Group Home Living Arrangement 430-05-30-15

(Revised 11/01/04 ML2941)

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For food stamp eligibility, a resident of a group home must be blind or disabled as defined in the definition of disabled.

 

Prior to certifying any residents for food stamps, the county must verify that the group home serves no more than 16 individuals, is authorized by FNS as a retailer, or is certified or licensed by Developmental Disabilities (328-8932) or Regional Human Service Centers, including a determination that the center is a nonprofit organization.

 

Group homes must provide the county with a list of currently participating residents on a monthly basis. The list must include a statement signed by a responsible center official attesting to the validity of the list. Additionally, the county must make periodic random on-site visits to assure the accuracy of the listing and that county records are consistent and up-to-date. These random onsite visits must be conducted at least annually and the following information must be submitted to the State office:

• Date of the visit.

• Name of the individual conducting the onsite visit.

• Name of the group home visited.

• Name of the individual at the group home that assisted in the onsite visit.

• Number of individual’s living in the group home.

• The accuracy of the monthly list supplied by the group home. If a discrepancy is identified it must be included in the report to the State office.

 

Group Home Responsibilities

1. Each authorized group home must provide the county with a monthly list of currently participating resident including a statement signed by a responsible group home official attesting to the validity of the list.  The listing must include the following identifiable information for each individual participating in the program and additional information for individuals who leave the group home:

• Individual’s first and last name.
• SSN
• Case Number
• Any changes in income or household circumstances.
• Date the individual left the group home.
• Amount of food stamp benefits returned to the individual upon their departure.

When the monthly list is received, the county is responsible to:

1. Verify that the client’s case status is appropriate as reported by the center.
2. Make any appropriate changes to the case based on the information reported by the center.
3. Validate that the correct amount of benefits have been credited to the client’s EBT account.
4. SFN 788 – Group Living Arrangement and Drug/Alcohol Treatment Center Report, is completed quarterly and a copy provided to the State FS Office.  This report lists the facilities in which a client currently resides or had resided at sometime during the quarter.

2. The county must conduct periodic random on-site visits to assure the accuracy of the list and that the county’s records are consistent and up-to-date.  These reviews must be conducted at least annually using SFN 450 – County Social Service Office On-Site Review Report, which is then sent to the State FS Office.
3. Once the individual leaves the group home, the group home is no longer allowed to act as that individual’s authorized representative.
4. The group home must give the individual their EBT card when they leave the group home.
5. If the individual leaves the group home after benefits have been issued and no benefits were spent, the group home must provide the individual with the full months benefit.  This applies at any time during the month.

If the individual leaves the group home prior to the 16th day and some or all of the benefits have been spent, the group home must provide the individual with their EBT card and one half of the individual’s monthly benefit.

 

If the individual leaves on or after the 16th day of the month their EBT card and all remaining benefits must be returned to the individual.

6. If the individual leaves the group home unannounced, the group home must at the end of the month return the individual’s EBT card and remaining benefits to the county along with identifying information for the individual.
7. The group home is responsible for any misrepresentation of facts as it relates to residents.  The group home is liable for all misuse of food stamp benefits.
8. The group home representative must give the individual a SFN 378 – Change Report Form and advise the individual to report the change in circumstances to the county within 10 days.  

Exception:

 

The group home representative is not required to provide an SFN 378 – Change Report Form if the individual leaves the center unannounced.

 

Treatment of Assets

Assets of an individual are counted.

 

Treatment of Income

Income of an individual is counted.

 

Treatment of Expenses

For residents who have a single payment for meals and lodging, the amount of the payment that exceeds the Thrifty Food Plan must be allowed as a shelter deduction.

 

Example:

A resident is charged a single charge of $350 for meals and lodging, $201 ($350 – $149 Thrifty Food Plan) is used as a shelter deduction.

 

If a resident has a separate identifiable payment for room charges, that amount must be allowed as a shelter deduction.