NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
February 24, 2009

IM 5061

TO:		County Social Service Directors
Economic Assistance Policy Regional Representatives
Economic Assistance Policy Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Tove Mandigo, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	American Recovery and Reinvestment Act		 

PROGRAMS:	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

EFFECTIVE:	April 1, 2009 

RETENTION: 	Until Manualized

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also referred to as the “Stimulus Bill” was signed into law on February 17, 2009.  The bill includes the following provisions which are effective with April 2009 SNAP benefits.  As a result of these changes, all SNAP cases will be unauthorized for April 2009.

Temporary Increase in Thrifty Food Plan
The bill provides a temporary 13.6% increase in the Thrifty Food Plan for the remaining months of fiscal year 2009 (April through September 2009), and holds that level constant until the program’s regular annual inflation adjustments overtake the benefit increase.

Most households will receive an additional $20 to $24 per person per month beginning with April benefits.

The new thrifty food plan at 430-05-60-05 is as follows:

HH Size	Amount	HH Size	Amount	
1	$200	5	$793	
2	$367	6	$952	
3	$526	7	$1,052	
4	$668	8	$1,202	
	Each Additional Member	$150	
The bill requires that all households be notified of the increase.  Adequate Notice must be provided.  The State Office will provide mass media notice.  

Table changes will be made at the State Office and a mass change will be run to unauthorize all SNAP cases. The above changes will be reflected in the case when April benefits are authorized.

Minimum Benefit
The minimum benefit at 430-05-20-80, 430-05-60-15 and 430-05-95 changes from $14 to $16.  The minimum benefit is indexed to inflation at 8% of the Thrifty Food Plan for a household size of one.  This change is also a mass change and will be reflected in the case when April benefits are authorized.  

Program Information
The updated benefit calculator is available on the County Intranet in the Economic Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program folder.  The benefit calculator on the DHS website will be updated to include these changes and will be available April 1, 2009. 

The SNAP Eligibility Requirements has been updated with these changes and is also available on the County Intranet.

The SNAP program brochure along with the “Staying Healthy on a Tight Budget” Brochure will be updated to reflect the new maximums when the current supply is depleted.

Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) 430-05-40-50
All counties statewide will become exempt from the ABAWD provisions effective with the benefit month of April 2009.  A job will be run to change all individuals in open cases to exempt for the benefit month of April 2009.  When processing initial application months and recertification applications in March for April 2009, the worker will must go through ABRE and ensure all individuals are exempt (EX) prior to authorizing April benefits.

We will provide a report to all counties the beginning of March 2008 of open ongoing cases that contain an ABAWD with a code of DI.  For ineligible ABAWDS that are DI, the individual’s participation code must be changed from DI to IN prior to authorizing April benefits.

For initial applications registered April 1, 2009 or later, TECS will default the code on ABRE for all individuals to “EX”.  An informational edit will appear on the ABRE screen “county exempt from ABAWDS requirement” and it will not allow the entry of any coding on this screen for any case.

All counties will remain exempt through September 30, 2010.  A new 36 month clock will start October 1, 2010.

Simplified Reporting Households
For simplified reporting households who report other changes during the calendar month of March, workers must use the benefit calculator to determine whether the changes will result in an increase in benefits from the amount the household received in March 2009 using the benefit calculator effective April 1, 2009.  If the result is an increase in benefits for April 2009, the changes must be made to increase April 2009 benefits.  

Example:

A combination FS/MA household submits paystubs for February on March 10, 2009.  Using the benefit calculator the worker determines that the paystubs along with the mass changes (increase in Thrifty Food Plan, increase in the minimum benefit and ABAWD exemption) will result in an increase in benefits.  The change in income along with the mass changes must be made to increase April 2009.

If the result is a decrease in benefits, then only the mass changes must be used for April 2009.  The remaining changes are not made as they would result in a decrease in benefits.

Example:

A combination FS/MA household submits paystubs for February on March 10, 2009. Using the benefit calculator the worker determines that the paystubs along with the mass changes will result in a decrease in benefits.  When processing this case for April, the February paystubs are not used and the income remains unchanged.  The case is authorized for April with the mass changes only. 

Quality Control Tolerance Level
The current $25 tolerance level changes to $50 for the review months of April 2009 through September 2009.

Claims Completion – Temporary Increase in Thrifty Food Plan
The bill requires that the temporary 13.6% increase in the Thrifty Food Plan must be excluded when determining any overissuance for the months of April through October 2009.

SNAP and SSD staff will be meeting with ITD staff to determine the necessary system changes to accomplish this.  Once TECS is programmed, we will provide you with more information.  This provision must be in place by April 1, 2009.  

Other Changes that Impact the Program
Social Security recipients will be receiving a one-time payment of $250 for SSI and Social Security beneficiaries, veterans who receive disability or pension benefits and railroad retirement beneficiaries.  This payment, which will be made by June 2009 is exempt and will not be counted when determining eligibility and benefits.

There is a potential for an increase in unemployment benefits as a result of this bill.  Any increase in unemployment benefits is required to be counted when determining eligibility and level of benefits. 

Changes for other programs will be addressed in a separate IM.

If you have any questions, please contact your regional representative.