DSS Overview

Food Benefits TrainingBrief Program OverviewNWT 600 Module 01Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/2011109/25/2011ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this session, trainees will be able toExplain the basics of the Food Supplement ProgramExplain the Technical and Financial eligibility guidelines for food benefitsExplain a basic budget for food benefits.2Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20112

09/25/2011Food Supplement ProgramIts a SNAP!

SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramEnables low-income families to buy a variety of food that form the basis for better nutrition.3

Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20113Food Supplement ProgramSNAP- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- Farm Bill Section 4001 changed the name of the Food Stamp Program effective October 2008. Delawares food benefit program is called Food Supplement Program.

The purpose of the Food Supplement Program is to provide more nutritious diets to individuals of limited financial means. Food benefits provided to eligible households shall not be considered income or resources for any purpose under any Federal, State, or local laws.

Eligibility:Maximum gross monthly income limit is 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) based on family size.In Delaware, Non-Cash households would be Categorically Eligible for food benefits if they have a gross income of less than or equal to 200% of the FPL. Households receiving TANF, GA or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are not required to meet this income test in order to be eligible for food benefits.Resources are not counted for food benefits eligibility (for most Households).Non-Categorically eligible food benefits households, those HH that contain an IPV, must have their Resources considered towards eligibility

Allowable deductions may include:Percentage of earned incomePortions of shelter & utilitiesDependent care costsLegally obligated child support payments are considered an income exclusionMedical expenses for people age 60 and older or receiving certain disability payments See DSSM 9000, 9054

Food Supplement Program09/25/20114Last Revised:Page Number:09/25/2011Food Benefits5Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20115Food Benefits Food benefits can be used at any participating merchant that provides food. Food benefits can only be used to purchase food items that are not already prepared. Items such as alcohol, cleaning supplies, tobacco, pet food, etc are not authorized purchases.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards are used nationwide.These cards function like debit cards. Each client accesses their food benefits account when making food purchases. Each individual must have their own PIN number which is unique to them and their card. The card cannot be used without the PIN number. Vouchers however can be used for merchants that do not have Point of Sale (POS) terminals. The manual voucher is a paper form on which the retailer writes the card number, the cardholder's name, the store FNS number, and the dollar amount of the sale. The client must sign the voucher. The retailer must call in manual vouchers to eFunds to get an authorization for the amount of the transaction.

Benefits can accumulate on the card from month to month. However, if the benefits are not used after 12 months they will be expunged from the card.* (The benefits accumulating on the EBT card will be used from the earliest date credited.)Benefits expunged from clients accounts not used for 12 months will be applied to any existing food benefits overissuance.

See DSSM 9093, Food Benefits Act of 1977, Sect. 3 (g)

Food Benefits09/25/20116

Last Revised:Page Number:09/25/2011FB Program PenaltiesPenaltiesMisdemeanor ($100 - $4,999)$1,000 fine/one year in jailFelony (> $5,000)$250,000 fine/20 years jailTrafficking FB > $500Permanent disqualification.7

Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20117FB Program Penalties

Penalties - Whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, or possesses food benefits in any manner not authorized may subject any individual, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity to prosecution$100 - $4,999; is considered a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and up to one year confinement$5,000 and greater is considered a Felony and can receive up to a $250,000 fine and up to 20 years confinementIndividuals convicted of trafficking Food Benefits of $500 or more will be permanently disqualified from the Food Supplement Program.

See DSSM 900209/25/2011Technical Eligibility FactorsIdentitySocial Security NumberCitizenship / Alien StatusResidenceStrike StatusVerification ResponsibilitiesClientDSS assistanceChange of Source for VerificationCautious Acceptance8

Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20118Technical Eligibility FactorsIn order for applicants to become eligible for food benefits, certain Technical information must be provided.Identity of the applicant is required to be verified. Documentation that can verify an applicants identity shall be accepted.DSS will verify Social Security Numbers reported by the household by submitting them to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for verification through the DCISII system.If an applicant claims to be a U.S. citizen, this declaration shall be accepted unless the worker has reason to suspect otherwise. This is know as Cautious Acceptance.DSS must verify the eligible status of applicant aliens. If an alien does not wish DSS to contact INS to verify his or her immigration status, DSS will give the household the option of withdrawing its application or participating without that member.Applicants must reside in Delaware in order to receive benefits. A fixed residence or any term of residence is not required.Applicants for food benefits who are on strike or go on strike, must use pre-strike financial information to apply for or to continue to be eligible for food benefits.The household has the primary responsibility for providing verification of required documentation in order to establish program eligibility.DSS Staff must assist in the verification process for food benefit applicants as long as the applicants/recipients are being cooperative.When DSS changes the source of the verification requested, a new written notification informing the client will be required.

See DSSM 9008, 9017, 9032, 9035.1

09/25/2011Household Concept9

Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/20119Household ConceptA Food benefits household may consist of any of the following:1. An individual living alone;2. An individual living with others, but customarily purchasing food and preparing meals for home consumption separate and apart from the others;3. A group of individuals who live together and customarily purchase food and prepare meals together for home consumption; 4. An individual who is 60 years of age or older, living with others (and the spouse of such individual), who is unable to purchase and prepare meals because he/she suffers from a severe disability. Household Composition Children 21 years of age and younger living with their parents are considered part of the household even if they have children and/or a spouse living with them. Children (other than foster care children) who are under 18 and live under the parental control of a non-parent, adult household member cannot be separate households. Adult children (22 years of age and older) who live with their parents can be separate households if they purchase and prepare food separately.Spouses who live together: Who would be defined as married to each other under applicable State law; orWho are living together and are holding themselves out to the community as husband and wife by representing themselves as such to relatives, friends, or neighbors (common-law marriage) must be considered as customarily purchasing food and preparing meals together, even if they do not do so. (This does not include boyfriend/girlfriend living arrangements)Note: Same sex couples, for food benefits purposes, are not considered Spouses and the presumption of purchasing food and preparing meals would not apply to them.Children who live with a parent for a portion of the month can get food benefits with that parent.A divorced couple sharing a residence are separate households unless they purchase and prepare meals together.Infants are added into the food benefit assistance group once they come home from the hospital. The food benefits start from the beginning of the month the child comes into the household.

See DSSM 9013

09/25/2011Separate FB Household10

Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201110Separate Food Benefits HouseholdsAn otherwise eligible member of a household who is 60 years of age or older and who is unable to purchase and prepare meals because (s)he suffers from a disability or suffers from a non-disease-related, severe, permanent disability, may be a separate household provided that the income of the others with whom the individual resides (excluding the income of the spouse of the elderly and disabled individual) does not exceed 165% of the Federal poverty level. Only the spouse of the elderly and disabled individual is required to be included in the same household with the individual.

See DSSM 9013

09/25/2011FB Work Requirements11Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201111FB Work RequirementsNo physically and mentally fit individual over the age of 15 and under the age of 60 shall be eligible to participate in the Food Supplement program if the individual:refuses, at the time of application and every 12 months thereafter, to register for employment;refuses without good cause to accept an offer of employment at a site not subject to a strike or lockout at the time of refusal, at a wage not less than the higher ofthe applicable Federal or State minimum wage; or80% of the wage that would have governed had the minimum hourly rate been applicable to the offer of employment.refuses without good cause to provide DSS with sufficient information to allow DSS to determine the employment status or the job availability of the individual;voluntarily and without good cause quits a job or reduces the hours of work so the individual is working less than 30 hours per week; or fails to comply with a work supplementation program. See DSSM 9018.1Verification of Loss of Employment InformationApplicants for food benefits may make a self declaration regarding termination of employment. If the termination is not questionable, the DSS Worker can accept the clients declaration and document the case record.Applicants are not required to provide proof of termination of employment at intake (certification) unless it is questionable. Recipients of food benefits must verify termination of employment at recertification or when submitting to a periodic report. See Admin Notice A-07-201109/25/2011ABAWDs & Strikers12Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201112ABAWDs & StrikersABAWDs Adults who have no children in the household, and who are able to work will be referred to the E & T Contractors for participation requirements if they choose to participate in this voluntary program. If the ABAWD person does not wish to volunteer, they will receive their 3 months of food benefits for the 36 month period.09/25/2011Opportunity to participateExpedited Applicants7 daysNon Expedited Applicants30 daysClient Notification In person: 6th day/29th dayMail: 4th day/27th dayReview of TimelinessReview Timeliness Handout13Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201113Opportunity to ParticipateFood benefits families must be provided the opportunity to participate in the Food Supplement program by the 7th day following the filing of their FB application when they are determined to be eligible for Expedited Services.Families not eligible for Expedited Services must be given the opportunity to participate by the 30th day following the filing of their FB Application.

Note: The opportunity to participate means that the client had access to his or her benefits before the 7th or 30th day standard expires. In order to meet the 7/30 day standard, the agency must notify the client by the 6th or 29th day if notifying the client by phone or in person to pick up his card OR by the 4th or 27th day if notifying the client by mail.

DSSM 9041

09/25/2011Expedited Services14Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201114Expedited ServicesDSS provides Expedited Services to (eligible) FB households within 7 days of application in order to assist the family in purchasing food in a timely manner. Eligibility - The following households are entitled to expedited service:Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income, provided their liquid resources do not exceed $100;Migrant or seasonal farm worker households who are destitute provided their liquid resources do not exceed $100; Households whose combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household's monthly rent or mortgage, plus the applicable Standard Utility Allowance. Verifications In all cases, the applicants identity will be verified by either collateral contact or readily available evidence.All other verifications of required information may be postponed for up to 30 days. If the client does not provide required verifications, DCISII closes the case at the end of the expedited period.

See DSSM 9041

09/25/2011Expedited Application ProcessingAll Food Benefits Applications must be reviewed for possible Expedited Processing

Eligible clients must receive benefits within 7 calendar days Filing Date1st through the 15thsystem will issue benefits for the month of application16th through the 31stsystem will issue benefits for initial month of application and the second month on the same dayDelayed Recertifications

15Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201115Expedited Application ProcessingBenefits must be available to the recipient not later than the seventh calendar day following the date an application was filed. For a resident of a public institution who applies for benefits prior to his/her release from the institution and is entitled to expedited service, the filing date is the date of release of the applicant from the institution. There are no exceptions to these requirements for weekends or holidays.

Clients applying on or before the 15th of the month may be expedited for the remainder of the application month.Clients applying after the 15th of the month, may be expedited for the application and subsequent month.

Delayed Recertifications When a client re-applies for food benefits after the case has already been closed, workers must review the application for Expedited Services. For example: Clients case is closed for failure to Recertify by June 30th. The client files a new application and claims no income on July 5th. The FB Household is eligible for Expedited FB beginning on July 5th. DSS must process and provide benefits by July 12th.

The only way we cannot expedite is when identity has not been verified or the household fails to file a completed application or participate in an interview.

See DSSM 9041

09/25/2011Food Benefits RecertificationsSee Verification checklist Handout16Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201116Food Benefits RecertificationsNo household may participate beyond the expiration of the assigned certification period without a determination of eligibility for a new period. Households must apply for recertification and comply with the interview and verification requirements per 9030 - Interviews and 9038 - Verification Subsequent to Initial Certification.

A household submitting a timely application for recertification and meeting all other processing steps in a timely manner has a right to receive uninterrupted benefits.

If an eligible household files an application before the end of the certification period but DSS does not complete the recertification process within the 30 days after the date of application, continue to process that case and provide a full months allotment for the first month of the new certification period.

If the household files an application by the end of the certification period, but fails to take a required action, deny the application at the end of 30 days. The household has 30 days after the end of the certification period to complete the process and have its application treated as an application for recertification. If the household takes the required action before the end of the certification period, reopen the case and provide a full months benefits for the initial month of the new certification period.

If the household takes the required action after the end of the certification period but within 30 days after the end of the certification period, reopen the case and provide benefits retroactive to the date the household takes the required action.All income must be re-verified for Recertification of Food Benefits. DSSM 9091, 9038

09/25/2011Resources 17Resource Limit $2,000 $3,000 if elderly or disabledLast Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201117ResourcesResources consist of cash, and items that can be converted into cash such as but not limited to:Checking or Savings AccountsReal Estate (Excluding a primary residence)If resources have to be considered for a food benefits household, those households that contain an IPV, the Resource Limits are:$2,000 for regular households,$3,000 for households that contain and elderly or disabled individual

DSS does not currently count the resources for most FB families due to expanded Categorical Eligibility rules but households still have to be income eligible to be eligible for food benefits. Even though a household is categorically eligible to receive food benefits, they may not actually receive a benefit because of their income. Their income may be higher than the allotment charts allow to get food benefits.

See DSSM Admin Notice A-2-2000, 2023, 9042, 9045

09/25/2011FB Income DeductionsEarned Income Deduction (20%)Standard Deduction Based on family sizeDependent Care Costs - Actual Costs for Dependent CareShelter CostsRent or MortgageProperty taxes and insuranceStandard Utility Allowances FY 2011Heat/Cooling Standard ($414) Limited Standard ($283)One Utility Expense ($80)Telephone Only ($22)Maximum Shelter deduction ($458)Excess Shelter deductionAge 60 or older, or DisabledExcess Medical Expenses

18Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201118Food Benefits Income Deductions Food benefits applicants and recipients are entitled to receive specific deductions from their income when determining eligibility and benefit amounts. Some of these deductions are unique to the Food Supplement Program, such as: Shelter and Utility costs, an excess shelter deduction and excess Medical expenses. Other deductions are similar to other DSS programs, such as: dependent Care deductions, earned income deductions, etc.20 % Earned Income Deduction This deduction is for all FB households who have earned income.Standard Deduction - A Standard deduction is allowed for all food benefits applicant/clients based on their family size.Dependent Care Deduction Actual Dependent Care expenses will be deducted from a FB Households income.(General Assistance limit is $160 per child).Shelter Costs - Monthly shelter costs in excess of 50% of the household's adjusted income up to the Excess Shelter Deduction Limit (FY 2011 - $458).This is applicable unless the household contains a member who is age sixty (60) or over, or disabled. Such households will receive an unlimited excess shelter deduction for the monthly costs that exceeds 50% of the household's monthly income after all other applicable deductions.Homeless Shelter DeductionThis policy applies to households in which all members are homeless and have limited shelter expenses. Allow homeless households with limited shelter expenses a homeless shelter deduction of $143. Give homeless households the $143 homeless shelter deduction when their anticipated monthly shelter expenses are at or less than $143. Allow homeless households that incur monthly expenses greater than $143 the regular shelter expense deduction.Do not give the homeless shelter deduction to households that are provided free housing and utilities or households that work for their shelter.Utility Costs - Standard Utility AllowancesFood benefit applicants/recipients are entitled to receive a deduction from their income when they have utility expenses. This deduction comes in the form of a Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). These SUAs are adjusted every year with the COLA based on Federal Government guidelines. Any household with utility expenses must receive one of the following four SUAs:Heating and Cooling (HCSUA) Households who pay for either heating or air conditioning expenses Limited SUA Households who have at least two, non-heat/non-air conditioning utility expensesOne Utility SUA Households who only have one utility expense, and it is not heat or A/C or telephoneTelephone Only SUA Households who only have a telephone as their utility expense, (this includes land line or cell phone expenses)See the current COLA Administrative Notice for current SUA amounts.Excess Medical Expenses For FB households that contain a disabled individual or one over 60 years old, excess medical expenses greater than $35 that are not reimbursed may be considered as an income deduction.

See DSSM 9060, Admin. Notice A-09-2006, A-14-2007

09/25/2011Adjusting Gross IncomeMonthly Gross countable incomeLess legally obligated Child Support paymentsLess 20% Earned Income Deduction Less Standard Deduction (FY 11)HH size of 1 3$ 142HH size of 4$ 153HH size of 5 $ 179HH size 6 or greater$ 205Less Excess Medical expenses > $35Persons age 60 or over, orDisabledUnreimbursible expensesLess Actual Dependent Care costsHomeless Shelter Deduction ($143.00)Less Shelter Costs= Adjusted Net Income19Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201119Adjusting Gross IncomeIn determining Food Benefits eligibility and benefit amounts, the DCISII system will calculate the budget based on the information entered by the eligibility worker.The system will combine all countable income and deduct all allowable expenses. A budget will be displayed for review by the worker and eligibility results will be determined.See A-15-2010Food Benefits TrainingBrief Program OverviewNWT 600 Module 01Last Revised:Page Number:NWT 600-01 FB OverviewLast Revised: 09/25/201120