Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP)

Transcription

1 /w EPDw UJNjAxN Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) 08/27/2010 Summary: Due to the recent flooding in Illinois the following counties have been declared federal disaster areas: Carroll, Cook, Dupage, JoDaviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services Midwest Regional office has approved the State to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in the above counties from August 30, 2010 through September 03, Persons not receiving SNAP benefits under the regular program may complete an Application for Disaster SNAP Benefits (Form 0270) at the FCRC servicing those areas from 08/30/10 through 09/03/10 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Persons that were receiving regular SNAP benefits in August, 2010 may complete a Request for D-SNAP (Form 0274) from 08/30/10 through 09/03/10. There must be a face-to-face interview with an eligibility worker. The D-SNAP has a special application, timeframe (July 22 - August 20), and eligibility requirements to help eligible victims of a federally declared disaster receive SNAP benefits quickly. The interview and eligibility determination are made at the time they are applying for the D-SNAP. If eligible, applicants receive the maximum benefit amount for their SNAP unit size for one full month effective August, Applicants receiving regular SNAP benefits may qualify for supplemental D-SNAP benefits for August, 2010 to bring their benefit amount up to the maximum benefit amount for their SNAP unit size. They can qualify for this benefit even if they received replacement SNAP benefits for food destroyed as a result of the disaster. Eligibility requirements under the regular SNAP program do not apply to the D-SNAP. Due to the recent flooding in Illinois the following counties have been declared federal disaster areas: Carroll, Cook, Dupage, JoDaviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services Midwest Regional office has approved the State to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in the above counties from August 30, 2010 through September 03, D-SNAP The D-SNAP has a special application, timeframe (July 22 - August 20), and eligibility requirements to help eligible victims of a federally declared disaster receive SNAP benefits quickly. A person or their approved representative must complete and sign an application for

2 disaster SNAP benefits. The applicant or their approved representative must have a face-to-face interview. Determine eligibility at the time a person files a disaster SNAP application. Approved Representative An approved representative is a person who has been given permission by a client to act on their behalf when conducting business with the Department. The approval must be in writing and must be signed by the person who wants the benefits. Where Can People Apply for Disaster Assistance Persons may complete a disaster SNAP application at the Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) servicing the Carroll, Dupage, JoDaviess, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. In Cook, the following offices accept disaster SNAP applications; West Suburban, Humboldt Park, Northwest, Calumet Park, Roseland, and Oakland. Who Can Get D-SNAP To be eligible for SNAP under this program the applicant must meet all three of the criteria below: Be an Illinois resident who lived or worked in Carroll, Cook, Dupage, JoDaviess, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago Counties at the time the disaster happened. The applicant may be eligible for D-SNAP even if they temporarily live outside the disaster area, including out of state. Persons who were residents of another state at the time the disaster happened do not qualify for the Illinois D-SNAP. Note: Persons temporarily located out-of-state requesting regular SNAP benefits, should be referred to their current state of residence to apply. Intend to purchase food and prepare meals during the benefit period, 07/22/10-08/20/10. The applicant does not have to purchase food or prepare meals that require cooking. Have adjusted income no greater than the special limits for household size set for the program. Please note citizenship and qualified immigrant do not apply to persons who need disaster food stamps. So legal permanent residents who have been in the US less than 5 years can receive this benefit, as well as undocumented non-citizens. The key criteria is they lived in the disaster area and the following additional requirements are met Additional Requirements to Receive D-SNAP As a result of the disaster, the applicant must have experienced at least one of the following: damage or destruction of their home or business; or have disaster-related expenses which have been paid or will be paid during the disaster period and will not be reimbursed during the disaster; or Disaster-related expenses include, but are not limited to dependent care expenses; repairs to home or other property; funeral or medical expenses; moving and storage costs; temporary shelter costs; costs to protect property; clean up expenses. loss or inaccessibility of income (reduction, termination, or delay in receipt of income) or;

3 inaccessibility of liquid assets (such as financial institutions are closed, preventing access to resources) Note: Eligibility requirements under the regular SNAP do not apply to the Disaster SNAP including: Student, Striker, INS Status, Work Requirement, and SNAP Program Disqualifications. D-SNAP Processing for New Applicants A person must complete and sign an Application for Disaster SNAP Benefits, Form The D-SNAP application asks general family information, disaster related questions, specific information for each person on the application, and income and asset information. Verification Acceptable proof of identity and residence, or job include, but are not limited to, a: photo ID; driver's license; work or school ID; voter registration card; signed affidavit from someone who know's the applicant's identity; rent receipt; utility bills; pay stubs; insurance policies; bills with the applicant's address; city directory. Keep a copy of the verification used or make notation on the application. Do not deny the application just because the applicant cannot verify the residence they lived at prior to the disaster, since the circumstances under which they were forced to leave might make obtaining this verification difficult. Verification of income, resources, or expenses is not a requirement for the D-SNAP. An applicant only has to provide their best estimate of net earned income (total take home pay), net unearned income, cash resources, and allowable disaster-related expenses. Do not question reasonable amounts. D-SNAP Period The disaster SNAP period, 07/22/10-08/20/10, is a fixed period of time determined by the Department and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) at the time of a disaster. Use the 07/22/10-08/20/10 period as the budget period for the person's income, accessible assets, and disaster expenses for all the counties.

4 From the Application for Disaster SNAP Benefits, enter on the D-SNAP Worksheet, Form 0271 (available in Smart Forms), the applicant's income, available assets, and disaster related expenses. Determine the client's adjusted income and compare that amount to the Maximum Disaster Income Limit for the SNAP unit's size from the table below. If eligible, the unit is entitled to the full benefit amount for their unit size. D-SNAP Income Exempt any disaster relief payment made by federal, state, or local government, or by a disaster assistance group. Income Limits and Benefit Amount Compare the client's adjusted income to the Maximum Disaster Income Limit for the appropriate SNAP unit size. If eligible, the unit is entitled to the full benefit amount. The maximum disaster SNAP income limits and benefit amounts are: SNAP Unit Size Maximum Disaster Income Limit One-Month Benefit 1 Person 1,503 $200 2 Persons 1, Persons 2, Persons 2, Persons 2, Persons 3, Persons 3,437 1,052 8 Persons 3,749 1,202 9 Persons 4,061 1, Persons 4,373 1,502 Each Additional Member Example 1: Mr. Z lives in an area that was declared a disaster. He had damage to his mobile home. Mr. Z applied for disaster SNAP benefits on September 2nd. His take home pay for the budget period of 07/22-08/20 is $1,200. He has $100 in a checking account that is accessible. Mr. Z's Total Net Income $1,200 Accessible Assets +100 Total =1,300 Mr. Z's income is less than $1,503, so he is eligible for a full benefit amount of $200 for August. Example 2: Mrs. M lives in an area that FNS declared a disaster with her two daughters. Mrs. M applied for disaster SNAP benefits on September 1st. Her take home pay for the budget period of 07/22-08/20 is $2,100. She has $500 in a savings account. Mrs. M reports $1,200 in damages to furnishings and clothing. She has no insurance. Mrs. M's Total Net Income $2,100 Accessible Assets +500 Total =2,600

5 Mrs. M's Total Net Income $2,100 Disaster-related expenses -1,200 Adjusted Income 1,400 Mr. M's income is less than $2,126, so she is eligible for a full benefit amount of $526 for August. Processing the Application The eligibility worker completes the remaining parts of the D-SNAP Worksheet, Form The appropriate parts of the worksheet must be completed, whether the application is approved or denied. If the case is approved, include the case number, payee's social security number, and payee's date of birth in the fields at the top of the form. If they have a recipient number from a previous case, enter the recipient number and cross reference Case I.D. number. Ask the applicant if they are currently receiving any benefits from the Department of Human Services. If they are currently receiving benefits other than SNAP benefits, authorize disaster benefits using the existing RIN and assign a category 08 number when processing the application. Once the interview and Form 271 are complete, sign the worksheet and give the client a copy. Retain the original for the case file for processing the approval action. Applications for Regular SNAP If a person files a regular SNAP application, check to see if D-SNAP were authorized. A regular SNAP application approved during a disaster period must have it's first month's benefits reduced for any overlap between programs. Start regular SNAP benefits beginning the first day after the disaster period expires. Approval Timeframe Benefits must be available within 3 workdays. Mercury benefits are available on the Illinois Link card on the 2nd workday after terminal entry. Benefits will only be available for 90 days. Any remaining benefits will be expunged from the account that time. Denying the Application Deny the application if the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements for D-SNAP benefits. Deny an application for an ineligible applicant using TA 05 and any denial TAR. Enter code 29 in Item 39 to suppress the notice. Complete and send Form 360A, Action Taken on Your SNAP Case, to the client informing them that they do not meet the eligibility requirements for D-SNAP. Appealing the Decision An applicant determined ineligible for D-SNAP benefits must be advised of their right to an immediate review of the decision. If the review does not satisfy the dispute, the applicant may request a fair hearing. Explain the reason for denial to an ineligible applicant. Advise the applicant of their right to an immediate review of the decision by a supervisory staff member who was not involved in the original decision. If the review does not satisfy the dispute, have the person complete Notice of Appeal (Form 103) to request a fair hearing. Follow the procedures in PM and attach a memorandum advising that the disputed matter is related to disaster SNAP policy. This will expedite the hearing.

6 Applicant Has an Active SNAP Case If a D-SNAP applicant has an active SNAP case in any category, have them fill out a Request for Disaster SNAP Benefits (Form 0274). A face-to-face interview is required and the worker must verify that the client lived or worked in the disaster area. Do not register a D-SNAP application. If eligible, issue D-SNAP benefits as a supplement for 08/10 on the active case using TA 56/TAR 29. Using the TAR 29 is critical. All D- SNAP benefits must be tracked and reported to FNS. The amount of the supplement is the difference between their regular monthly benefit (including recoupment amount) for August, 2010 and the maximum benefit amount for their unit size. Form 0274 is available in Smart Forms and will use the correct maximum benefit amount. Notify the client of the amount of the supplement by filling out Form 0274 and giving them a copy of the form. File the original request in the case record. Issue the supplement the same day of the request. Persons receiving SNAP can get D-SNAP benefits even if they received received replacement SNAP benefits for food destroyed as a result of the disaster. Fraud Prevention & What You Can Buy With Your Benefits. To prevent client fraud in the D-SNAP, two notices (Form 0272 and Form 0273) must be posted in the office lobby area in a prominent location during the timeframes that you are taking D- SNAP applications. Another poster What You Can Buy With Your Benefits (Form 0275) must be posted so applicants know what they can purchase with their D-SNAP benefits. Post Disaster Case Review Case reviews are conducted on D-SNAP cases. A case file record must be kept, including Form 0270, Form 0271, and copies of any verifications and notices that were provided. The Bureau of SNAP Integrity will conduct the post disaster case review so keep the case records together in a special file. If an employee participates in the D-SNAP keep their case record separate from other applications in a secure location, but available for review when the disaster period ends. All employee cases will be reviewed by the Bureau of SNAP Integrity. [signed copy on file] Grace Hong Duffin Acting Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services