Food Stamp Benefits 101 A Training for Child & Family Advocates

1. Fourth Annual DTA/DEEC Conference: “Food Stamps: There When You Need Them” Food Stamp Benefits 101A Training for Child & Family Advocates Department of Transitional Assistance Food Stamp Program Outreach Unit May 2008

2. Today’s Topics • Barriers to Participation • Combined Application Process • Roles During the FS Application Process • Steps in the FS Application • Verifications • Maximizing FS Benefits • FS Connections • How to Stay on FS • Wrap Up

3. GeneralBarriers to Participation • Complicated Application • Burdensome Process

4. Specific Barriers for Families • Welfare Stigma • Transportation Issues • Lack of Child Care • Work Hours

5. Special Rules for Families with Children • Higher Gross Income Test (200% of the Federal Poverty Level) • Application Held for Up to Six Months if Over Net Income Test (100% of the Federal Poverty Level) • Household Assets Are Not Counted • Dependent Care Costs can be deducted for higher FS benefits

6. Applicants for Both Cash Assistance & FS • DTA provides two types of cash assistance benefits: • TAFDC is a benefit for families with children. • EAEDC is a benefit for disabled individuals. • FS benefits will be offered as part of the cash assistance application process. • Cash assistance applicants must apply in person at the local DTA office. Waiver of the face-to- face interview for cash assistance applicants is limited.

7. Applicants for Both Cash Assistance & FS • Cash assistance and FS eligibility must be determined together as a single application. • one interview is conducted • common proofs (income, SSN, noncitizen status) accepted Note: If eligibility rules differ, unique proofs will be requested by program. • Cash assistance and FS benefits will be approved together if eligibility requirements are met for each program. Approval letter provides information about benefit level and length of eligibility for each program.

8. Applicants for Both Cash Assistance & FS • Cash and FS will be denied if applicant fails to complete the application process or is ineligible for a financial /nonfinancial reason. • FS may be approved on Day 30 if all FS requirements are met. Cash assistance applicants can request an extension to comply with cash program rules. • Cash assistance and FS benefits will be accessed using a single Bay State Access Card. This card is similar to a bank card (savings & checking account) and provides access to benefits from each program. • Penalties for violating program rules may differ.

9. Roles During the FS Application Process

10. Role of Advocate • Market the Food Stamp Program • Clarify the FS application process • Help the applicant complete the application and related forms • Help the applicant gather proofs with focus on maximizing benefits • Explain how to access Food Stamp benefits

11. Role of DTA Case Worker • Explain the Food Stamp Program and the application process • Screen for expedited issuance • Screen for waiver of the face-to-face interview • Schedule the application interview (phone or in person)

12. Role of DTA Case WorkerContinued • Request necessary proofs • Assist in gathering proofs, if necessary • Apply nonfinancial and financial eligibility rules • Approve/Deny the application

13. Role of Applicant • Submit FS application to DTA • Complete an application interview (phone or in-person) by Day 14 • Provide required proofs by Day 30 • Request assistance in gathering proofs if problems arise before Day 30 • Notify DTA caseworker if a hardship is preventing submission of proofs

14. Steps in the FS Application Process

15. Application Interview Verifications Determination • Submit application • Mandatory Interview (Phone or In Person) • Verifications submitted to determine FS eligibility and benefit level • Application must be approved or denied by Day 30

16. Application Time Frames The date the Food Stamp application is received in a DTA office: • Sets the start date for Food Stamp benefits; and • Starts the clock for DTA action on the application.

17. Walk In Application Date applicant comes into the DTA Office Mail In Application Date signed application is date stamped in the DTA Office Fax or WebApplications Date is determined by day and time the application is transmitted to the DTA Office as indicated on the fax or BEACON date stamp for a Web application. Received on or before 5:00 PM on a business day, the start date is that day Received after 5:00 PM or on a non-business day, the start date is the next business day Application Start Dates

18. Contact Dates(Mail-In, Fax or Web) • If there is a phone number, the DTA worker will attempt to call applicant on Day 1. • If there is no phone number or DTA worker is unable to contact by phone, an appointment letter will be sent on Day 2 scheduling an interview.

19. First Contact(Mail-In, Fax or Web) If there is a phone number on the application and DTA worker is able to make contact: • DTA worker will screenfor Expedited FS and waiver of the face-to-face interview. • If the face-to-face interview can be waived, the interview can be completed at time of call if applicant is available or it will be scheduled for a later date.

20. Other Contacts • The Application Info Notice is sent within five days of receipt of FS application. • EBT Card with zero benefits and PIN will be requested and mailed once identity is verified.

21. Scheduling the Application Interview • If the applicant qualifies for Expedited FS, the application interview will be scheduled no later than Day 7. • If the applicant does not qualify for Expedited FS, the application interview will be scheduled by Day 14.

22. Expedited Benefits(Households in Dire Need) If during the interview it is determined that an applicant: • meets all financial and nonfinancial eligibility requirements, and • has submitted proof of identity (only verification needed for Expedited FS) Expedited FS benefits must be issued within 7 days.

23. Determination • An application must be approved or denied no later than Day 30. • If all mandatory verifications are submitted and application meets all financial and nonfinancial eligibility requirements, application will be approved.

24. Determination Continued • If application fails either financial or nonfinancial eligibility requirements, the application will be denied. • If applicant fails to submit the mandatory verifications or misses the scheduled interview, the application will be denied.

25. Verifications Certain information must be verified to determine Food Stamp Program eligibility and benefit level.

26. MandatoryVerifications Proofs that must be provided for eligibility (if applicable): • Identity (applicant only) • Residency • Gross Earned Income • Unearned Income • Noncitizen Status Note: Cash applicants are subject to an asset test.

27. Optional Verifications Proofs that may be provided to get higher benefits: • Shelter Costs • Utility Expenses • Dependent Care Expenses • Medical Expenses • Child Support Payments

28. Mandatory Verifications Submitted Day 31-60 No new application required. • DTA will reinstate case effective the original start date of application if: • Applicant was interviewed and submitted some mandatory verifications on or before Day 30; or • The Department requested verifications after Day 20; or

29. Mandatory Verifications Submitted Day 31-60 • Applicant requested assistance in obtaining verifications or indicated difficulty obtaining verifications;or • Applicant notified the DTA worker of a hardship that prevented the submission of verifications by Day 30.

30. Mandatory Verifications Submitted Day 31-60 No new application required. • DTA will reinstate case effective the date theverifications were received if: • All verifications were requested by Day 20; and • Applicant did not submit any verifications by Day 30; and • Applicant did not request assistance in obtaining verifications or indicate any difficulty obtaining verifications; and • Applicant did not report a hardship in submitting verifications.

31. Optional VerificationsNot Submitted by Day 30 An application which meets all financial and nonfinancial requirements will be approved on Day 30 if all mandatory verifications have been received. Unverified optional expenses will not be used in calculating the FS benefit amount for the initial month.

32. Optional VerificationsSubmitted after Day30 If applicant provides missing optional verifications after Day 30, optional expenses will be used to calculate thenext month’s FS benefit issuance.

33. Maximizing FS Benefit Amounts for Families The Dependent Care Deduction is an underutilized FS deduction. Recent changes make it easier to claim and verify Dependent Care Expenses. The applicant must now provide a written statement only of monthly child care expenses for each child in day care or an after school program.

34. Maximizing FS Benefit Amounts for Families Deductible Dependent Care Expense amounts are capped based on the age of the child. • $200 is the maximum monthly deduction allowed for a child under age 2. • $175 is the maximum monthly deduction allowed for a child age 2 or older.

35. Farm Bill Update • Federal legislation reauthorizes the Food Stamp Program and other nutrition titles such as WIC and school meals. • Proposed language in the final bill would eliminate the cap on dependent care expenses. FS households would be able to deduct actual monthly child care costs for each child. Stay tuned …

36. Important FS Connections • FS and TAFDC households with a child(ren) age 4-18 are automatically enrolled in school meals programs. These households are also sent information on school breakfast and summer meals programs. • FS households with a pregnant woman or a child(ren) under age 5 are shared with DPH/WIC. • FS households will be sent information about DEEC child care. • FS households may be income eligible for fuel assistance benefits and will be sent LIHEAP and utility discount information. Some FS households will be automatically enrolled in the HEAT & EAT Program. • FS households may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and will be sent EITC information.

37. How to Stay on FS Benefits

38. FS Recertification Process • Approval letter tells client the length of certification period • Length of the certification period varies based on household situation Important: TAFDC/FS households are certified for one year and FS eligibility will be reviewed as part of the cash assistance redetermination.

39. FS Recertification Process Forty five days before the end of the certification period, clients receive a notice stating that the FS case will close unless they reapply or return the enclosed form. Notices have two dates: • Date FS benefits will end and • Date recertification form/verifications must be returned to ensure continuation of benefits without interruption

40. FS Certification Period Expired Recipient will not be required to complete a new application if: • The recertification form was submitted before the closing date and mandatory verifications are submitted no later than 30 days after the closing date; or • The recipient contacts the DTA worker about recertification on or before the certification closing date and the recertification process is completed within 30 days of the closing. Note: “Contact” means the recipient attempts to recertify before the closing date, e.g., contacts the DTA worker to schedule an appointment or returns a completed recertification form.

41. FS CertificationPeriod Expired Continued Recipient will be required to complete a new application if: • The recertification form was not submitted on or before the closing date; or • No contact was made with the DTA worker on or before the certification closing date.

42. Finding Food Stamp Program Information • Local DTA Office • 1-866-950-FOOD • www.mass.gov/dta • www.gettingfoodstamps.org

43. DTA FS Outreach Unit Lauren Arms Ledwith FS Outreach Manager 617-348-5452 lauren.arms@state.ma.us Karen Driscoll FS Outreach Specialist 617-348-5257 karen.driscoll@state.ma.us Janice McKittrick FS Outreach Specialist 617-348-5833 janice.mckittrick@state.ma.us