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Volume III | Chapter 7

7400 MISSISSIPPI [ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION PROCESS: PAYMENT PROCESS]

Revised 07-01-19

MIS OPERATIONS UNIT The MIS Operations Unit is responsible for transmitting the assistance benefit information to the EPPIC system based on authorizations in the MAVERICS system. FACTS ABOUT BENEFIT ISSUANCE Minimum TANF Benefit Payment is defined as the expenditure of public tax money on the basis of proper authorization with respect to the eligibility to specified individuals and TANF families. Benefit issuance is made through the Mississippi Debit MasterCard Program. Mississippi does not issue a TANF benefit in an amount under $10. There are two exceptions to this rule: 1. A TANF benefit will be issued for less than $10 when recoupment withholding is the sole reason for a TANF benefit being below $10; and 2. When a corrective TANF benefit should be authorized in a lesser amount. Families who receive reduced or no payments due to the stated exceptions are subject to the rights and responsibilities of money payment recipients. EXAMPLE: An individual is eligible for TANF benefit in the amount of $16 each month. Recoupment is established against a prior overpayment. The minimum recoupment amount is $10 per month, leaving $6 for issuance to the individual. This TANF benefit will be issued as recoupment withholding is the sole reason the payment is less than $10. 3. The TANF benefit is an unrestricted benefit and the county worker cannot place restrictions upon its use. See, however, the provision for a protective payee in Chapter 7, Protective and Vendor Payments. Description of Benefits TANF benefits are the expenditure of public tax money on the basis of proper authorization with respect to the eligibility of specified individuals and TANF families. TANF benefits are issued via the EPPIC system by the Mississippi Department of Human Services to a parent or other grantee relative on behalf of eligible children. The benefit is issued to the payee or to his protective or emergency payee. Generally, benefits are unrestricted in their use. However, Federal law and State law prohibit