.This section provides requirements for prompt disposition, benefit issuance policy, and reinvestigations.
Section 208.130 RSMo states all benefits granted may be reconsidered by the FSD Director as frequently as necessary.
After establishing eligibility for assistance, ensure the participant remains eligible and adjust the grant when circumstances change.
At a minimum, Temporary Assistance eligibility is to be reviewed annually. A face-to-face interview is not required.
A Temporary Assistance reinvestigation can be completed using information from the food stamp application or recertification when all TA household members are part of the food stamp Eligibility Unit. When a reinvestigation of this type occurs, completion of the reinvestigation form is not required.
When a Temporary Assistance reinvestigation form (FA202) is received within the same month that the case closed due to failure to complete and return a reinvestigation form, take appropriate action to cancel close the case and process the reinvestigation using current procedures. Refer to FAMIS User Guide, “Completing a Temporary Assistance/Medical Assistance Reinvestigation in FAMIS” for instructions on how to complete a reinvestigation in FAMIS.
NOTE: Failure to enter a reinvestigation in FAMIS when the case was cancel closed during the same month the reinvestigation is due will cause FAMIS to begin the adverse action process again for failure to complete and return the reinvestigation form and results in a delinquent reinvestigation. Therefore, the eligibility specialist must enter the reinvestigation during the same month the reinvestigation is due to avoid the case closing again and to avoid a delinquent reinvestigation.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Ely’s reinvestigation is due in February 2009. Mr. Ely failed to complete and return his reinvestigation form by the due date, and the case closed for failure to complete the reinvestigation. On February 20, 2009, Mr. Ely provides his completed reinvestigation form. The eligibility specialist’s supervisor cancel closes the case. The same day the eligibility specialist completes the reinvestigation in FAMIS following current procedures.
Temporary Assistance cash eligibility payment is based on date of application.
A Temporary Assistance payment is received for the month in which the Temporary Assistance application is approved or the month in which the 30th day from the date of application occurs, whichever is earlier. In counting the 30 days, the date of application is the first day. For those Temporary Assistance approvals not otherwise receiving payment for the month in which the 30th day occurs, issue Retroactive Payments. Prorate any payment made for the month of application from the date of application to the end of the month.
When a family moves to Missouri from another state, and received a Temporary Assistance grant for a partial month from the other state, and is otherwise eligible for a payment from Missouri for the same month, issue a prorate payment for the month. Follow proration procedures as used in prorating first month's benefits (i.e., divide grant amount by 30 and multiply by the number of days payment can be made to determine the payment amount.
EXAMPLE: The state of Maryland verifies that the claimant received the last Temporary Assistance check for 4/16 through 5/15. The claimant moves to Missouri and applies for Temporary Assistance on 5/4. The county is ready to approve Temporary Assistance on 5/25. Prorate the grant for May only covering 5/16 through 5/31.
Retroactive payments are not recommended for any month for which the person was obviously ineligible. EXAMPLES:
An exception exists if it can be established that the individual was not eligible to receive cash under the old case, and would have been eligible for cash in the new case for the month(s) in question. The payment for other eligible persons in the new case cannot exceed the deficit or the percentage of need standard for the number of persons eligible for payment in that month, whichever is less.
EXAMPLE: Ms. Smith receives Temporary Assistance as an only child in her mother's case. On 7/15, she had a child and the household decides that Ms. Smith will apply for Temporary Assistance for herself and her child. Close Ms. Smith's mother's case and approve the Temporary Assistance application on 8/11. Since Ms. Smith received a cash grant under her mother's case for August, she is not eligible for a cash grant under her own case for August. However, her child is eligible for a payment for August in the amount of the deficit or $130 (the percentage of need standard for one), whichever is less. The August payment is recommended as a retroactive payment for one person.
However, if the person who received an Temporary Assistance cash payment in another Temporary Assistance case is an eligible child and is the only child in the case being approved, the caretaker is not eligible for cash payment for that month either. To be eligible for cash payment, the caretaker must be eligible to receive an Temporary Assistance cash payment for a child for that month.
NOTE: For retroactive payments covering the period prior to July 1, 1985, calculate the retroactive payment based on the percentage of need in effect for that period. See Consolidated Standard -- Percentage of Need table. Appendix B .
Any Temporary Assistance payment made for the month of application (both applications and reapplications) is only made from the date of application through the end of the month. Payments are made for the month of application:
When the 30th day falls in the month of application, the family is eligible for the full month's grant.
When approving a case in the month of application, determine the grant amount for the month of application and then prorate from the date of application to determine the actual payment. Determine the prorated amount as follows.
NOTE: *Always use 30 whether the month has 28, 29, 30, or 31 days in it.
The result, rounded down to the lower dollar, is the prorated amount to be paid for the month of application. If this amount is less than $10, the family is not eligible for a cash payment in that month.
When approving a case where the grant differs from month to month, the approval letter specifies the grant amount approved for each month. Advance notice is not necessary when a following month's grant is less than a previous month's grant.
Benefit proration policy does not change the policy regarding beginning date of Medicaid eligibility.
This provision also applies to applications/reapplications when adding persons to an active case. The only difference is that in this situation only prorate the increase in grant amount when approving the person in the month of application. If the prorated amount is less than $10, but when added to the other family member's grant the total exceeds $10, payment is made.
Policy references removed per memo above.
Policy references removed per memo above.
Policy references removed per memo above.
Section 208.130 RSMo states all benefits granted may be reconsidered by the Family Support Division (FSD) Director as frequently as necessary.
After establishing eligibility for assistance, ensure the participant remains eligible and adjust the grant when circumstances change.
At a minimum, Temporary Assistance (TA) eligibility is to be reviewed annually. A face-to-face interview is not required.
A Temporary Assistance review is completed when:
When a Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202) is received timely, refer to the FAMIS User Guide Completing a Temporary Assistance/MO HealthNet Review in FAMIS for instructions on how to complete a review in FAMIS.
When a Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202) is received in the same month the review is due but after the TA case is closed for failure to complete and return a review form, take appropriate action to cancel close the case and process the review using current procedures. Refer to FAMIS User Guide, Completing a Temporary Assistance/MO HealthNet Review in FAMIS for instructions on how to complete a review in FAMIS.
NOTE: Failure to enter a review in FAMIS when the case was cancel closed during the same month the review is due causes FAMIS to begin the adverse action process again for failure to complete and return the review form and results in a delinquent review. Therefore, the eligibility specialist must enter the review during the same month the review is due to avoid the case closing again and to avoid a delinquent review.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Ely’s review is due in December 2009. Mr. Ely failed to complete and return his review form by the due date, and the case closed for failure to complete the review. On December 20, 2009, Mr. Ely provides his completed review form. The eligibility specialist’s supervisor cancel closes the case. That same day the eligibility specialist completes the review in FAMIS following current procedures.
NOTE: When a TA case is cancel closed, review the Sanction/Disqualification (SANDISQ/FMAM) screen in FAMIS to see if a NWR (non-cooperation with TA work req (TA only)) first sanction was ended with the TA case closing. If a first sanction was ended, remove the end date from the SANDISQ screen. The NUM field displays 01 if this is a first sanction. Only a first sanction is ended by FAMIS when a TA case is closed.
Certain changes in circumstances necessitate a complete review of the Temporary Assistance (TA) case. The Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202) must be completed or the review process completed over the telephone provided everything needed to complete the review has been received when the following changes are reported:
Other changes will necessitate a complete review however a Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202) may not be necessary:
NOTE: When an in-person interview (which is NOT mandatory when completing an add-a-person action) or a phone interview can be conducted for the above mentioned changes, a Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202) is NOT needed. The controlled flow is completed with the participant’s input. If the change was reported by mail and there is no way to contact the participant, send a Temporary Assistance Eligibility Review Form (FA202), and complete the review for the TA case using the form.
Enter comments in FAMIS, when applicable, for non-financial and financial factors which can include:
Make service referrals at any contact with a family when a need exists or when someone requests a referral. The family should always agree to such a referral with the exception of suspected abuse or neglect. As a mandated reporter, if abuse or neglect is suspected, you are required to make a referral through consultation with local Children's Division staff or are to call the Child Abuse/Neglect hotline (1-800-392-3738).