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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION INCOME AND RESOURCES FNS 315 SPECIAL BUDGETING

27 Section 315 Change #01-2022 January 11, 2022 315.37 WORK FIRST FAMILY ASSISTANCE (WFFA) NON-COMPLIANCE Do not increase a FNS unit’s benefits when a FNS unit’s WFFA payment is reduced, terminated, or not issued because of a penalty or sanction for failure to comply with WFFA and the household is certified for benefits at the time the sanction is imposed. This policy does not apply to initial applications or reapplications as long as the FNS unit was not receiving FNS when the penalty or sanction was imposed. Use the following criteria to determine how to count the WFFA payment. A. Child Only WFFA households 1. If the WFFA payment is not released due to a penalty or sanction during the certification period, continue to count the payment for the full penalty period. If a penalty or sanction is in place at reapplication/recertification, determine if it is the same penalty or sanction or a new penalty or sanction. Continue to count the WFFA payment amount if it is the same penalty or sanction. If it is a new penalty or sanction, determine when the penalty or sanction was imposed. Budget the WFFA payment amount if the penalty or sanction was imposed while the case was certified to receive FNS benefits. 2. If the WFFA case is terminated due to a penalty or sanction during the certification period delete the payment effective with the month after the case terminates. 3. If the WFFA payment is terminated due to a penalty or sanction imposed effective the month of application/reapplication or in a non-certified month, do not count the WFFA payment amount when determining benefits. If a penalty or sanction is in place at reapplication/ recertification, determine if it is the same penalty or sanction or a new penalty or sanction. If it is a new penalty or sanction, determine when the penalty or sanction was imposed. If the WFFA check is terminated due to a penalty or sanction imposed effective the month of application/reapplication or in a non- certified month, no WFFA payment amount will be budgeted. Budget the payment amount if the penalty or sanction was imposed while the case was certified to receive FNS benefits. B. Work Eligible WFFA households 1. If the WFFA payment is not released due to a penalty for noncompliance with the MRA, and the household is certified for FNS benefits at the time of noncompliance, the WFFA payment will continue to be counted in the FNS allotment. Delete the payment the month after the WFFA payment terminates, providing the client has not reapplied and been reapproved. If the WFFA is terminated due to a penalty for noncompliance with the MRA