Library: Policy

340:50-11-27. Changes after application and during the certification period

Revised 6-1-13

Households are required to report changes per OAC 340:65-5. At each application or renewal, the worker advises households of their reporting responsibilities, gives them Form 08FB038E, Changes in Household Circumstances, and advises them to contact their worker to request additional forms as needed. • 1

(1) Reported change in household members' eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance. The computer converts the food benefits to non-public assistance (non-PA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits when the household reports one or more household members is not receiving TANF cash assistance. This may occur when:
- (A) one or more persons not eligible to receive TANF or State Supplemental Payment (SSP) income moves into the home;
- (B) a child included in the TANF cash assistance turns 18 or 19 years of age and is no longer eligible for inclusion in the TANF cash assistance; or
- (C) the adult parent or needy caretaker included in the TANF cash assistance tests positive for the illegal use of a controlled substance or substances per OAC 340:10-4-1 and is removed from the TANF cash assistance.
(2) Reported change results in closure of TANF. When the worker closes the TANF cash assistance and the household is receiving SSNAP food benefits, one of the actions described in (A) through (C) are taken.
- (A) The worker closes the food benefits the same effective date as the TANF cash assistance closure when TANF is closed as a result of the: • 2
  - (i) payee's death;
  - (ii) failure or refusal to participate in TANF Work;
  - (iii) household moving out-of-state; or
  - (iv) household requesting closure of the TANF cash assistance and food benefits. • 3
- (B) The computer converts the SSNAP food benefits to five months of transitional food benefits (TFB) when the TANF cash assistance is closed for reasons other than those listed in (A) or (C) of this paragraph and: • 4
  - (i) there is no companion SSP case; or
  - (ii) the TANF case is the primary food benefit case, and the companion SSP case remains open.
- (C) The computer converts the food benefits to non-PA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits when the TANF cash assistance is closed: • 5
  - (i) for reasons other than those listed in (A) of this paragraph and the companion SSP case, which is the primary food benefit case, remains open; or
  - (ii) because the adult parent or needy caretaker refuses to comply or fails to follow through with screening for the illegal use of a controlled substance or substances requirements per OAC 340:10-4-1.
(3) Reported changes during the TFB certification period. The household is not required to report changes while receiving TFB. When changes are reported, the TFB benefit remains the same unless:
- (A) the household applies for TANF while in TFB status. Food benefits are converted to SSNAP at TANF certification as long as all household members are receiving cash assistance; or
- (B) a household member leaves the home and applies for food benefits in another household. • 6
(4) Notifications. When requested, the worker gives the TANF applicant a copy of the signed and dated application that informs the applicant food benefit eligibility is determined using information contained in the application. A computer-generated notice is sent to the household at certification and any time the food benefit amount changes. • 7

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:50-11-27

Revised 6-1-13

1.If at the time of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) renewal the household remains eligible for TANF cash assistance and food benefits, the worker completes an application for food benefits. The SNAP tab in Family Assistance/Client Services (FACS) is updated by the worker to show a new food benefit application.Then the new certification is processed with a "C" change.

2.The Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) food benefits are closed by the computer when the TANF cash assistance is closed for the reasons listed in (1) through (4) of this Instructions to Staff (ITS).The worker closes the food benefits for the reason listed in (5) of this ITS, or when the payee is disqualified for food benefits due to an intentional program violation (IPV).The reason codes from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Appendix U, Reasons for Negative Case Actions, are:

(1) death (01);

(2) TANF extension – failed or refused to meet TANF work requirement (29B);

(3) moved out-of-state (42);

(4) failed or refused to meet TANF Work requirements (52A or 52B); or

(5) client requests closure of TANF and food benefits (46A, 46B, or 46C).

3.When the client requests closure of the TANF benefits, the worker must ask if he or she wants to receive the food benefits.If the client wants to continue receiving the food benefits, the system automatically converts to transitional food benefits (TFB) when the worker updates the SNAP Tab with a "T" in the Type Action Taken field and the effective date of the TANF closure in the Effective Date field.

4.(a) The computer updates the TFB certification period to five months for the next effective date and updates the Action Type block with "T" to indicate TFB.

(b) Countable income other than TANF cash assistance received prior to the month of closure continues to be considered in the TFB calculation for the duration of the TFB period.Any new income the client reports that causes the TANF cash assistance to be closed is automatically omitted by the computer to determine the TFB allotment.Examples of this calculation are when a client receiving TANF cash assistance:

(1) has no income and requests closure of the TANF benefit.

(A) The TFB allotment is based on zero income as the TANF benefit is removed effective the date the TANF benefit is closed.

(B) The worker updates FACS Case Notes to document the reason for the closure;

(2) has earned or unearned income considered against the TANF benefits and reports an increase in the income that makes the client ineligible for TANF.

(A) The computer removes the TANF benefit and only the income considered prior to the closure of the TANF benefit is used to determine the TFB.

(B) The worker updates the increased income amount in FACS for the TANF benefit closure and Case Notes to document the reason for closure.

(C) The increased income is not considered in determining TFB;

(3) obtains employment and reports earnings in excess of the TANF benefit and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefit income guidelines.

(A) The worker updates the income in FACS, closes the TANF benefit, and updates FACS Case Notes to document the reason for closure.

(B) The TANF benefit is automatically omitted by the computer and the TFB is based on zero income.The new income is not used in the calculation of the TFB; or

(4) reports obtaining unearned income in excess of the TANF and food benefit income guidelines.

(A) The worker updates the income in FACS, closes the TANF benefit, and updates FACS Case Notes to document the reason for closure.

(B) The TANF benefit is automatically omitted by the computer and the TFB is based on zero income.

(C) The new income is not used in the calculation of the TFB.

5.The worker enters "C" in the action taken field in the SNAP tab of FACS.The "C" code allows the computer to determine the length of the SNAP certification period.

(1) The certification length is changed to 12 months if the food benefits are in the first through tenth month of certification.

(2) If the certification is in the 11th or 12th month, the certification length is changed to 14 months to ensure the client receives the Continue My SNAP Benefits notice.

6.(a) When a household member included in TFB benefits applies for food benefits in another household, the worker:

(1) explains the option to remain on TFB or to reapply for food benefits to the applicant; and

(2) encourages the applicant to remain on TFB if it results in higher benefits.

(b) FACS and FACS Case Notes are updated and TFB is not affected when the client reports:

(1) a new household member.

(A) The worker documents the information regarding the new household member in FACS Case Notes.

(B) The new household member is not added to the food benefits until the TFB period has ended;

(2) income exceeding 130 percent of the poverty level as shown on OKDHS Appendix C-3, Maximum Food Benefit Allotments and Standards for Income and Deductions; or

(3) a household member left the home and has not applied for food benefits in another household.

7.(a) Refer to OKDHS Appendix B-2, Deadlines for Case Actions.

(b) Refer to OAC 340:65-5-1 for notification requirements.