NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
November 30, 2009

AMENDED IM 5085

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

FROM:	Tove Mandigo, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	Additional $25 Unemployment Income as a Result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

PROGRAMS:	SNAP

EFFECTIVE:	Benefit month of November 2009 through July 9, 2010 

SECTIONS 
AFFECTED:	430-05-50-20-10 – Unearned Income

This IM is being amended to correct the year to January 2010.

On November 6, 2009, President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009.  Section 8 of this act requires SNAP to exclude the additional $25 in unemployment income that was made available as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This is a change from the original directive issued in IM 5061 and is effective with the benefit month of November 2009.

All open SNAP cases with unemployment income must be reworked for the benefit months of November and December 2009 to exclude the additional $25 weekly payment.  For the benefit month of January 2010 forward, the additional $25 weekly payment must also be excluded. 

Any applications that were denied or cases that were closed as a result of the additional $25 in weekly income must also be restored benefits starting with the benefit month of November 2009.  

A report of open SNAP cases or SNAP cases that have been denied or closed for excess income and have Unemployment income in the benefit months of November and December 2009 will be run to help identify cases.  This report will be provided to counties as soon as SNAP received it.  

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