SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide

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Coleen Young
5 years ago
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The guide provides clarification on some of the more common fields in Wrap Up that affect

Display Eligibility Summary This first page reviewed in Wrap Up provides an overview of the

1 Your Journey Starts Here! This guide is for new eligibility workers who are learning how to read Wrap Up. The guide provides clarification on some of the more common fields in Wrap Up that affect outcomes for Food Assistance. Display Eligibility Summary This first page reviewed in Wrap Up provides an overview of the eligibility outcome of the case based on the data entry. Note: As a best practice, complete a FS-3C when working on cases. This calculations sheet can help anticipate outcomes when used with your knowledge of the data entry of the case. Page 1 of 11

2 1) Program Group - You can sort this column (and all others) by clicking on the column name. Make sure that all of the correct HLPGs appear here. 2) Payment Month - As a best practice, review at least two months of payments. 3) Eligibility Status - This column displays if the case is Passing, Failing, Pending, or has been Denied. If you are not sure why a case has a specific result use the Reason button. 4) Benefit Amount - The allotment a household (HH) will receive. Look for prorated allotments, if applicable. Look at the second month to see if the benefits fluctuate. 5) Household Size - The number of eligible HH members on the case. Ensure that this number is correct. 6) Verification Checklist (VCL) Summary - Always review the information in this group. Request only the verifications that are truly needed. An eligibility decision cannot be held up for verification of expenses or exempt information. Use the PA Verification Matrix to determine if verification is needed. Before sending a VCL, see if the customer has the information with them, then try to obtain a Collateral Contact or Interface to verify the information. 7) User Notes - When generating a VCL, always provide clear instructions of what is being asked of the HH. If detailed notes are not provided to the customer, QA errors will likely result because the request was unclear. Always be clear about which verifications are requested and try to use language the customer will understand. (Example: Provide one check stub for Month from ABC Company. ) If the HH requested to receive correspondence in Spanish, the VCL must be written in Spanish. Page 2 of 11

3 Display Individual Eligibility Summary SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide This page identifies the eligible members of the SNAP HH. Best practice is to review all people listed on this page to identify who will be included in the SNAP calculation, and if their income or expenses will be prorated. 1) Payment Month Always check the results for at least two payment months. 2) Individual Review the results for all HH members on the case. 3) Participation Status If you see Ineligible or Excluded, use the Reason button to identify the reason the person is not eligible. If the reason is incorrect, return to Interactive Interview to correct the data entry. 4) Eligibility Result Based on the data entry, CBMS will determine if the individual will be approved or denied for SNAP. If they are denied, discontinued, or the results don t match what you expected to see, use the Reason button to see why this result was received. 5) Begin Date Are benefits commencing as of the right date? Do you need to correct the AI? 6) Reason (button) Select this button when you see that an individual is Pending, Failing, or being Denied for SNAP. This button provides the eligibility reason for each individual. This reason will appear on the NOA the HH will receive. Always make sure it reflects the correct reason or a QA error could result. 7) Companion Cases If the HH is active on other HLPGs (for example, AF), review any Companion Cases that may also require an authorization upon completion of this case. Best practice is to authorize any companion cases that exist or they may end up on the exception reports. Page 3 of 11

The 1 st Income Test Gross Income Test tab SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide This tab shows if a HH has passed the first income test for SNAP which is the Gross Income Test.

Note: If a HH declares they are over the gross income limit, the case will be denied based on client statement.

4 The 1 st Income Test Gross Income Test tab SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide This tab shows if a HH has passed the first income test for SNAP which is the Gross Income Test. If a HH fails the income test, they will be denied for exceeding the gross income limit for SNAP. Note: If a HH declares they are over the gross income limit, the case will be denied based on client statement. Complete the data entry based on the customers declaration, run EDBC, and authorize the denial. While a VCL will not be generated, if the HH provides verification after the authorization, determine if the case needs to be rescinded or if a new AI is needed. If a household is over the gross income standard only generate a VCL if you feel the household would be potentially eligible for FA or if information is questionable. Page 4 of 11

5 1) Payment Month This field displays the Financial Eligibility results for the month selected. Always check the first and second months on a case. 2) Household Size - The number of eligible HH members. If the HH size is wrong: Review the Display Individual Eligibility Summary page to see the reason why HH members are denied or disqualified which can tell you what data entry to review next. 3) Gross income Total - The total amount of income that is counting towards the household s eligibility. This amount consists of all earned, unearned, and any prorated income in the HH. If the income you anticipated is not correct: Use the Individual Details button to identify which income is incorrect. Be aware that the Child Support Expense deduction would reduce this amount. 4) Gross Income Standard If your HH size is right, then this amount will be correct. This is the monthly gross income limit based on the 130% or 200% Federal Poverty Limit (FPL). If you see $150 in this field, it is reflecting the income limit to determine Expedite benefits. 5) Categorical Eligibility - This entry identifies which set of Categorical Eligibility rules was applied to a household. Most households should fall under ECE (Expanded Categorical Eligibility). If you see SE (Standard Eligibility) listed here, it indicates that this household has a resource limit for Food Assistance. Page 5 of 11

Display Individual Countable Income Eligibility Results page This page is accessed through either the Gross Income Test tab or Adjusted Income tab.

403 and 4.404 Exempt Income: 4.405 1) Individual Name - Highlight each individual in this group to review the income they may have.

6 Display Individual Countable Income Eligibility Results page This page is accessed through either the Gross Income Test tab or Adjusted Income tab. This page shows the income each HH member has and if the income is used in eligibility calculations. Note: Volume 4 lists what type of income is considered countable or exempt: Countable Income: and Exempt Income: ) Individual Name - Highlight each individual in this group to review the income they may have. 2) Summary This section shows the income that was entered for each individual. If an individual s income is incorrect: For earned income, go to the Employment History page to review the data entry. For unearned income, go to the Income Details page to review the data entry. Remember: Check F1 for guidance on Effective Begin Dates (EBD), Effective End Dates (EED), Date Reported and Date Verified fields. 3) Detail - This section shows where the countable income for an individual is coming from and whether it is considered exempt. Page 6 of 11

7 Adjusted Income tab This tab uses several deductions/disregards to reduce a HH s gross income in preparation for the second income test. This tab is also your second opportunity to review the HH income. 1) Gross Earned Income Total The HH s total countable earned income. If this amount is incorrect: Use the Individual Details button to find the income that is incorrect. 2) Unearned Income The total countable unearned income. Be aware that cash benefits will also be included in this total. 3) Cash Benefit Amount - If the HH is receiving CW or AF that amount is listed here. Page 7 of 11

Adjusted Income tab (Continued) SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide 4) Dependent Care - This deduction is entered on the Expense Details page when the HH reports paying for the care of a dependent HH member.

8 Adjusted Income tab (Continued) SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide 4) Dependent Care - This deduction is entered on the Expense Details page when the HH reports paying for the care of a dependent HH member. Remember, this deduction must be verified. 5) Homeless Shelter Disregard This standard deduction is for homeless HHs who incur monthly costs for shelter or utilities. This amount is entered on the Shelter Expense page. If a homeless HH pays for shelter (e.g., motel room, campsite, or a phone expense) CBMS compares the homeless disregard amount of $143 to the cost of shelter/utility expenses and allows the greater of the two deductions. Make sure to review this field at RRR. 6) Court Ordered Child Support This amount is entered on the Expense Details page based on the verifications provided by the HH. This is the only deduction allowed before the Gross Income Test is applied. 7) Medical Disregard - Entered on the Expense Details page, this field is only for individuals considered either Elderly and/or Disabled with unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding $35 monthly. If an individual only verifies the first $35 of a medical expense they ll receive the Standard Medical Expense Deduction (SMED) of $165. If an individual verifies paying more than $200 in medical expenses, they can receive a medical expense deduction based on the actual expense amount (minus $35). Page 8 of 11

9 Housing/Shelter tab This tab calculates the HH s shelter disregard that will be used in the second income test. 1) Total Housing Cost - Always review this field to see how much a HH is responsible to pay for shelter. (Examples of shelter costs: Rent/Mortgage, HOA Fees, Property taxes, etc.) This expense can be verified by the HH s declaration. If the wrong amount is listed: Review the data entry on the Shelter Expense Page. Which EBD, Date Reported, and Date Verified were used? Which FA Use Month is CBMS using? 2) Total Utility Cost Always review this field to see which tier of the Utility Allowance the HH is receiving. If the Utility Allowance is incorrect: Go to the Shelter Expense page to review the data entry. This utility allowance is determined by the type of utilities a HH is responsible for. Utility expenses can be verified by the HH s declaration. Note: For Allowable Shelter Costs, refer to E Page 9 of 11

10 The 2 nd Income Test Budget tab SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide This tab displays the results of the second income test. Many HHs must pass both the Gross Income Test and the Net Income Test before receiving an allotment. Elderly/Disabled HHs under the 200% FPL have to meet only the Net Income Test. Did the allotment prorate for the initial month of application? The minimum allotment for a HH is $16. 1) Total Net Income - This income will be used in the Net Income Test. This is calculated from information located on the Adjusted Income and Housing/Shelter tabs. 2) Household Size - This is the second opportunity to review the HH size. If this number is wrong: Go to the Display Individual Eligibility Summary page to review the results. 3) Net Income Standard If the HH size is right, then this number will be correct. This amount is the HH s monthly net income limit based on the 100% FPL relative to the household size. CBMS compares this field to the amount listed in field 1. If the HH s net income is below the net income limit, they will receive an allotment. If the household fails the Net Income Test, review the Adjusted Income tab to make sure all allowable disregards are correct. Did you forget to ask the HH about their expenses? Can you use a Collateral Contact or Interface to verify medical and dependent care expenses? 4) Allotment Amount The HH s FA benefit amount for the selected payment month. Things to remember: Page 10 of 11

Resource Test Tab Many SNAP HHs are not held to a resource test for eligibility purposes. HHs that have eligibility determined under Standard Eligibility rules, (4.206.C.

11 Resource Test Tab Many SNAP HHs are not held to a resource test for eligibility purposes. HHs that have eligibility determined under Standard Eligibility rules, (4.206.C.3) will have household resources weighed against the resource limit. HH s screened for Expedited Food Assistance benefits cannot have liquid resources that exceed $100. 1) Resource Details - These fields display the details of all resource information that is entered on the Resource Summary page in CBMS. While most SNAP HHs do not consider resources, and resources may not affect eligibility, it is best practice that all resources be entered on a case. 2) Maximum Resource Standard This field will be blank unless the HH falls into Standard Eligibility criteria. Remember that resources count for Expedited SNAP: The Resource limit for Standard Eligible HHs: i) For HHs not considered either Elderly and/or Disabled: $2000 ii) For HHs considered either Elderly/Disabled: $3250 The resource limit for Expedited FA: $100 Page 11 of 11

SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide

SNAP Wrap Up Field Guide Your Journey Starts Here! This guide assists workers in understanding how a Food Assistance (FA) allotment is calculated. The information in this guide can be useful when explaining to a Household (HH)