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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: FS 11 and that the facility is no longer the authorized representative. In addition, the facility must provide the resident with a change report form to be returned to DCF within 10 days noting any changes the resident is required to report.

For simplified reporting AGs, consider information from the facility as verified upon receipt when the Department is notified that a resident no longer resides there. Close the AG if the new address is not known. If the address is known, change the address, remove the authorized representative and keep the case open.

4. Each Region or Circuit will conduct annual on-site visits to the center to assure the accuracy of the listings and that the local office's records are consistent and up-to-date. If any discrepancies are discovered, a follow-up review must be conducted within three months. 2210.0318.04 Determining Shelter Costs – Blind or Disabled Living Arrangement (FS) A resident of a blind or disabled group home can only receive a shelter deduction for the portion of the shelter payment that they pay from their own funds. Any portion of a payment for shelter or meals paid by vendor payment, or from funds that do not belong to the resident, cannot be an allowable food stamp deduction. Special budgeting procedures are required to determine what portion of the resident’s own income is used for room and meals.

Three methods are used to determine the allowable shelter costs that may be deducted for a resident. One calculation is used when a resident is billed only one fee that includes meals and room. The second calculation is used when the resident is billed separately for meals and room. Use the third method when the group home does not provide a specific amount for the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) but considers any money that exceeds the room and board rate to use for the resident’s personal needs. The PNA for food stamp purposes does not have to be one of the standard amounts from the SSI-Related Programs. Examples of these calculations are as follows:

1. If the resident is charged for room and meals in one amount, and the charges cannot be separately identified, the following example will be used:

$674 SSI resident income - $54 PNA (allowance will vary) = $620 remainder of income - $200 one-person maximum food stamp benefit (meals portion) = $420 total rent expense (room portion).

2. If the resident is charged for room and meals separately and these expenses are identified separately, then the amount actually paid for meals will be deducted from the remaining income as the meals portion. The actual amount the resident pays for rent is determined as follows:

$674 SSI resident income - $54 PNA (allowance will vary) = $620 remainder of income - $100 meals charge (meals portion) = $520 total rent expense (shelter portion).

3. If the group home considers any money that exceeds the room and board rate to use for the resident’s personal needs, then this is the PNA.

$1048 Social Security income - $543.42 room and board rate = $504.58 PNA. $1048 Social Security income - $507.58 (PNA) = $543.42 - $200 one-person maximum food stamp benefit = $343.42 shelter deduction.

The three examples cited above will assist the eligibility specialist in determining the amount of the rent expenses to be included for a resident of a blind or disabled group home.