TANF Households 430-05-65-40

(Revised 11/01/07 ML3111)

View Archives

TANF households are subject to monthly reporting requirements. When a household has not submitted a TANF monthly report by the third to the last working day of the month, the TANF grant must not be counted prospectively to determine food stamp benefits.

Exception:

If there is a two prior consecutive month history, which could include the processing month, of late reporting for TANF, the TANF grant must be counted prospectively to determine food stamp benefits.

If a change is made to the TANF case after authorizing food stamps and it results in the TANF case closing, the worker must revert TANF to close and reauthorize the food stamp case as the household is no longer considered categorically eligible.

A worker must not terminate a household’s food stamp benefits solely because the TANF case has closed. The worker must make a separate determination that the household fails to satisfy the food stamp eligibility requirements.

Whenever a change results in the reduction or termination of a household’s TANF benefits within the household’s food stamp certification period, the worker must use the following procedures.

If a change in household circumstances requires a reduction or termination in the TANF grant and the worker has sufficient information to determine how the change affects the household’s food stamp eligibility and benefit level, the worker must take the following actions:

If the change requires a reduction or termination of food stamp benefits, the worker must issue a single advance notice for both the TANF and food stamp actions. If the household requests a fair hearing within the period provided by the advance notice, the worker must continue the household’s food stamp benefits on the basis authorized immediately prior to sending the advance notice.

If a fair hearing is requested for both programs, the hearing must be conducted according to TANF procedures and timeliness standards.

If the food stamp certification period expires before the fair hearing process is completed, the household must reapply for food stamp benefits.

If the household does not appeal, the worker must make the change effective based on the advance notice.

If the change will result in an increase in benefits as a result of the reduction or termination of the TANF grant, the worker must issue the TANF advance notice, but must not take any action to increase the household’s food stamp benefits until the household decides whether it will appeal the TANF advance notice.

If the household appeals and the TANF grant is continued, the household’s food stamp benefits must continue at the previous level.

If the household does not appeal, the worker must act on the change. The time limit for the worker to act on this increase must be calculated from the date the TANF advance notice period expires.

Whenever a change results in the termination of the TANF grant and the worker does not have sufficient information to determine how the change affects food stamp eligibility and benefit level (such as an absent parent returning to the household and the household asked to have its TANF case closed without providing any information on the income of the new household member), the worker must take the following action:

If the situation requires a reduction or termination of the TANF grant, the worker must issue F442 at the same time it sends a TANF advance notice giving the household 10 days from the mail date to provide the needed information. Before taking further action, the worker must wait until the TANF advance notice period expires, or until the household requests a fair hearing, whichever occurs first.
If the household requests a fair hearing and elects to have the TANF grant continue pending the appeal, the worker must continue food stamp benefits at the same level.
If the household does not request a fair hearing and continuation of the TANF grant and provides the information requested, the worker has 10 days to act on the change.
If the household does not request a fair hearing and continuation of the TANF grant and fails to provide the information, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401 for failure to provide information.

If it is prior to advance notice deadline the worker must send the F401 and the case will close at the end of the month.

If it is after advance notice deadline the worker cannot send the F401 until the first of the month and benefits for the last month of the certification period are authorized the same as the previous month.

Exception:

If the worker received an alert that child support was received in the base month, this change must be acted on for the last month of the certification period as it is considered known information to the agency.

If the household provides the requested information anytime during the advance notice period, the information must be acted on within 10 days and the case cannot be closed.

If the situation does not require a TANF advance notice, the worker must send F442 giving the household 10 days from the mail date to provide the needed information. If the household provides the requested information within the 10 days, the worker has 10 days to act on the information.

If the household fails to provide the requested information the worker will receive an alert to send the F401.

If it is prior to advance notice deadline the worker must send the F401 and the case will close at the end of the month.

If it is after advance notice deadline the worker cannot send the F401 until the first of the month. Benefits for the last month of the certification period are authorized the same as the previous month.

Exception:

If the household provides the requested information anytime during the advance notice period, the information must be acted on within 10 days and the case cannot be closed.