was completed. Other information may be captured if desired by the county office.
Any Change Report Form (DCO-234) or letter submitted by a household must be date stamped on the day received. A Telephone Report (DCO-271) must be dated with the date the change was reported.
Any change must be processed within 10 days of the date the change was reported to the county office. Day one of the processing period is the first calendar day after the report was received. The date of receipt must be entered by the county office on all changes including those received in person or by telephone.
An increase in food stamp benefits resulting from the addition of a household member or a decrease of $50 or more in income must be reflected in the household's next regularly scheduled benefit extract. (If a change is reported after current month's benefits have extracted, no change can be made until the following month.) If necessary, a supplemental issuance will be authorized. See FSC 13200.
Other increases in food stamp benefit amounts must be reflected in the first regularly scheduled extract of food stamp benefits occurring after the allowed processing period.
Example 1 - On July 31 a household reports a member who was earning $200 per week was laid off. Only one pay check will be received from this job in August. This change must be reflected in the household's August food stamp benefit amount.
Example 2 - On August 1 a household reports a member who was earning $200 per week was laid off. Only one pay check will be received from this job in August. This change must be reflected in the household's September food stamp benefit amount.
Unless the reported change meets all the criteria listed in FSC 11440, a decrease in benefits or a case closure must be effective no later than the month following the month in which the household's notice of adverse action expires.
Example 1 - A change in liquid resources is reported by telephone on July 25 and processed the same day. The household is ineligible. The notice of adverse action expires August 4. The closure is effective for the September food stamp benefit amount.
Example 2 - A change in liquid resources is reported by telephone on July 16 and processed on July 20. The notice of adverse action expires on July 31. The closure is effective for the August food stamp benefit amount. (NOTE: If the household provides verification of its eligibility on the 31st, reinstatement will occur. See DC0UM 7310.)
When the household is exempt from the notice of adverse action, the decrease or closure will be effective no later than the month following the month when the change was processed.
Example - A change in liquid resources is reported in writing on July 25 and processed the same day. The household is ineligible. An adequate notice is issued. The closure is effective for August.
Verification of a change in income will be required in the following-situations.
Reported changes in resources (vehicles or liquid resources) will be verified when the information reported is inaccurate, incomplete or inconsistent with information found in the case record.
Reported changes in household composition will be verified only when the reported information is inaccurate, incomplete or inconsistent with information found in the case record.
A new address need not be verified unless the reported information is inaccurate, incomplete or inconsistent with information found in the case record. If the household's residency in the county and/or state is in question, verification of residency will be requested.
New costs declared for rent, mortgage, insurance and/or real estate tax expense will be verified only if questionable. Actual utility costs which exceed the standard and result in a deduction will be verified if the household has moved or the amount has changed by more than $25. Both the obligation to pay child support and the amount of payment will be verified when an occasional reporting household claims a member has begun paying child support.
Verification will be requested via an advance notice of adverse action. If the household supplies verification which results in a decrease in benefits or a case closure, another advance notice of adverse action will be issued to advise the household of the effect of the change. See FSC 11440.
Verification of medical expenses will be requested if the household reports total medical expenses that have changed by $25 or more. Verification will also be requested if the household has declared an expense which may be past due or subject to reimbursement.
If a household does not submit required verification before the specified
* deadline (except for verification of child support payments, medical expenses or
actual utilities), the household's case must be closed. If verification of child
support payments, medical expenses or actual utility costs is not supplied before
the deadline, the expense will be disallowed. The case will be closed only if the household's income exceeds the limits when the expense is disallowed. (NOTE: If verification of actual utility costs is not provided, the worker will use the utility standard in the budget if the household is entitled to the standard. If not, all unverified utility costs will be disallowed.
Shortening a certification period is recommended when the worker feels that an in-depth interview and imposition of full verification requirements are needed.
The following actions must be taken to shorten a certification period.
See FSC 10210 for instructions on completion of the DCO-239.
Shortening a certification period is not an adverse action as long as the DCO-239 is mailed to the household in a timely manner.
If the household's food stamp benefit amount will not change, the household will be so notified via a manually issued Notice of Action (DCO-1).
When the food stamp benefit amount decreases or the case closes as a result of a reported change, an advance notice of adverse action must be issued unless the report meets all of the following conditions:
The information was reported in writing via Change Report Form (DC0-234) or a letter signed by the head of the household, spouse, or other responsible household member.
Based solely on the household's written report, the worker can determine the household is ineligible or the food stamp benefit amount will decrease.
The household is advised of its right to an administrative hearing and continued benefits if the hearing is requested within 10 days of the date of the notice.
If continued benefits are requested, the household's previous benefit amount must be reinstated within 5 work days. (See DOCUM 7310.)
If the reported change meets all these conditions, an advance notice of adverse action is not required. However, an adequate notice must be issued to be received by the household before the reduced benefits are authorized. For case closures, the adequate notice must be received by the household before or at about the same time the household's benefits would normally be authorized.
Either the notice of adverse action or the adequate notice must advise the household of:
The nature of the change (reduction or closure); The reason for the change; and The effective date of the action.
When the food stamp benefit amount increases as the result of a reported change an adequate notice must be issued. The notice of action must advise the household of:
The new food stamp benefit amount; The reason the benefit increased; and The effective date of the increase.
If the household will receive supplemental benefits as a result of the change, the notice must specify the amount of the supplement and the month of receipt.
In the situations listed below, adverse action may be taken on an occasional reporting case without the issuance of a notice.
OCCASIONAL REPORTING
Type of Change | Reporting Requirement | Processing Standard | Verification CODE | Notice CODE |
INCOME -Change in source | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VR | NOAA or AN |
INCOME - Increases or decreases by $25 or less | NONE | 10 days | VIO | NOAA or AN |
INCOME -Increases by more than $25 | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VIO | NOAA or AN |
INCOME -Decreases by more than $25 but less than $50 | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VR | AN |
INCOME -Decreases by $50 or more | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days / not later than the beginning of next calendar month | VR | AN |
LIQUID RESOURCES Reach or exceed $2,000 | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VIO | - NOAA or AN |
VEHICLES Acquires a vehicle | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VIO | NOAA or AN |
ADDRESS/ RESIDENCE | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VQ | AN |
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER -Enters home. | Within 10 days of date known | 10 Days / not later than the beginning of the next calendar month | VQ | NOAA or AN |
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER -Leaves home. | Within 10 days of date known | 10 days | VQ | NOAA or AN |
SHELTER COSTS | Only if change of residence -If so, within 10 days of date change becomes known | 10 days | Entitlement to Standard VQ Actual Utility costs VS25 | AN |
CHILD SUPPORT | NONE | 10 days | VR | NOAA or-AN |
DEPENDENT CARE COSTS | NONE | 10 days | VQ | NOAA or AN |
MEDICAL COSTS | NONE | 10 days | VS25 | NOAA or AN |
NOTICE CODES FOR REPORTED CHANGES
£N - Issue an adequate notice.
NOAA - Issue an advance notice of adverse action.
NON - No notice is required.
VERIFICATION CODES FOR REPORTED CHANGES
VR - This information must be verified.
Vfl - This information must be verified if questionable.
VIO - This information must be verified if incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent or outdated.
VS25 - This information must be verified if the source has changed or the amount has changed by more than $25.
Households subject to quarterly reporting will be assigned a mandatory 12 month certification period and required to submit a report every third month. At the end of the 12 month period, the household must be recertified.
The following food stamp households are not subject to the quarterly reporting requirement:
All other households will be subject to the quarterly reporting requirements.
A household may enter quarterly reporting only when an initial application or a recertification is approved. If a household reports a change and is no longer exempt from the quarterly reporting requirement, the household's certification period will be shortened as explained in FSC 11430.
In the following situations a household must be given a full explanation of the quarterly reporting requirements.
When a household enters quarterly reporting for the first time.
When a household was not subject to quarterly during the last
certification period.
If more than one full calendar month has elapsed since the household last
participated in the Program.
The worker will provide a pamphlet to the household and will:
Explain that the household must submit a report form each quarter;
Explain the changes that must be reported;
Explain that the household has no other reporting requirements but is
allowed to report changes independent of the quarterly reporting system;
Show the household how to complete and return the form; and
Explain to the household that failure to return the quarterly report will
result in case closure.
A pamphlet and an abbreviated explanation of quarterly reporting will be furnished to other households at the time of the interview. This explanation may consist of:
A review of the quarterly reporting requirement;
A review of the changes which are to be reported; and
An explanation that failure to return the quarterly report will result in
case closure.
All quarterly reporting (QR) households will be given a mandatory 12 month certification period. If a change is expected in a month when a quarterly report is not scheduled to be processed, the worker will use the review for change field on the DCO-233.
Generally, three quarterly reporting forms will be generated during a household's 12 month certification period. (In the 12th month the household must be recertified.)
When an initial application is approved, the first quarterly reporting form will ., be processed three full months after the month of application. The first three month period will be based on the date of application.
EXAMPLE - An application is submitted on April 16. Regardless of whether the application is approved in April or May, the quarterly reporting form must be processed during the month of July. Thereafter, quarterly reporting forms will be processed in the months of October and January. The household will be recertified in March.
When a household is recertified, the first quarterly reporting form will be processed three full months into the new certification period after the month of application.
EXAMPLE - A household applies and is recertified in December. The new certification period begins in January. The first quarterly reporting form will be processed in March. Thereafter, quarterly reporting forms will be issued in June and September. The household will be recertified again in December.
Quarterly reports will be extracted five work days from the end of the month and mailed three days after extract. The form will be due on the fifth of the month. The household must submit a quarterly report form before the end of the report month, or the case will automatically close.
Quarterly reports received in the county office on or before the due date (the fifth of the month) must be completed before the end of the report month. This means the household must be notified before the end of the report month of the effects of the report on eligibility and benefit amount.
* Quarterly reports received in the county office after the due date but postmarked before the end of the report month must be processed within 10 days or before the end of the report month, whichever is later. If the last work day falls on a weekend or holiday, forms received on the first work day of the following month will be considered to have been received before the end of the report month.
Processed means
If the household submits a quarterly report before the end of the report month but the county does not process the form by the end of the month for any reason, the case will automatically close. If the household is later determined to be eligible, the case will be reinstated according to the instructions in DCOUM 7310.
Occasionally, a quarterly reporting (QR) household will report a change in the last twenty days of the second month of the QR cycle. The change must be processed if there is adequate time to affect the household's benefits for the third month of the QR cycle. If not, the change will be processed when the household submits the quarterly report.
In some instances, a household will be issued an advance notice of adverse action that expires during the last ten days of the second month of the QR cycle. See below for the correct procedure to follow in these instances.
Situation 1 - In the first two weeks of the second month of the QR cycle, a QR household reports a change. Verification is requested. The household submits the verification as requested.
Action - If the verification is provided in time to affect the third month of the QR cycle, the change will be processed immediately. If not, the change will be processed when the QR form is submitted.
Situation 2 - In the last two weeks of the second month of the QR cycle, a QR household reports a change. Verification is requested. The household does not submit the verification and the QR form is extracted. The household submits the QR form.
Action - If the case remains open for anv reason, the QR form will be processed.
If the case has been closed, the correct action will depend on when the QR form was mailed to the household.
Situation 3 - A household moves. The food stamp case is transferred to the new county of residence. The household submits the QR form after the closure occurs.
Action - A new application must be submitted in the county where the household lives. The household will be so notified by the county receiving the QR form.
A copy of the quarterly report will be issued to each county office. The county may duplicate this form for households reporting non-receipt or loss of the quarterly report.
The names and birth dates of the casehead and all household members must be entered on the form. The form must be signed by the casehead or other responsible household member or the authorized representative. Forms which do, not contain the names of household members and a legitimate signature will be returned to the household for completion. If names, but no birth dates appear on the form, the worker may contact the household by telephone for the dates of birth or the'name of the casehead. (Workers entering information on the form
If the form is submitted some time after the date it was completed and signed, the worker is allowed, but not required, to obtain verification of additional pay the household should have received by the date of submission. For example, if the income verification submitted by the household with the form is representative of the household's current pay, the household may not need to submit additional verification.
Questionable information which appears on the form must also be verified. The worker will request verification and/or collateral contact if:
The worker may request verification of any questionable situation. However, the reason the situation is considered questionable must be documented in the case record. For example, if a household is reporting there has been no change in a source of unearned income that has historically fluctuated by more than $25.00, the worker may request verification of the income from that source.
Also, the worker may refer cases to the Field Investigator or may conduct a field investigation if there is reason to think information provided on the form is false. If possible, the investigation should be completed before the form is processed. See FSC 12440 for additional information about reports from Field Investigators.
Verification must always be requested via a Request for Information (DCO-218). The deadline for providing required verification is the end of the report month. However, the household must be given at least 10 days to provide the required verification. If necessary, the deadline will be extended into the month following the report month to allow 10 days. (If the 10 day period ends on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be further extended, until the end of the first workday following the weekend or holiday.) For households furnishing the required verification before the specified deadline but after the case has closed, eligible households will be reinstated as instructed in DCOUM 7310. An adequate notice will be issued to ineligible households. (See FSC 11570.)
If a household does not submit required verification before the specified deadline (except for verification of child support payments, medical expenses or actual utilities), the household's case will close. If the verification is submitted after the deadline, the household will be issued a Notice of Action (DCO-1) stating that the food stamp case has already been closed and the household must reapply.
must use a different color ink, must initial the entry and must document the name of the household member who provided the information.) If the household cannot be reached by telephone, the form will be returned to the household for the necessary information.
Unsigned forms will be returned to the household. In other instances, when a form lacks sufficient information to determine the household's current circumstances, the household may be interviewed by telephone. Information provided in a telephone interview will be clearly labeled and the following information documented - the name of the person interviewed, the date of the interview and the name of the worker who conducted the interview. If telephone contact is not possible the form may be returned to the household for completion. The household will be given until the end of the report month or 10 days, whichever is later, to return the completed form.
The incomplete form will be accompanied by a Request for Information (DCO-218), explaining that if the form is not returned by the date indicated on the Request for Information, the case will close. The form will tell the household to contact the county office if assistance is needed in completing the form.
The following income verification must be submitted with the quarterly report.
Exceptions: Self-employment income which has been annualized need not be reverified each time a quarterly report is submitted. Contractual income which has been annualized need not be reverified each time a quarterly report is submitted.
See the chart in FSC 11580 for add i t i onal i nformati on about requi red verification.
* Quarterly reporting households will be budgeted prospectively. Therefore, for earned income, the household must submit, at a minimum, verification of earnings received in the 30 day period prior to the date of completion of the form. (Usually, this will be the two or four most recently received check stubs.) If the household submits additional verification, this verification may be used to anticipate the household's income for the upcoming three-month period. See FSC 7512 and FSC 7523 - 7523.2 for additional information.
If verification of child support payments, medical expenses or actual utility costs is not supplied before the deadline, the expense will be disallowed. The case will be closed only if other verification is missing or the household's income exceeds the limits when the expense is disallowed.
NOTE: IRS matches occur only at application. Therefore, this section contains no information on handling IRS matches. See FSC 2500 through 2600 for information about IEVS. See FSC 2610 for information about handling IEVS reports at application. See FSC 2800 for an explanation of IEVS reports generated on applicants.
For quarterly reporting households, reports from the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) will be processed only when the quarterly reporting form is processed. IEVS reports generated on quarterly reporting households will not be tracked through the Food Stamp Pending Case Action File. The county will be responsible for insuring IEVS reports are processed as the quarterly reporting forms are processed.
IEVS reports received during the quarter will be posted to the FSQR IEVS Screen (FQIP). The screen will continually update as IEVS reports are received so that only the most current information appears on the screen. In other words, if an SSI mismatch report is generated each of the three months in the quarter, only the most recent mismatch report will appear on the screen. If there were no matches during the quarter, the screen will contain the following message - "NO MATCHES FOR THIS MEMBER." Each time a quarterly reporting form is processed, IEVS information must appear as a part of the case action. Counties will have the option of receiving paper IEVS reports or printing the screen.
Documentation of IEVS matches must appear in the case record at each quarterly report. A copy of either the paper IEVS report or the IEVS screen must appear in the case record as documentation that the county has completed the process of determining if there is an IEVS match on any household member. See Step 1 below for information about additional documentation required for matches.
The following actions must be taken on each IEVS match.
-BENDEX Change
-New SSI Cases
-SSI Mismatch
-COLA Mismatch (when involving SSI recipients)
-UI Benefit Matches
A household affected by one of these matches must provide verification only if it disagrees with the information.
Information from the following matches must always be verified.
-BENDEX Wage
-BENDEX Error
-ESD Wage
See Appendix E to the DCOUM for an explanation of the contents of each IEVS report. Look under the explanation of the FQIP screen.
Verification may be obtained from a collateral source (employer, agency, etc.) or from the household. The verification must include the amount of the income, whether the household actually received the income, and the period during which the income was received. If the household provides inadequate verification, the caseworker must attempt to resolve the discrepancy by contacting other collateral sources. See FSC 2700-2720 for additional information.
If the household cannot provide needed verification and the worker cannot contact a collateral source to get the verification, the household's statements about the income will be accepted. In no instance will a household be denied benefits solely because a person outside the household (including those in business or other agencies) cannot or will not provide verification.
If the household fails to respond or if the household provides required verification and, as a result, a case closure or an allotment reduction occurs, an adequate notice must be issued to the household.
See the Glossary, definition of Notice of Actiontfor additional
information.
See FSC 2920 for instructions on calculating IEVS savings.
H561Delaying Processing to Get IEVS Information
The deadline for providing required verification of IEVS information will be the, end of the report month. However, the household must be given at least 10 days to provide the required verification. If necessary, the deadline will be extended into the month following the report month to allow 10 days. If the household furnishes the required verification before the specified deadline but after the case has closed, eligible households will be reinstated. (See DCOUM 7310.) If the household is not eligible, an adequate notice will be issued. (See FSC 11570.)
If the household does not submit the required verification before the specified deadline, the household's case will close. If the verification is submitted after the deadline, the household will be issued a Notice of Action (DCO-1) stating that the food stamp case has already been closed and the household must reapply in order to participate in the Program.
For counties which choose to receive paper reports, changes which occur on the IEVS screen after the IEVS report is generated are not required to be processed. For counties which choose to print the IEVS screen, the screen must be printed after the quarterly reporting form is received in the county office. Changes which occur on the IEVS screen after the screen is printed are not required to be processed.
Any county may choose to access the IEVS screen at any time during the quarterly report month. However, if the screen is accessed before the quarterly reporting form is processed, any changes which appear on the screen must be handled as part of the quarterly report.
An adequate notice will be issued to any household whose food stamp benefit amount changes as a result of information reported on the quarterly report. The adequate notice must be received by the household before or at about the same time the household's benefits will normally be received. The adequate notice must advise the household of:
-The nature of the change;
-The reason for the change; and
-The effective date of the change.
An automated notice may be issued in most circumstances. See APPENDIX H to the DCO User's Manual.
In the situations listed below adverse action may be taken on a quarterly reporting case without the issuance of a notice.
received. (See FSC 13310.) If the household was properly notified at the time the restoration was authorized, no notice need be sent after all installments have been authorized.
QUARTERLY REPORTING
Type of Change | Reporting Requirement | Processing Standard | Verification CODE | Notice CODE |
Earned Income | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VR | AN- |
INCOME -Change in source | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VR | AN |
INCOME - Increases or decreases by $25 or less | NONE | End of report month | VIO/VQ | AN |
INCOME -Increases by more than $25 | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VIO | AN |
INCOME -Decreases by more than $25 but less than $50 | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VR | AN |
INCOME -Decreases by $50 or more | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VR | AN |
LIQUID RESOURCES Reach or exceed $2,000 | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VIO | AN |
VEHICLES Acquires a vehicle | When QR form is submitted | End of report month | VIO | AN |
ADDRESS/ * RESIDENCE | As soon as change becomes known | 10 days | VQ | AN |
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER -Enters home. | When QR form is submitted | By end of report month | VQ | AN |
HOUSEHOLD MEMBER -Leaves home. | When QR form is submitted | By end of report month | VQ | AN |
SHELTER COSTS | Only if change of residence -If so, when QR form is submitted | By end of report month | ENTITLEMENT TO STANDARD VQ ACTUAL UTILITY COSTS VS25 | AN |
DEPENDENT CARE COSTS | NONE | By end of report month | VQ | AN |
CHILD SUPPORT | NONE | By end of report month | VR | AN |
MEDICAL COSTS | NONE | By end of report month | VS25 | AN |
NOTICE CODES FOR REPORTED CHANGES
M - Issue an adequate notice.
NOAA - Issue an advance notice of adverse action.
NON - No notice is required.
VERIFICATION CODES FOR REPORTED CHANGES
YR - This information must be verified.
VQ - This information must be verified if questionable.
VIO - This information must be verified if incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent or outdated.
VS25 - This information must be verified if the source has changed or the amount has changed by more than $25.
At any application (initial or recertification), a certification period of up to 24 months may be assigned to any household in which there is no earned income, all household members are eligible, and each household member is either aged or disabled as defined in theGlossaryunderAged/Disabled Household,
All households assigned a 24 month certification period are subject to the occasional reporting requirements. (See FSC 11350.) Additionally, these households must submit a signed Food Stamp Midpoint Review (DCO-244) at the end of the first 12 months of the certification period.
On the last work day of each month or at the time of monthly extract, a DCO-244 will be generated for each household in its 10th month of certification when the certification period is longer than 12 months. For example, on January 31, a DCO-244 will be issued for each household with a certification period longer than 12 months when the 12th month of certification ends in March. DC0-244s will be accompanied by a report entitled "FS Cases Selected for Annual Review for MONTH" (FS-4026).
During the household's 11th month of certification, the county office will mail the DCO-244 to the household along with a Midpoint Review Instruction Sheet (DC0-235). The DCO-224 and DCO-235 should be mailed after the 15th day of the month but before the end of the month. The DCO-244 is intended to be used with a window envelope.
The household must return the Food Stamp Midpoint Review (DCO-244) no later than the 15th day of the household's 12th month of certification. If the 15th day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline for receipt will be extended to the first work day following the 15th. Failure to return the DCO-244 by the last day of the 12th month of certification will result in case closure.
When a household returns a signed DCO-244 by the 15th day, the county must process the report before the end of the month. Any signed DCO-244 returned before the end of the 12th month of certification must be processed. When DCO-244s are processed after the end of the month, the household's benefits must be reinstated.
There is no requirement for a formal interview at the midpoint review. An informal interview may be conducted when the worker feels information reported on the form is inaccurate, inconsistent or incomplete. Even then, when the household has reported information that can be clarified through the submission of documentary evidence, it will not be necessary to conduct an interview.
An interview may be conducted with any responsible household member or with the household's authorized representative (AR). A telephone interview will be conducted whenever possible. If the household cannot be interviewed by telephone or does not wish to be interviewed by telephone, an in-office interview or a home visit may be substituted. Interviews will be scheduled via a Request for Information (DCO-103).
Returned Midpoint Review Forms (DC0-244) need not be fully completed. As long as the household returns a signed form, the worker may obtain the remainder of the needed information through an interview or other reliable documentary sources.
Unsigned DC0-244s received in the county office will be returned immediately to the household with a completed Request for Information (DCO-103). The household must be given at least 10 days from the date the notice is issued to return a signed form. If the form is returned after the end of the 12th month of certification but before the 10 day notice period expires, the household's benefits may be reinstated as instructed in DCOUH 7310.
All medical expenses must be reported and verified at the midpoint review. See FSC 11640 for instructions.
No special verification requirements will be imposed for changes reported at the time of the midpoint review. Households required to furnish verification must be allowed at least 10 days to do so. (It may be necessary to reinstate some cases in order to insure the household has 10 days to furnish verification.) When verification is needed, the worker will issue a DCO-103 to the household.
A household's case will not be closed solely due to failure to provide verification of a deductible expense. Instead, the expense will be disallowed. The case will be closed only if the household's net income exceeds the maximum allowed after the expense is disallowed. (See FSC 8961 if the net income exceeds the maximum, but the household is categorically eligible.)
Verification of deductible expenses received after the stated deadline will be handled as a reported change. The day after the date of receipt will be considered day one of the 10 day change processing period.
The following chart provides specific references to policy which explains the verification and processing of reported changes.
TYPE OF CHANGE | POLICY REFERENCE |
RESIDENCE/ADDRESS | FSC 12210 - 12211 |
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION | FSC 12220 - 12228 |
LIQUID RESOURCES / VEHICLES | FSC 12230 - 12233 |
INCOME | FSC 12240 - 12242 |
NOTE: Changes in shelter costs are only required to be reported when the household has actually moved to another address.
Any change in food stamp benefit amount resulting from a change reported at the midpoint review will be effective in the 13th month of the certification period.
If, as a result of a change reported at the midpoint review, a household no longer meets the criteria to be assigned a certification period longer than 12 months, the household's certification period will be shortened to 13 or 14 months as instructed in FSC 11430. This will allow the generation of a Notice of Expiration (DCO-239) to the household. The household may then reapply under the normal guidelines for recertification as specified in FSC 10100 -10810.
If, as a result of a change reported at the midpoint review, a household becomes ineligible, the case will be closed unless the household is categorically eligible as explained in FSC 8961.
At the time of the midpoint review, the medical expenses of each household member must be declared and verified. See FSC 6500 - 6526 for a full explanation of the procedures for allowing a medical deduction.
Under no circumstances will a one time medical expense be prorated over a period longer than 12 months. When an applicant household is assigned a certification period longer than 12 months, one time medical expenses will be prorated over the first 12 month period. One time expenses reported as a change during the first 12 month period will be prorated over any months remaining in the first 12 month period.
Any one time medical expenses which were prorated over part or all of the household's first 12 months of certification must be dropped when the Midpoint Review Form (DC0-244) is processed. One time medical expenses will be allowed in the second twelve month period if the expense was incurred or payment otherwise became due in the month of the midpoint review or the month prior to the midpoint review. One time expenses may be allowed in the first month following the midpoint review or averaged forward over the second segment of the cerfication period. This is the household's choice. Any expenses no longer being incurred by the household must be dropped from the budget, and new expenses must be added to the budget.
If the household declares medical expenses but does not provide verification or provides inadequate verification, this information will be requested via the Request for Information (DCO-103). The household may provide this information at any time before the end of the 12th month of certification unless the DCO-103 is sent during the last 10 calendar days of that month. In that case, the household must be allowed 10 days to provide the needed verification of medical expenses.
Failure to return verification of medical expenses must not cause the household's case to close unless net income exceeds the standards as a result of the disallowance of unverified medical expenses.
Verification of medical expenses received after the stated deadline will be handled as a reported change in medical expenses. The day after the information was received will be day one of the 10 day change report processing period.
An adequate notice will be issued to each household at midpoint review to advise the household that the review has been completed. Any changes must be explained on the notice. The notice should be received by the household before or at about the same time that the next food stamp benefits should become available.
If the household's certification period is being shortened as a result of information reported on the form, the household must be so advised.
These notices will be issued manually via a Notice of Action(DCO-1).
Mass changes are based on legislative or regulatory actions which affect all or a substantial portion of the statewide food stamp case load. Households are not responsible for reporting changes which will be handled as a mass change.
Examples of mass changes include:
Changes in the income eligibility standards;
Changes in the earned income deduction, standard deduction, dependent care deduction, or shelter deduction.
Changes in the food stamp benefit amount (NBI);
Cost of living adjustments (COLA) on SSI or SSA payments; and
Changes in the TEA rate of payment.
COLAs will be effective in the month of the increase unless the case cannot be automatically adjusted. Cases which cannot be automatically adjusted will be .. processed manually. Manually processed COLAs must be reflected no later than the second issuance of benefits available to the household after the month in which the change was effective.
Notices will be mailed to all affected households. Depending on the nature of the change, the notices may either be general or specific.
General notices will explain the nature of the change, how the change may affect the household's food stamp benefits, who the household may contact if there are questions, and how the household may request an administrative hearing. Specific notices contain the same information; however, the household's old and new food stamp benefit amount will be stated.
Reports generated at the time of a mass change may include the List of Changes, aMismatch List and aList of Closures. Not all reports are generated at all mass changes. For example, a mismatch list is generated for a COLA mass change but not for an NBI mass change.
The county's responsibilities for clearing these reports are explained in FSC
This report is generated at every mass change under various titles. It is provided mainly for reference. The information which will appear on this report is listed below:
Case name
Case number
Category (NA or PA)
Current ending certification date
Old food stamp benefit amount
New food stamp benefit amount
Other information will be provided depending on the nature of the change.
This report is generated at a mass change when income on the food stamp file must be matched to income on other files. Changes which require this type of matching include, but are not limited to, SSA and/or SSI increases and decreases. (NOTE: SSA amounts do not appear on the Recipient Master File unless the member also receives SSI. Increases in SSA which cannot be obtained from the Recipient Master File are calculated.)
The mismatch list is a report of the cases which could not be automatically changed because a problem existed with the information on either file. The report contains the following information.
- Name & SSN of the case head Category (NA or PA) Ending date of the certification period SSN of member whose income mismatched Other information will be provided depending on the nature of the change.
The reason for the mismatch is indicated by a code. These codes are listed below.
The following actions must be completed to clear a mismatch:
This is a listing of cases closed during the mass change because the net income exceeds the maximum allowed. These reports are generated only to counties where at least one case closure occurred. The following information appears on the .- report.
The name and SSN of the case head
Category (NA or PA)
Old and new net income amounts
Each case listed on the report must be examined by a county office worker to ensure the validity of the closure. If the closure is found to be correct, the worker will document that the case has been checked and the closure found to be correct. The worker will initial and date this documentation. No additional action is required since closure notices are issued automatically.
If the closure is incorrect, the case must be reopened. No new application is required.
Households are advised via an automated notice of their rights to an administrative hearing. For valid closures, benefits will be reinstated only if the household feels policy was misapplied or the budget was computed incorrectly.
The household's statement of when the notice was received will be used to determine the 10 day advance notice period during which reinstatement may be requested. In questionable cases, the Food Stamp Section, Central Office, will be contacted to determine the approximate date the notice was mailed.
016.20.99 Ark. Code R. 015