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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SPECIAL INCOME DETERMINATIONS

10/24 VOLUME V, PART XII, PAGE 19

• a sanctioned or disqualified case is closed for a reason unrelated to an act of noncompliance but the TANF sanction/disqualification remains in effect. • the TANF case is closed for failing to sign the VIEW Agreement of Personal Responsibility. • the TANF case is closed because there are no eligible children in the home as a result of a child protective services investigation; • the TANF case is closed after discovery that the case was approved in error;

• the SNAP case is sanctioned for noncompliance with SNAP rules or all household members are ineligible or disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits; or • the TANF case closed because of the household’s failure to renew its eligibility at the end of the certification period.

Transitional benefits will also not apply while a TANF case is suspended. Once the TANF case closes however, conversion will be appropriate if the reason for the closure is not one that is listed above.

2. Calculation of Benefits

Households will receive benefits during the transitional period based on the circumstances that existed at the time of the TANF case closure. The SNAP benefit amount must exclude the TANF grant as income for the month of the TANF case closure. The SNAP calculations must not include any new income amount that may have caused the TANF case closure. Note, however, new income amounts may be reflected in the SNAP calculations if there is a delay in the closure of the TANF case. The BPS must leave all other eligibility factors in place, including income, deductions and household composition.

The BPS must not reflect any changes in the SNAP benefit amount during the Transitional Benefits period. As the BPS discovers changes or the household reports changes in its circumstances, the BPS must act on those changes for SNAP benefits but override any system recalculations of the benefit amount to reflect the “frozen” amount as calculated above. In instances where household members leave the household and subsequently apply in another SNAP household, the BPS must delete the household members who are in another SNAP household and adjust the allotment for the new household size. In other words, during the Transitional Benefits period, except for household composition changes to delete members to prevent duplicate participation, the BPS must not adjust benefits to reflect changes.

Households receiving Transitional Benefits will not be entitled to adjusted benefits through a mass change if a mass change occurs during the Transitional Benefits period.

3. Transitional Benefits Procedures

The Transitional Benefits period will be for five calendar months after the effective date of the TANF case closure. The certification period for Transitional Benefits cases will be five months. The BPS must adjust the original certification period to lengthen or shorten the period so that the certification period will be five months.

TRANSMITTAL #35