FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ADMINISTRATION Matthew Brune, Executive Deputy Commissioner

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1 FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ADMINISTRATION Matthew Brune, Executive Deputy Commissioner James K. Whelan, Deputy Commissioner Policy, Procedures, and Training Stephen Fisher, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Office of Procedures POLICY BULLETIN #13-89-ELI Date: October 18, 2013 This procedure can now be accessed on the FIAweb. Subtopic(s): Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits The purpose of this policy bulletin is to inform all Job Center and Non Cash Assistance (NCA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Center staff that the portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), that raised SNAP benefits effective April 1, 2009 will end on October 31, With the expiration of the SNAP benefit increases established by the ARRA, the SNAP benefits will decrease effective November 1, The new maximum SNAP benefit allotment per household size and the respective amount of the decrease are as follows: Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Household Size Maximum SNAP Allotment Decrease in Maximum SNAP Allotment $189 $347 $497 $632 $750 $900 $995 $1,137 $11 $20 $29 $36 $43 $52 $57 $65 The amounts listed above are for households of up to eight individuals. For each additional person, add $142 to the maximum SNAP allotment and $8 to the amount of the decrease. HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCEDURE? Call then press 3 at the prompt followed by 1 or send an to FIA Call Center Fax or fax to: (917) Distribution: X

2 PB #13-89-ELI The schedule of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Issuance (Households of One to Ten Persons) (W-129F) and the Schedule of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Issuance (Households of Eleven to Twenty Persons) (W-129FF) will be revised to reflect the new SNAP benefit allotment amounts and will be issued under separate cover. The decrease in the maximum SNAP benefit allotments will also result in a decrease for all households that receive less than the maximum allotment. The minimum monthly SNAP benefit allotment for eligible one- and two-person households will decrease from $16 to $15. Households of three or more persons whose October 2013 SNAP benefit is less than or equal to the amount of the decrease for their household size, will have their SNAP benefit reduced to zero and will become ineligible to receive SNAP benefits. For example, a household of three is scheduled to receive a decrease of $29. A household of three whose October 2013 SNAP benefit is $25, will have their SNAP benefit for November 2013 reduced to zero and become ineligible for SNAP benefits. The boarder/lodger exclusion will decrease from $200 to $189 for one person and from $367 to $347 for two people. Therefore, cases that have a boarder/lodger exclusion may have their SNAP benefit reduced by more than the amount of the reduction in the maximum SNAP benefit allotment. NYSNIP amounts The standardized SNAP benefit amounts for the New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) will also be reduced. The NYSNIP SNAP benefit amounts by shelter type codes are as follows: SSI Only SSI and other income Shelter Type Code 94 $189 $189 Shelter Type Code 95 $189 $187 Shelter Type Code 96 $189 $189 Shelter Type Code 97 $189 $187 Shelter Type Code 98 $ 73 $ 69 See PD #13-21-ELI for October 2013 changes in SNAP standards. The decrease in the maximum SNAP allotment, the minimum SNAP allotment for one and two person households, the boarder/lodger exclusion, and the NYSNIP benefit amount has no affect on the changes in the federal poverty limit, Standard Utility Allowance, SNAP standard deduction, and the maximum excess shelter deduction that went into effect for October FIA Policy, Procedures, and Training 2 Office of Procedures

3 PB #13-89-ELI State Mass Notice System changes The Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) is sending a Mass Notice of Intent to Change SNAP November 2013 (see Attachment A) to inform all SNAP households of the SNAP benefit reduction effective November 1, The Welfare Management System (WMS) has been programmed to reflect the decreased SNAP benefit amounts. Most cases will be mass rebudgeted centrally on the weekend of October 19-20, Cases that are rebudgeted will have a 11/A/13 budget effective date. As part of the mass rebudget, all stored budgets will also be rebudgeted effective 11/A/13. A list of cases that will be ineligible for continued SNAP benefits as a result of the SNAP allotment decrease, will appear on a closing report that will be forwarded by OTDA to the Family Independence Administration. When the closing report is received, the designated Worker(s) must calculate a new budget effective 11/A/13 based on the most current information reported to the agency. If the budget confirms that the household is ineligible to receive SNAP benefits, the Worker(s) must close the SNAP case (or the SNAP portion of the case for CA/SNAP cases) using SNAP closing code E30 (Excess Income). Job Center Directors and NCA SNAP Center Directors must ensure that there is sufficient staff available to answer calls from participants regarding the decrease in SNAP benefits. Participants who contact the Job Center or NCA SNAP Center inquiring about the reduction in their SNAP benefits are to be informed that their SNAP benefits are being reduced because the portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that increased SNAP benefits expires on October 31, As a way to ensure that households are receiving all the benefits for which they qualify, SNAP households should be reminded to report any unreimbursed medical expenses for aged or disabled individuals and any out of pocket dependent care expenses. Additionally, to ensure that households are receiving the highest level of Standard Utility Allowance for which they qualify, households should not be budgeted with Shelter Type Code 11 (room only), unless there is a statement from the primary tenant or the homeowner that no portion of the rent paid by the household goes toward utility expenses. FIA Policy, Procedures, and Training 3 Office of Procedures

4 PB #13-89-ELI As a result of the decrease in SNAP benefits, the maximum number of hours that an individual may be assigned to a Work Experience Program may be reduced. Participants are not entitled to a Fair Hearing solely to dispute the reduction in SNAP benefits that was a result of a federally mandated change. However, the participant is entitled to a Fair Hearing if he/she believes that his/her SNAP benefit allotment was computed incorrectly or that the rules were misapplied or misinterpreted. Effective November 1, 2013 References: ABEL Transmittal 13-3 GIS 13 TA/DC038 7 CFR 271.7(f) Related Item: PD #13-21-ELI October 2013 Changes in SNAP Standards Please use Print on Demand to obtain copies of forms. Attachments: Attachment A Attachment B OTDA Mass Notice of Intent to Change SNAP November 2013 OTDA Mass Notice of Intent to Change SNAP November 2013 (Spanish) FIA Policy, Procedures, and Training 4 Office of Procedures

5 Attachment A New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance MASS NOTICE OF INTENT TO CHANGE SNAP NOVEMBER 2013 Case Number: Loc. Off./Unit/Worker: General Telephone No. for Questions or Help: ATTN: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (new name for the Food Stamp Program) Recipients The federal 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act s (ARRA) temporary increase to SNAP benefits ends on October 31, This will result in a benefit reduction for SNAP households. Beginning November 1, 2013, your household s SNAP monthly benefit may be reduced by up to the maximum reduction amount shown below: Household Size Maximum ARRA Reduction to monthly SNAP Benefit Each additional household member add $8.00 The ARRA changes will decrease the amount of SNAP benefits that your household receives, every month. For example, if you are a household of (1) and receive $ monthly in SNAP benefits, beginning November 1, 2013 your household s monthly benefit amount will be $ The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) is the maximum amount of SNAP benefits, per household size. Beginning November 1, 2013, the new TFP amount will be: Household Size Maximum Allotment Each additional household member add $ Beginning November 1, 2013, the minimum SNAP benefit amount that an eligible one or two-person household will receive is $15.00 per month. Note, your monthly SNAP benefit amount starting November 1, 2013 includes changes that went into effect October 1, These changes were described in Public Notice LDSS Households with (3) or more persons whose SNAP benefit is equal to or less than the ARRA reduction, for their household size, may have their SNAP benefit reduced to $0. Those SNAP cases reduced to $0 will be closed. For a small number of households with an outstanding claim that results in a SNAP benefit of $0, the SNAP case will remain open to collect the claim but no SNAP benefit will be issued. The Regulations which allow us to do this are 18 NYCRR (e)(1)(i), , and The reduction to your SNAP benefits is a federally-mandated mass change to SNAP benefit amounts. Pursuant to federal regulations at 7 CFR 271.7(f), there is no right to a fair hearing to dispute this reduction. If you think some other mistake, such as an improper computation, was made in figuring your SNAP benefits, you may ask for a State Fair Hearing within 90 days of when your November 2013 SNAP benefits become available. You can ask for a fair hearing by writing to: Office of Administrative Hearings, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, P.O. Box 1930, Albany, New York 12201,you may call toll free: LEGAL ASSISTANCE: If you think you need a lawyer to help you with this problem, you may be able to get a lawyer at no cost to you by contacting your local Legal Aid Society or other legal advocate group. For the names of other lawyers, check your Yellow Pages under Lawyers. XL0039 (10/13)

6 Attachment B New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance PREAVISO DE CAMBIOS EN SNAP NOVIEMBRE 2013 Nº de caso: Oficina Local / Unidad/Trabajador Social: Nº de Teléfono General para Preguntas o Ayuda: AVISO: Beneficiarios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria, SNAP (nombre nuevo del Programa de Cupones para Alimentos) El aumento temporal de los beneficios del programa SNAP otorgado por The Federal 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) se termina el 31 de octubre de Por consiguiente, habrá una reducción del subsidio SNAP para los grupos familiares. A partir del 1º de noviembre de 2013, el subsidio mensual SNAP de su grupo familiar podría disminuir hasta el monto máximo de reducción que se muestra a continuación: Número de Integrantes de la Unidad Familiar La reducción máxima al subsidio mensual de SNAP, según la Ley Federal ARRA Por cada persona adicional del grupo familiar agregue $8.00 Los cambios de la Ley Federal ARRA reducirán el monto del subsidio SNAP que su grupo familiar recibe cada mes. Por ejemplo, si su grupo familiar se compone de una (1) persona y recibe $ mensuales de subsidio SNAP, a partir del 1º de noviembre de 2013 el monto mensual del subsidio será $ El «Plan Ahorrativo de Alimentos» (Thrifty Food Plan) es el monto máximo del subsidio SNAP, según el número de integrantes de la unidad familiar. A partir del 1º de noviembre de 2013, el monto nuevo del «Plan Ahorrativo de Alimentos» (Thrifty Food Plan) será como se indica a continuación: Número de Integrantes de la Unidad Familiar Máxima Asignación Por cada persona adicional del grupo familiar agregue $ A partir del 1º de noviembre de 2013, el monto mínimo del subsidio SNAP de un grupo familiar compuesto por una o dos personas y que cumple con los requisitos será $15.00 mensual. Tenga en cuenta que el monto de su subsidio SNAP a partir del 1º de noviembre de 2013 incluye los cambios que entraron en vigencia el 1º de octubre de Dichos cambios fueron explicados en el Anuncio Público LDSS Los grupos familiares de tres (3) o más personas cuyo subsidio SNAP es igual o menor que la reducción que indica la Ley Federal ARRA para ese número de integrantes de un grupo familiar, el subsidio mensual SNAP de su grupo familiar podría reducirse a $0. Por consiguiente, los casos SNAP que se reduzcan a $0 serán cerrados. Los grupos familiares que tengan una reclamación pendiente que dé como resultado un subsidio SNAP equivalente a $0, sus casos SNAP permanecerán abiertos hasta que se recupere el monto de la reclamación. En tal caso, no recibirán el subsidio SNAP. Conforme Reglamentación Estatal 18 NYCRR (e)(1)(i), , y La reducción de su subsidio SNAP se hace de acuerdo a una orden federal de preaviso de cambios en los montos de SNAP. Conforme a la ley federal 7 CFR 271.7(f), no hay derecho a una Audiencia Imparcial para expresar desacuerdos sobre la reducción. Si cree que nos hemos equivocado al calcular el monto de su subsidio SNAP; o cree que hemos hecho un error al determinar su habilitación para recibir el subsidio SNAP, puede solicitar una Audiencia Imparcial Estatal dentro de 90 días contados a partir de la fecha en noviembre de 2013 cuando el subsidio SNAP es acreditado a su cuenta. Puede solicitar una audiencia imparcial mandando una carta a: Office of Administrative Hearings, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, P.O. Box 1930, Albany New York o puede llamar gratis al: ASISTENCIA LEGAL: si cree que necesita representación legal en la resolución de este problema, puede obtener los servicios de un abogado, sin costo alguno, comunicándose con la Sociedad de Ayuda Legal (Legal Aid Society) u otra asociación de defensa legal de su localidad. Puede encontrar los nombres de otros abogados en las páginas amarillas, bajo «Abogados» ( Lawyers ). XL039B (10/13)