63-1401 IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIAL MEDICAL/SHELTER DEDUCTIONS 63-1401

Counties shall implement the new excess medical expense, and excess shelter expense deductions promulgated by Public Law 96-58 to amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977. All eligible food stamp households containing a member who is (1) 60 years of age or older or (2) receiving disability payments under Title II of the Social Security Act will be entitled to these deductions.

.1 Beginning January 1, 1980, counties shall implement the required program changes for all new applications and recertifications. Currently eligible households shall be converted to the new excess medical expense-deduction system at recertification, when they respond to the notice required in subparagraph .2 of this section, or when they otherwise request conversion. The CWD shall convert eligible households to the new shelter computation at the household's next recertification, recomputation or reported change if the household has not previously requested conversion.

.2 The CWD shall provide notices explaining the changes and their applicability at all food stamp certification offices and shall mail or individually provide all currently certified households at least one notice prior to January 1, 1980. The notice shall advise the household of the availability of the new deductions and the procedures for reporting medical and shelter expenses. These notices shall be distributed no later than December 15, 1979. Notices shall also be available to public and general assistance offices. Posters explaining the changes shall be displayed in food stamp certification offices and shall be made available to public and general assistance offices.

.3 For January and February, 1980, the CWD shall have up to 30 days from the date the household reports changes in medical and shelter costs to process such changes. The change shall be effective for the first issuance following that 30 day period, with retroactive benefits from the date the change would normally become effective under Section 63-504.32.

.31 The CWD may request an extension of processing time of up to 60 days to act on these changes. The CWD shall submit appropriate documentation to SDSS-FSPOB when an extension is requested.

.32 After January and February, 1980, the county shall act on these changes in accordance with the normal processing standards in Section 63-504.32.

CALIFORNIA-DSS-MANUAL-FS

MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-91-05 Effective 6/1/91

Page 762

FOOD STAMP HANDBOOK

63-1401 (Cont.) FOOD STAMP IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Handbook

63-1401 IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIAL MEDICAL/SHELTER DEDUCTIONS 63-1401

(Continued)

.33 Verification of medical expenses required by Section 63-300.515 must be obtained prior to allowing the deductions. If the household does not provide verification, the household's benefits will not be adjusted to reflect the changes.

.4 Households shall not be entitled to retroactive benefits pursuant to the application of special medical and shelter deduction for any period prior to January 1, 1980. For the initial months after implementation, if an extension of the processing time allowed pursuant to Section 63-001.31 is in effect, a household shall be entitled to benefits retroactive to the month the change would have become effective under the normal processing standards in Section 63-504.32. Retroactive benefits are not subject to reduction due to off-setting of claims. After this initial period, no household shall be entitled to retroactive benefits unless the CWD does not act on reported changes in accordance with the timeliness standards in Section 63-504.32 or the household is otherwise entitled under the provisions of Section 63-802.

.5 Revised Sections 63-502.3, 503.3, and 505.2 shall be applied to all applicant households beginning with the effective date. Within 90 days of the effective date of the revisions, the entire caseload shall be converted to the revised medical expense-deduction system where applicable through desk reviews, recertifications, recomputations within the certification period, or when a household reports a change.