Understanding Food Stamp Sanctions Process: Compliance Rules and Effective Dates

1. Sanctions “Computers Are Like Old Testament Gods; Lots Of Rules And No Mercy” Joseph Campbell EF website link

2. Three Types of Sanctions & Disqualifications Occurrence Level Sanctions ABAWD 3rd Ticket Disqualifications Regain 3rd Ticket Disqualifications EF website link

3. EF website link Occurrence Level Sanctions Initiated by EF Workers Two Day Process

4. Occurrence Level Sanctions EF website link No Shows for appointments Non-ABAWDS ABAWDS Exempt? Receiving Food Stamps?

5. Shows all approved and closed programs EF website link

6. Check for any Active Sanctions Check the Food Stamp Status Check for the NOA Cut-Off Date EF website link

7. NOA Cutoff Dates EF website link Before or After NOA Cutoff Determines Effective Begin Date NOA cutoff last day to initiate sanction to begin the next month Must give 10 +1 days notice to reduce benefits

8. Know the NOA cutoff date before you enter a date in this field. This field determines the start date of the sanction. The sanction will always begin the month following this date In this example, the sanction will begin in March. EF website link You should never have an Effective Begin Date that is after the NOA cutoff date and before the 1st of the next month. Never back date the Effective Begin Date.

9. EF website link Won’t give person adequate notice to reduce benefits effective the 1st of the next month. NOA Cutoff is last day to sanction for the next month

10. Sanction start EF website link Use October 1st as Effective Begin Date Use October 1st as Effective Begin Date When entering non-compliance after NOA, use the 1st of next month as Effective Begin Date. This ensures adequate notice.

11. Data Enter the Non-Compliance EF website link Individual Compliance Detail Effective Begin Date—Never back date Before NOA—Today’s Date After NOA—1st of the next month

12. Type-Select a valid value from the drop down menu that begins with the letters“EF” EF- Failed to Part in Activity EF-Failed to Provide Info EF-Missed Appt EF-Refused to Report a Job EF-Workfare Not Complete EF website link

13. Comply--Enter “N” (no) EF website link Good Cause—Choose“No Good Cause”from the drop down menu Verification—Choose“Received” Source—Choose“Work Programs” Save

14. You must complete data on the 7 fields shown– then enter a Comment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EF website link

15. Over night will go through batch process

16. Batch Does Two Things • Automatically creates the sanction on Sanctions, Disqualifications and POI’s window. • Automatically creates and mails the NOA EF website link

17. Day #2: View the Sanction EF website link

18. Don’t Forget to Change the Plan EF website link

19. Day 2 What if the Sanction is not there? EF website link Contact the Food Stamp Worker Ask them to manually run EDBC The Sanction should post and mail the NOA

20. ABAWD Third Ticket Disqualifications EF website link

21. ABAWD 3rd Ticket Disqualifications EF website link Are automatically created by CBMS on Noa Cutoff Last until person Regains Check day two to make sure it posted

22. Batch On NOA Cutoff • Posts the 3rd Ticket • Creates the Non-compliance • Posts the Disqualification • Creates and Mails the NOA EF website link

23. The fields on this window are automatically populated by the batch program which runs on the NOA cutoff date. Note that the “Type” field says, “ABAWD Third Ticket”. EF website link To view sanction, click this button

24. Find the sanction record that corresponds with the ABAWD 3rd Ticket sanction and double click on that line to view the detail. EF website link

25. Don’t Forget to Change the Plan EF website link

26. Day After NOA Check EF website link ABAWD 3rd Ticket List In COGNOS

27. EF website link

28. If disqualification did not post… By 8:30am - write out NOA’s Manually • Contact the eligibility worker • Ask them to manually run EDBC • The disqualification should post and if it does the NOA will also be sent EF website link

29. ABAWD Regain Third Ticket Disqualifications EF website link

30. 36 MONTHS = Full Month of = Full Month of = Met the Work Requirement FS benefits FS benefits for the month T T T I I I C C C 4 4 4 K K K E E E REGAIN T T T R R R e e e g g g a a a i i i #1 #2 #3 n n n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Workfare Activity or Regain = 80 hours of Non - 8 hours of Workfare within a 30 - day period EF website link

31. ABAWD Regain Disqualifications EF website link • Automatically created by CBMS on the NOA cutoff date of the Regain 3 month. • Last until the person completes the Regain process. • EF worker must send the NOA (this is done in Regain 2 month). • EF worker checks to ensure the disqualification posted.

32. Batch On NOA Cutoff • Posts the Regain Tickets • Creates the Non-compliance • Posts the Disqualification • Creates and Mails the NOA EF website link

33. The batch process that runs on the NOA cutoff date will automatically populate the fields on this window. Note that the ‘Type’ field says “Regain Third Ticket”. Click this to view the sanction EF website link

34. Note that ABAWD Regain Third Ticket Disqualifications look just like ABAWD 3rd Ticket Disqualifications on the Display Sanctions window. Distinguish between the 2 by matching up the dates with the Non-compliance record on the Individual Compliance window. EF website link

35. Don’t Forget to Change the Plan EF website link

36. Day After NOA Check EF website link ABAWD Regain List In COGNOS

37. If disqualification did not post… By 8:30am - write out NOA’s Manually • Contact the eligibility worker • Ask them to manually run EDBC • The disqualification should post and if it does the NOA will also be sent EF website link

38. Exempt or Complied? EF website link

39. Comply Occurrence Level Sanctions If Sanction Started—Must sit out sanction period, then comply. Comply County Specific EF website link

40. Go to the Individual Compliance Detail Window Change the comply {Y/N} field to “y” Enter a date in the Cure/Comply/Regain Date Field EF website link

41. Comply [Y/N] – Enter ‘Y’ • Cure/Comply/Regain Date – Enter date of compliance completion. • Comment 2 1 3 EF website link

42. Third Ticket Disqualifications and Regain Disqualifications State Policy: Regain 8 Hours of Workfare or 80 Hours of Other Activity In a 30 Day Period EF website link

43. Batch Over Night

44. End dates Sanction or Disqualification Changes the Status to Closed Enters “Complied” in the End Reason Field EF website link

45. EF website link