9089 TANF, RCA and/or GA Food Stamp Households

[273.12(f)] TANF, RCA and/or GA households have the same reporting requirements as any other food stamp households. Whenever an TANF, RCA and/or GA household reports a change, adjustments must be made in the household's eligibility status or allotment for the months determined appropriate given the household's budgeting cycle. Notify households whenever their benefits are altered as a result of changes in the TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits. If the TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits are terminated but the household is still eligible for food stamp benefits, advise household members of food stamp work registration requirements, if applicable, as their Food Stamp Employment and Training registration exemption no longer applies. Whenever a change results in the reduction or termination of a household's TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits within its food stamp certification period, and DSS has sufficient information to determine how the change affects the household's food stamp eligibility and benefit level, take the following actions: If a change in household circumstances requires both reduction or termination in the TANF, RCA and/or GA payment and a reduction or termination in food stamp benefits, issue a single notice of adverse action for both the TANF, RCA and/or GA and food stamp actions. If the household requests a fair hearing within the period provided by the notice of adverse action, continue the household's food stamp benefit on the basis authorized immediately prior to sending the notice. If the fair hearing is requested for both programs' benefits, conduct the hearing according to TANF, RCA and/or GA procedures and timeliness standards. The household must reapply for food stamp benefits if the food stamp certification period expires before the fair hearing process is completed. If the household does not appeal, make the change effective in accordance with the procedures in DSSM 9085.2. If the household's food stamp benefits will be increased as a result of a reduction or termination of TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits, the household's food stamp benefits must continue at the previous basis. If the household does not appeal, make the change effective in accordance with the procedures specified in DSSM 9085.2, except calculate the time limits for action from the date the TANF, RCA and/or GA notice of adverse action period expires. Whenever a change results in the termination of a household's TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits within its food stamp certification period, and DSS does not have sufficient information to determine how the change affects the household's food stamp eligibility and benefit level (such as when an absent parent returns to a household, rendering the household categorically ineligible for TANF, RCA and/or GA, and DSS has no information on the income of the new household member), take the following action: 1) Where a TANF, RCA and/or GA notice of adverse action has been sent, wait until the household's notice of adverse action period expires or until the household requests a fair hearing, whichever occurs first. If the household requests a fair hearing and its TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits are continued pending the appeal, the household's food stamp benefits will be continued at the same basis. 2) If an TANF, RCA and/or GA notice of adverse action is not required, or the household decides not to request a fair hearing and continuation of its TANF, RCA and/or GA benefits, send the household Form 105 requesting the verification needed to determine the household's continued food stamp eligibility. Give the household at least ten (10) days to provide the necessary verifications. Take the necessary action to adjust or terminate the food stamps based on the rules regarding processing reported changes per DSSM 9085.