Page 68

Page | 67 3840 ENDING COOPERATION WITH DCS

The cooperation requirement with DCS ends when a child turns 18. The month in which the child turns 18, DCS cooperation is no longer required. On the ABSP panel, a removal date for the child should be entered using the month the child turns 18. If this is the only child on the ABSP panel, then the panel should be deleted at the next renewal or six-month report period as it is no longer needed for SNAP.

In addition, if a child is removed from the household where cooperation with DCS is a requirement, the Benefits Specialists must also ensure removal dates have been entered on the ABSP pnl for the child removed from the SNAP case, regardless of age. If a parent has been sanctioned for non-cooperation, the removal date entered for the child will cure the sanction.

3900 OTHER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3910 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT REQUIREMENTS

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) requires that states provide customers with the opportunity to register to vote when an application for assistance, recertification form, or a change of address is submitted for a public assistance program such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIEAP, and Child Care Assistance.

The Voter Preference Question “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?” is included on all DSS application/recertification forms and the DSS-EA-214 Six Month Report form. If the customer marks “Yes” to this question or if they leave the question blank, EABS must send a Voter Registration Application to the customer to complete.

For all in-person transactions, DSS will provide the Voter Registration Application during the transaction itself, rather than mailing it to the client following the transaction.

When the customer reports a change of address, a Voter Registration Application is automatically sent to the customer when the address is updated on ACCESS. If a customer reports a change in address, it is important that the address be updated on ACCESS so that this form is automatically sent to the customer.

For changes of address conducted remotely:

For address changes reported by telephone, the employee who speaks with the customer shall inform the customer that they will receive a Voter Registration Application by mail and may seek assistance in completing the Voter Registration Application at any local DSS office.

Example: Jane has been in a sanction status for not cooperating with DCS for the father of her child, Tyler. Tyler is turning 18 on September 13th. In August, the EABS receives an edit on Jane’s case for the benefit month September stating Tyler is turning 18. The EABS should go in to the ABSP panel where Tyler is listed and enter the removal date on Tyler’s line as showing he is removed for September. This will cure the sanction for Jane and make Jane eligible for SNAP once again. At the next renewal or 6-month report, the ABSP pnl should be deleted since Tyler is the only child on the case.