1885.035.00 Away From Home – DSS Manuals

IM-22 April 11, 2024 ; IM-24 February 22, 2019

Circumstances may require temporary absence of either the child or the parent/caretaker relative from the home. Temporary absences do not affect eligibility as long as the individual intends to return to the home within 90 days.

Note: Do not remove children that are in their Continuous Eligibility for Children (CEC) period unless valid closing reasons apply. If a child is temporarily away from home, the CEC period continues. Refer to 1805.070.00 Continuous Eligibility for Children (CEC) .

A temporary absence versus a permanent absence can be defined by where the absent household member intends to reside.

Temporary Absence – the individual is absent from the home but intends to return to the household within 90 days or less. Household composition should not change. Support for or dependency of the individual continues.

Permanent Absence – the absent individual does not intend to return to the household. The absent individual is removed from the household. Support for or dependency of the individual is not expected to continue.

When an individual is permanently absent, the individual is no longer eligible for benefits in the household. See MAGI Family MO HealthNet (MHN) Policy sections, 1885.015.00 Removing a Person and 1805.030.10 MAGI Household Composition .

Children placed in Children’s Division (CD) or Division of Youth Services (DYS) Custody

If the child is removed from the household and placed in CD or DYS custody, the CEC period continues while the child is on CD or DYS coverage.

When a child has been released from CD or DYS custody, FSD eligibility must be reopened at the same level of care or better, with no lapse in eligibility.

If the CEC period expires before a child returns home from CD or DYS custody, complete an annual renewal upon return to the home to determine if MHN eligibility continues at the same level of care and begin a new CEC period.