Expedited Food Assistance

1. Expedited Food Assistance Revised 10/14/2012

2. Introduction FAP Expedited Service policy is found in BAM 117. In this training you will be completing a group activities which includes client scenarios. You will also look at the application process for FAP Expedited Service. Lastly, you will see how to screen & rescreen in Bridges for FAP Expedited Service.

3. FAP Expedited Service Policy Importance of Expedited Service Common questions / comparison to regular service Eligibility criteria Standard allowances

4. Why is the Expedited Food Assistance Program important? It is designed to help the neediest of clients as quickly as possible.

5. Common Questions What is FAP Expedited Service? It has a shorter SOP and fewer verification requirements to determine FAP eligibility than are normally required. (Pg.1) What cases must be screened for expedited? All FAP applications must be screened for Expedited Service. (excerpt from pg.2)

6. Important Definitions • Expedited FAP • Shorter standard of promptness. • Fewer verification requirements. • Liquid Assets • Cash on hand. • Checking or saving account. • Savings bonds.

7. Standard of Promptness Expedited groups MUST have a Bridge Card and access to their benefits no later than the 7th calendar day following the date of application.

8. Eligibility factors are the same for expedited as regular FAP. There are 3 main areas to be looked at when determining if a group is entitled to expedited service.

9. If one of the following situations exists, an applicant group is entitled to expedited FAP. • Less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets. • Destitute migrant or seasonal farmworkers and have $100 or less in liquid assets. • Combined gross income and liquid assets are less than monthly shelter obligation (This includes: Rent, Mortgage, Taxes, Insurance, Heat and Utility Standard or Non-Heat Electric, Water, Sewer, Telephone, Cooking Fuel or Trash Removal Standards.)

10. Shelter Deductions (as of 10/1/13) Standards change October 1st, each year. RFT 255 – Food Assistance Standards

11. Group Activity, client scenarios Determining Expedited Food Assistance Eligibility

12. SCENARIO #1 Robert Smith works at McDonald’s with a gross income of $750.00 per month. Mr. Smith has a checking account at Fifth Third bank with an available balance of $10.00, and he is currently living in an apartment with a monthly rental cost of $550.00 per month, all utilities are included. Mr. Smith has a cell phone.

13. Is Mr. Smith eligible for Expedited FAP service? McDonald’s income = $750/mn. Checking acct. = $10.00 Rent = $550/month Telephone Expense = $34.00

14. Gross income $750 + Checking acct. $10 = $760 Monthly rent $550 + Telephone Expense $34 = $584 Mr. Smith’s shelter obligation is less than his monthly income and assets. Mr. Smith’s case is NOT Expedited FAP.

15. SCENARIO #2 Susan Jones receives $850 per month in disability benefits from Social Security. Ms. Jones has a checking account at Huntington Bank with an available balance of $5.00. She has a monthly lot rent obligation of $350 and a monthly mortgage obligation of $300. Ms. Jones is required to pay for all utilities, including her heat.

16. Is Ms. Jones eligible for Expedited FAP service? Social Security income = $850 Checking account = $5 Mortgage and Lot Rent = $650 Heat and Utility Expense = $553

17. Gross income $850 + Checking acct. $5 = $855 Monthly rent/mortgage $650 + Heat and Utility Expense $553 = $1203 Ms. Jones’ shelter obligation is more than her monthly income and assets. Ms. Jones’ case IS Expedited FAP.

18. SCENARIO #3 Jennifer Davis is currently unemployed. Ms. Davis does not have a checking or savings account, but she does have $40.00 cash on hand. She is currently living in a friend’s house and is not required to pay rent or help with any utilities. Ms. Davis does not have a cell phone.

19. Is Ms. Davis eligible for Expedited FAP service? Income = $0 Assets = $40 Rent and utilities = $0

20. Gross income $0 Checking acct. $0 Cash on hand $40.00 Monthly rent $0+ Telephone Expense $0 = $0 Ms. Davis has less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets. Ms. Davis’ case IS Expedited FAP.

21. SCENARIO #4 Barbara Roberts earns $1200/month working at Shape Corporation. Mrs. Roberts has 2 children, Jonathan and Elizabeth. Each child receives $200/month in child support. Mrs. Roberts has a savings account at Macatawa Bank with an available balance of $400. She has a monthly mortgage of $780 with property taxes and homeowners insurance included in the monthly mortgage. Due to Mrs. Roberts owning her home, she is required to pay for all utilities, including her heat.

22. Is Mrs. Roberts and her children eligible for Expedited FAP service? Mrs. Roberts earned income =$1200 Jonathan’s Child Support = $200 Elizabeth’s Child Support = $200 Macatawa Savings Acct. = $400 Mortgage = $780 Heat and Utility Expense = $553

23. Gross income $1200 + Child support $400 + Savings acct. $400 = $2000 Monthly mortgage $780 + Heat and Utility Expense $553 = $1333 Mrs. Roberts shelter obligation is less than her monthly income and assets. Mrs. Roberts’ case is NOT Expedited FAP.

24. Application process • Interview • Minimum Required Verifications • Subsequent months • Subsequent expedited determinations • Expedited service denials

25. Expedited FAP groups must participate in an interview.A telephone interview is acceptable.

26. Minimum Required Verification for Expedited Groups In all cases, identity MUST be verified. Reasonable efforts must be made to verify: • Residency • Income or lack of income • Assets, and • All other eligibility factors.

27. IDENTITY • The grantee must verify his/her identity. • If an authorized representative (AR) applies on behalf of a group, the AR must verify his own and the client’s identity.

28. Allowable verifications for identity: • Drivers license • State-issued identification • School-issued identification • Document indicating a client’s receipt of benefits under a program which requires verification of identity (ex. SSI, RSDI) • The data match with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is sufficient to verify identity and should be completed prior to requesting verification from a recipient; see BAM 130.

29. Subsequent Benefits Groups that did NOT provide all verifications that are required must NOT be issued benefits for subsequent months until all necessary verifications are received.

30. EXAMPLE: Application = December 4 SOP = December 10 Expedited Opened = December 6 Months Authorized = December only Benefit Period = December – November next year. Client must return verifications in order to receive benefits beyond December.

31. Groups that apply after the 15th of the month receive a minimum benefit period of two months (month of application and following month).

32. EXAMPLE: Application = January 17 SOP = January 23 Expedited Opened = January 19 Months Authorized = January & February Benefit Period = January – December next year Client must return verifications in order to receive benefits beyond February.

33. Limits on Expedited Service There is NO limit on the number of times a group can be approved under expedited procedures. However, prior to the next expedited approval, the FAP group must either: 1)Complete the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited approval, or, 2)Be processed under normal application processing standards.

34. Denial of Expedited Service Verbally notify the client of the expedited service denial if expedited service was registered. You must re-screen ALL FAP applications in Bridges to determine whether the FAP is Expedited. If the FAP is not Expedited, Bridges will reset the SOP due date to 30 days from the original application date.

35. RSS can obtain information from Section B of the DHS-1711 to make entries on to the Expedited Screening Page in Bridges during the registration process. Registration Support Staff (RSS) – Expedited Screening

36. For MiBridges Applications, Expedited Screening information is completed by the applicant and populated in Bridges for RSS staff. Registration Support Staff (RSS) – Expedited Screening

37. Eligibility Specialist (ES) must Re-Screen EVERY pending FAP application for Expedited Service, either based on the information obtained through the MiBridges Application, the DHS-1171, or verifications.

38. ES can obtain information from Section H of the DHS-1711 to make entries for Assets on to the Expedited Screening page in Bridges.

39. Alternately, ES obtain information from the MiBridges application in the Assets Section to make entries for in Bridges for re-screening purposes.

40. ES can obtain information from Section L for self-employment income.

41. Section M for employment income.

42. Section N for unearned income

43. From the MiBridges application, ES can obtain information regarding income from the Other Income Information section.

44. Job Income section from MiBridges for employment income.

45. To conduct a FAP Expedited (Re)screening during your data collection session, make sure you stop at the Program Request LUW.

46. At the Program Request – Summary screen select the Pencil Icon for FAP.

47. On the Program Request screen, select “Next” twice to get to the Expedited Screening tab. Enter asset, income and utility obligation information here.

48. Answer the questions regarding prior FAP benefits and prior Expedited determinations. Select Screen button Your result will appear here.

49. Questions?