section-19 NYS COMBINED APPLICATION PROJECT (NYSCAP)

A. Introduction The New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) is a federally approved demonstration project administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The project is an initiative to implement an automatic case creation process, and to improve participation among certain single Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients classified as living alone in the community. B. Background New York State was granted a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to establish a “Combined Application Process” (CAP) demonstration project with the SSA using SSI case data provided to OTDA via the State Data Exchange (SDX) to automatically enroll certain SSI households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). NYSCAP automatically enrolls individuals determined by SSA to be separate independent households designated by a Federal Living Arrangement Code of ‘A’ on the SDX and determined by OTDA as having an SSI State Supplemental Code of ‘A’. NYSCAP will automatically open cases at an amount no less than the minimum monthly SNAP benefit amount for a household of one, and upon opening, provide the household with the opportunity to provide information (e.g., shelter costs, utility costs, medical expenses, etc.) to qualify for higher benefits. NYSCAP uses standard SNAP budgeting methodology to determine participating households’ benefit amounts instead of using standardized benefit amounts. This is further explained in the “NYSCAP Budgeting” section to follow. C. Eligibility Individuals must meet the following criteria to be eligible for NYSCAP: (1) Be a single individual in active receipt of SSI; and (2) Have a SSA designated Federal Living Arrangement status of ‘A’; and (3) Have a State Supplemental code of ‘A’. SSI Code A/A Individuals: Only single SSI recipients whom SSA has determined to be a separate independent household, even if physically living with others, and designated as having a Federal Living Arrangement Code of ‘A’ and a State Supplemental Code of ‘A’ may participate in the project. Together, the definitions for these codes closely accord with the SNAP definition of a separate household. Based on this ‘A/A’ living arrangement designation and the receipt of SSI income, we can conclude that these households are categorically eligible to receive SNAP as a separate household. NOTE: NYSCAP households may have earned and/or unearned income in addition to SSI. However, the unearned income may not be from Temporary or Cash Assistance as the demonstration project is for non-Temporary Assistance SNAP cases only. The following households are ineligible to participate in NYSCAP: (1) Individuals in receipt of SSI who are not designated with a Federal Living Arrangement status of ‘A’ and a State Supplemental Code of ‘B’ (e.g., SSI Code A/B Individuals). (2) SSI Individuals residing in Group Living Arrangements. (3) Individuals who are currently or permanently disqualified from participation in SNAP. Participation of Individuals Age 18-21 in NYSCAP: (1) Single SSI recipients between the ages of 18-21 having a Federal Living Arrangement code of ‘A’ and a State Supplemental code of ‘A’ may participate in NYSCAP as a separate SNAP household, even if they reside with their parent(s), as long as the parent(s) are not also applying for or participating in SNAP. (2) If the parent(s) and the 18–21-year-old SSI recipient are both applying for or participating in SNAP, then the parent(s) and the 18–21-year-old SSI recipient must have their eligibility considered and participate as a single, non-NYSCAP household. (3) Likewise, a parent in receipt of SSI who lives with their child(ren) between the ages of 18-21 may participate in NYSCAP as a separate SNAP household as long as the child(ren) are not also applying for or participating in SNAP. If the SSI recipient and their child(ren) are applying for or participating in SNAP, then they must have their eligibility considered and participate as a single, non-NYSCAP household. D. Enrollment Process (1) Single individuals in active receipt (SSI Status Code = C01) of SSI and coded on the SDX with a Federal Living Arrangement code of ‘A’ and having a State Supplemental Code of ‘A’, who do not already have a SNAP case, will have a NYSCAP case automatically created in WMS. Individuals that already have an active SNAP case will be converted and enrolled in NYSCAP. (2) Cases enrolled in NYSCAP through the auto-enrollment process will receive a 36-month certification period, will be opened using Shelter Type ‘98’, and determined eligible for no less than the minimum SNAP benefit for households of one or two persons. (3) An initial certification interview is not required for individuals automatically enrolled in NYSCAP. (4) Households automatically enrolled in NYSCAP will receive an Information Collection Sheet giving them the opportunity to provide and, if necessary, verify information that may qualify them for a higher benefit. When such information is provided, NYSCAP cases must be re-budgeted by the district using standard SNAP budgeting methodology. (5) A NYSCAP case is not considered open, and the household is not considered a recipient, until the household has accessed a portion of the SNAP benefit within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP enrollment. (6) The NYSCAP case will automatically close if the household has not accessed any SNAP benefit within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP enrollment. Once the NYSCAP case has been closed due to failure to redeem the benefits, the individual would need to submit a SNAP application in order to participate in SNAP in the future. E. NYSCAP Case Details NYSCAP cases: a. Do not have to submit an application to be enrolled in SNAP. b. Will be opened using Shelter Type Code ‘98’ and will receive a nominal SNAP benefit amount. c. Will receive a NYSCAP Statewide SNAP Case Information Collection Sheet (LDSS-4841) with their opening letter. There is no requirement to return the LDSS-4841, and failure to return it to the district will not result in negative action. It is provided to make it easier for newly enrolled households to qualify for higher benefits. d. Must redeem SNAP benefits within 90 days of the auto-opening. Redemption of the benefits is considered an electronic application signature and assent by the household to participate in SNAP. NYSCAP cases in which benefits are not accessed within 90 days will be automatically closed in WMS and the benefits expunged. There is no entitlement to expunged benefits and, generally, expunged benefits may not be restored. e. Do not have any reporting requirements outside of the required interim contact. The interim contact for NYSCAP is at 18 months into the certification period. Households must return the NYSCAP SNAP Case Interim Report (LDSS-4836, LDSS-4836-NYC) to continue receiving NYSCAP benefits. Households that fail to return the Interim Report but subsequently return it within 30 days of case closure are eligible for the normal case reactivation process. f. Must participate in NYSCAP in order to receive SNAP. There is no option to opt out. g. Will receive a 36-month certification period. h. Will be opened with the household’s actual SSI and other income budgeted, but with no shelter, medical, or other deductions other than the standard deduction. Upon case opening, the household will receive the NYSCAP Statewide SNAP Case Information Collection Sheet (LDSS-4841) with their opening letter, providing an opportunity to notify the district of their household circumstances. Once the district receives the information and any required verification, the budget must be updated using standard SNAP budgeting. i. Will automatically receive a reminder notice six months after opening if the SNAP budget has not been updated and the Shelter Type ‘98’ is still present. The NYSCAP 6 Month Reminder Letter (ROS) and NYSCAP 6 Month Reminder Letter (NYC) laser letters will be produced automatically. This will provide the household with another opportunity to provide the district with the complete household circumstances to maximize the household’s SNAP benefit. Households that do not respond to this notice will not be subject to negative action, however the household will remain in receipt of a nominal benefit. F. NYSCAP Budgeting (1) NYSCAP utilizes standard SNAP budgeting methodology to calculate benefit amounts. (2) NYSCAP Budgeting: a. The Aged/Disabled Indicator for NYSCAP will require a value of ‘N’ for NYSCAP Calculated Benefit. b. New NYSCAP cases opened through the automatic enrollment process are opened with Shelter Type ‘98’ as the household’s actual shelter type, shelter costs, and utility expenses are all unknown. c. When NYSCAP household circumstances are reported to the district, including in response to the NYSCAP SNAP Case Interim Report (LDSS- 4836, LDSS-4836-NYC), NYSCAP Statewide SNAP Case Information Collection Sheet (LDSS-4841), or through the NYSCAP 6 Month Reminder Letter (ROS)/NYSCAP 6 Month Reminder Letter (NYC), the district must update the SNAP budget using standard SNAP budgeting rules, including adding actual shelter type, shelter costs, HC/SUA eligibility and out-of-pocket medical expenses, as applicable. d. NYSCAP cases are subject to the same SNAP verification requirements as for all SNAP cases, except State policy requiring verification of shelter costs. Districts must accept attestation of shelter expenses for NYSCAP cases unless the information reported is questionable. NOTE: To be considered questionable, the information on the application must be inconsistent with statements made by the applicant, inconsistent with other information on the application or previous applications, or inconsistent with other information received by the social services district. The social services district shall determine if information is questionable based on the household's individual circumstances. G. Reporting Requirements (1) The only reporting requirement for NYSCAP households between certification points is to respond to the Interim Report. (2) At approximately 18 months into the certification period, NYSCAP households will receive the updated NYSCAP SNAP Case Interim Report (LDSS-4836, LDSS-4836-NYC) which collects all the information about the household circumstances that is required to complete a budget using standard SNAP budgeting procedures. (3) Households are required to respond to the Interim Report by the 10th day of the month following the month the Interim Report is received. Failure to do so will result in case closure. (4) As with periodic reporting households under regular SNAP, if the NYSCAP household returns a completed Interim Report but does not provide enough information to complete a regular SNAP budget, the district must attempt to contact the household to clarify or obtain verification of the information. Blank reports, reports submitted without required verification, and unsigned reports will be treated as “No change” reports and processed for continued NYSCAP eligibility at the current benefit amount. H. Recertification (1) At the end of the certification period, NYSCAP cases will need to follow the regular recertification process currently in place for all SNAP households to continue receiving ongoing benefits, including conducting an eligibility interview. (2) The notice of expiration sent to the household will continue to be delivered with a SNAP application/recertification form. (3) Districts will use the same verification requirements with NYSCAP cases that would be used with any standard SNAP recertification. However, the exception to State policy allowing the attestation of shelter expenses is still applicable. (4) Recertifying NYSCAP cases should be assigned the maximum 36-month certification period permitted. I. NYSCAP Under Care Maintenance Data is transmitted to OTDA daily from SSA via the SDX, and local districts receive the ASWISDX5 BICS report detailing changes reported through the SDX. Some of these changes will automatically update the NYSCAP case and some changes will require worker action to determine how the information affects the case. The following changes will be automatically updated by the system: • Changes in SSI income amount • Report of client’s death • Moves out of state • Moves from New York City to another county • Moves from another county to New York City • Moves within a district The following changes will require worker review to determine the correct action: • If the household is no longer coded A/A • If the household is no longer receiving SSI • If the household moves between non-New York City districts • Any information reported through the standard RFI process • Any other information reported to the district by a primary source Other Reported Changes from a Primary Source and Information Verified Upon Receipt (1) The local districts must also address information provided to them by a primary source (i.e., information considered verified upon receipt as defined in 12-INF- 06). (2) Under no circumstances can a local district initiate a change based upon a non- primary source regardless of the reliability of that source. (3) NYSCAP participants are not required to report changes other than at their interim contact and/or recertification points. NYSCAP households are informed and encouraged at all scheduled contacts to report changes in shelter and/or utility expenses when those changes will make the client eligible for an increase in benefits. (4) Districts are reminded that Exceptions and Request for Contact (RFC) changes, as reflected on the daily ASWISDX5 BICS report, must be reviewed daily and changes processed within normal processing time standards. References 387.24 - New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) 24-ADM-09 - The New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) 21 TA/DC080 - Preliminary Guidance Regarding the New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) ABEL Transmittal - 21-6 - Attachment - NYSCAP ABEL Budgeting ABEL Transmittal - 21-7 - Nightly MRB/A for NYSCAP Implementation