SNAP -
I. Special Situations
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| Release 66: Effective July 1, 2012 |
SNAP - |
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Definitions
Migrant farmworker (GP A.53) - An individual who regularly travels away from their permanent residence overnight, usually with a group of laborers, to seek employment in an agriculturally related activity.
Seasonal farmworker (GP A.71) - An individual employed in agricultural employment of a seasonal or temporary nature. Seasonal farmworkers are not required to be absent overnight from their permanent residence when they are:
Definitions; SNAP: 461-001-0015
Destitute - A filing group (SNAP C.2) containing a migrant or seasonal farmworker that has, during the month of application or first month of the recertification, total resources (cash, bank accounts, and lump sums) of $100 or less, and the group meets any one of the following:
SNAP Expedited Services: 461-135-0575
Expedited service (SNAP B.6). Filing groups that contain a migrant or seasonal farmworker and that are destitute are eligible for expedited service. That is, they must receive benefits within the seven-day processing time frame. The only exception to this is if they apply for benefits before the end of their current certification.
SNAP Expedited Services: 461-135-0575
Work program requirement exemption. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers are OFSET exempt (SNAP D.8) if they are under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief for work equal to 30 hours at federal minimum wage and they will begin work within 30 days.
Participation Classifications: Exempt, Mandatory, and Volunteer: 461-130-0310
Resources. Exclude the vehicle a migrant farmworker uses for long-distance travel to follow crop-related jobs.
Motor Vehicle: 461-145-0360
Prospective budgeting (SNAP F.6). Whenever a migrant or seasonal farmworker is in the filing group (regardless of whether they are destitute), the income must be prospectively budgeted (GP A.7). Under prospective budgeting, there is no overpayment when anticipated information does not match what truly happens during the month, as long as the client reported true and complete information. Similarly, no supplement is issued when anticipated information makes benefits lower than they would have been based on what really happens.
| Note: | Use the Notice of Income and Benefit Calculation (DHS 7294 (Section 3)) to let the household know what income will be used each month, and set up a tickler if it will vary during the certification period. |
In addition, for groups meeting the definition of destitute, special budgeting is required for the month of application or the first month of a recertification period. For these groups, count only the income they received between the first of the month and the filing date. Do not count income from a new source that is expected after the filing date.
Prospective Eligibility and Budgeting:461-150-0020
Initial Month Prospective Budgeting for Destitute Filing Groups; SNAP: 461-150-0100
Effective date (GP A.25 and SNAP H.8) for initial benefits (GP A.45). When migrant or seasonal farmworkers received SNAP in another state in the month before applying for SNAP in Oregon, the first month of benefits here is not prorated. That is, benefits begin on the first of the month, regardless of when their filing date falls.
Effective Dates; Initial Month SNAP Benefits: 461-180-0080
F SEE EXAMPLES OF MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARMWORKERS, (SNAP I. EXAMPLES 1).
Tribal Food Distribution (TFD) is a program through which eligible clients receive food products, rather than benefits intended for purchasing food. TFD is an extension of the SNAP program. Both programs are funded and controlled by the same federal agency. Tribal organizations participating in TFD are the Burns-Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz, the Klamath Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Yurok Tribe. These organizations may issue benefits to their own tribal members and to any enrolled member of a tribe that is living in Oregon.
Because TFD is an extension of the SNAP program, recipients cannot legally get benefits from both programs simultaneously. This is unlike other food programs, such as the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which supplements SNAP benefits. When a client receives TFD, they get food for everyone living in their household. That is why the entire household is denied SNAP if a member is getting TFD.
At application, clients must state whether they are receiving TFD. Verify (SNAP B.11) the client's TFD participation status when their negative allegation is questionable. For the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes, call 1-800-922-1399 to verify participation status. This program covers every county in Oregon. In addition, contact local TFD programs to verify the status for the Burns-Paiute or Klamath Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs or the Yurok Tribe.
If clients get benefits from both the SNAP program and the TFD program for the same month, they have an overpayment. The overpayment must be written and collected in the second program that certified them for benefits. Often, clients would prefer to have a SNAP overpayment, because they can repay the claim through future benefit reduction, while they must voluntarily repay cash for TFD. However, clients cannot choose which program establishes and collects the overpayment.
Because SNAP and TFD are essentially the same program, a client with an IPV (GP C.5) disqualification on SNAP is disqualified from TFD for the same penalty period. IPV disqualifications are the only type of disqualification that affects TFD participation. Clients with other disqualifications (such as failure to cooperate with work program requirements, transfer of resources, etc.) are not barred from TFD participation.
If a client who is serving an IPV disqualification for SNAP applies for and receives TFD, this could mean a second IPV. However, if a client is disqualified from TFD, they are not disqualified from SNAP. They can apply for and receive SNAP during the TFD penalty period.
F SEE CA B.28 FOR TREATMENT OF TFD BENEFITS.
Concurrent and Duplicate Program Benefits: 461-165-0030
People in institutions and other living situations where at least 50 percent of their meals are provided are usually not eligible for SNAP.
Ineligible situations. Institutions and other situations where clients are not eligible for SNAP include the following:
| Note: | People are considered living in the correctional facility even when they are: temporarily released to perform court-imposed community service work, granted a short-term release for less than 30 days, or released only to receive medical care. |
Residents of Institutions; SNAP: 461-135-0510
People in Adult Foster Care (AFC) and Boarding Houses; SNAP: 461-135-0530
Eligibility for Inmates: 461-135-0950
Eligible situations. Clients in the following living situations can be eligible for SNAP, even though their meals may be provided.
F SEE SNAP F.23 AND SNAP WG #2 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLIENTS LIVING IN A FACILITY. Residents of Drug Addiction and Alcohol Treatment Facilities; SNAP: 461-135-0550
Under the three following special circumstances, certain clients can use their SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals.
Alcohol and Drug (A&D) treatment centers. Clients residing in some A&D treatment centers may receive SNAP benefits and use these benefits to pay for meals. To be able to use SNAP benefits to pay for prepared meals, the A&D treatment center must be state certified.
| Note: | A list of certified drug/alcohol treatment centers is available on the State of Oregon Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs website at http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/amh/pages/index.aspx. Refer to the Oregon Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Services Directory. |
F SEE SNAP B.14 AND SNAP WG#2.1 FOR INFORMATION ON WHO CAN APPLY WHEN THE CLIENT LIVES IN AN A&D TREATMENT CENTER.
The Food and Nutrition Service has authorized some A&D treatment centers to have a point of sale (POS) device. The following is a list of treatment centers with the POS.
Communal dining. Clients age 60 or over and their spouses (GP A.77), and clients receiving SSI and their spouses, may use SNAP benefits to purchase meals prepared especially for them at communal dining facilities authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
The following sites have been authorized by the FNS to accept SNAP benefits in payment for prepared meals:
Communal Dining; SNAP: 461-135-0590
Domestic Violence (DV) shelters. Clients residing in DV shelters may qualify for SNAP benefits. The FNS can authorize a DV shelter to have a point of sale (POS) device. The following is a list of DV Shelters with the POS.
Nonprofit Mental Health (MH) Resolution Crisis Facilities (RCFs)
Clients residing in a nonprofit MH RCF may qualify for SNAP benefits. The following is a list of nonprofit MH RCFs:
F SEE SNAP WG #2.4 FOR INFORMATION ON DV SHELTERS.
Homeless meal providers. Homeless clients (GP A.41) may use their SNAP benefits to purchase prepared meals from homeless meal providers who are certified by the state and authorized by FNS to accept SNAP benefits.
F SEE SNAP WG #2.3 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLIENTS LIVING IN A HOMELESS FACILITY.
The following sites have been certified by the SNAP program as homeless meal providers and the FNS has authorized them to accept SNAP benefits in payment for prepared meals:
Meal Providers for Homeless Individuals; SNAP: 461-135-0610
Meals on Wheels. The following clients and their spouses may use SNAP benefits to purchase meals prepared for them and delivered to them by a nonprofit meal delivery service authorized by FNS:
Prepared Meals; SNAP: 461-135-0580
F SEE MP WG #16 FOR INFORMATION ON SCHOOL LUNCH OR CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAMS.
F SEE CA B.28 FOR TREATMENT OF THESE BENEFITS.
Summer Farmers Market Programs are run through WIC and SPD.
F SEE CA B.28 FOR HOW TO TREAT THESE BENEFITS.
Food Programs Other than the SNAP Program: 461-145-0190
F SEE GP F FOR MORE INFORMATION ON QC.
QC is a system for determining if clients receiving SNAP are eligible and receiving the correct benefits. Each month, staff in the Quality Control Unit reviews a statistically reliable statewide sample of SNAP cases using specific federal review methodology. Children, Adults, and Families (CAF) tracks the number and types of QC payment errors identified through these reviews.
Federal staff re-reviews some of the state QC reviews to confirm the validity of state error rates. The federal agency uses the QC findings to determine whether the error rate is:
Clients must cooperate with the QC review or the entire benefit
group (SNAP C.7)
becomes ineligible for SNAP. |
Client cooperation with QC. Clients are required to cooperate with the QC review process. The QC reviewer will notify the branch when the client fails to cooperate. When this happens, send a 10-day notice to end benefits for the entire benefit group.
The household may reapply for SNAP but is not eligible again until one of the following occurs:
Client Requirement to Cooperate in Quality Control Review; ERDC, REF, REFM, SNAP, and TANF: 461-105-0410
Branch action on cases selected for QC review. A branch office notified that a case has been selected for review must do all the following:
In addition, any corrective action taken on a case after selection by QC cannot be considered in the review.
QC review process. The review process focuses on verification (SNAP B.11) of all factors of eligibility (GP A.30) and benefit amount. Verification is obtained through the case record review and field investigation. The field investigation includes a personal interview with the client and any collateral contacts needed to obtain verification.
Eligibility and benefit amount are reviewed for the single month in which the case was sampled.
QC relationship with branch offices. The QC reviewer secures information from the records in the branch office and may use certain branch office resources for securing further information. The review itself must be completely independent of the branch office, with one exception. The exception is when additional medical information is needed to substantiate eligibility. In that case, the reviewer may request that the branch secure medical information or a report.
The responsibility for evaluating the information and making an eligibility determination remains solely that of the QC staff.
Review findings are promptly reported to the branch office. The reviewer's findings are considered final if the branch does not indicate disagreement within five working days after receiving notice of the error citation.
If the branch does not agree with the findings, within five working days the branch must present to QC factual evidence and documentation as to why the review finding is in error.
The disagreement must be resolved before the QC reviewer's completion deadline. Program or other appropriate staff will be used to resolve the disagreement.
Distribution of QC findings. Individual case review decisions are distributed to branch/AAA staff at the end of the review.
QC also analyzes statewide data to identify costs (GP A.16) and causes of errors and statewide trends. Composite information is distributed to appropriate management monthly or as needed. Quarterly and annual reports are also generated. All reports are very helpful in planning and evaluating corrective action activities aimed at improving payment accuracy.
When is the DSNAP Program used?
Following a natural disaster, people may be unable to supply their everyday needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Services and facilities may be available to victims from volunteer agencies on either an individual basis or through emergency group shelters or feeding stations.
In Oregon, in cases of natural disaster, local governments and volunteer agencies provide the immediate response. State resources are not committed until, or unless, the Governor declares a state of emergency. At the state's request, and the President's concurrence that a major disaster exists, the federal government will also participate and provide additional services. Where more than one agency or level of government provide similar assistance, close communication will be maintained to avoid duplication and to assure the best level of assistance to the victims.
Background
The Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 allows distribution of emergency SNAP benefits to victims of a Presidentially-declared major disaster. In areas affected by a Presidential declaration, the only two requirements that must be met are that commercial channels of food distribution are available so that SNAP benefits can be used, and that the ongoing SNAP program is unable to handle the increased number of households needing assistance.
Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the Secretary of Agriculture can authorize emergency food assistance to areas not declared a major disaster by the President if a disaster has caused the disruption and subsequent restoration of commercial channels of food distribution. A disruption in the commercial channels of food distribution will include conditions that limit households' access to food outlets as well as the closing and reopening of retail and wholesale food outlets.
Evidence of disrupted food distribution would include significantly curtailed business hours; impassable roads; significantly hampered delivery of commodities to food outlets; unusually heavy demand on food outlets to the extent that the normal opportunity to purchase food is significantly hampered due to households replacing food supplies damaged or destroyed by the disaster; or power failure which significantly restricts the operation of food outlets.
Commercial channels of food distribution will be considered restored when conditions or operations have improved to the extent that households in the disaster area have reasonable access to food outlets. The three conditions which must be met before disaster SNAP assistance can be authorized are (1) that commercial channels of food distribution have been disrupted; (2) that commercial channels of food distribution have been restored; and (3) that the normal, ongoing SNAP program is unable to expeditiously handle the number of households affected by the disaster who are in need of emergency SNAP assistance.
The FNS Regional Disaster Task Force will serve as the primary coordinator for SNAP disaster activities, gathering data, evaluating the need for emergency food assistance, and providing information and/or recommendations to the FNS National Disaster Task Force.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for emergency SNAP assistance during a disaster, a household must file an Application for Emergency Food Stamp Assistance (DHS 349), and be interviewed, determined to meet all the following criteria and provide the required verification.
- - Loss or inaccessibility of income involving a reduction or termination of income or a significant delay in receipt of income. This could occur if the disaster has caused a place of employment to close or reduce its work days, if pay checks or other payments are lost or destroyed, or if there is a significant delay in the issuance of pay checks or other payments. It could also occur if the work location is inaccessible due to the disaster;
- - Inaccessibility of liquid resources. The household is unable to reach its cash resources and is not expected to be able to access its liquid resources for most of the disaster benefit period. This may occur because the financial institutions where the household has its resources are closed due to the disaster;
- - Loss of food;
- - Real property damage. Damage to or destruction of the household's home or self-employment business.
Determining the availability of income
To be eligible for disaster SNAP assistance, the household's take-home pay for the disaster benefits period, plus its cash resources (cash on hand and accessible funds in checking and savings accounts), less disaster-related expenses, must be less than or equal to the SNAP maximum income level for the household size of DSNAP.
Take-home pay includes:
| Note: | The household must meet the income limit for emergency SNAP assistance. Because this standard requires that cash resources be added to income, large numbers of households in disaster areas will be screened out of the program unless the cash is inaccessible. Inaccessible resources are disregarded if they are expected to be inaccessible for most of the disaster benefit period. |
Disaster-related expenses include expenses the household has paid or is expected to pay during the disaster benefit period for one of the following expenses and full reimbursement is not expected during the disaster benefit period. Expenses are only limited to the following:
Calculating benefits:
Income would be counted if it had already been received in the disaster benefit period or if it is reasonably certain to be received during the benefit period.
For any expense to be deductible, the household has to have paid, or expect to pay for the expense during the one-month or half-month disaster benefit period. If the household will not pay for the expense until after the disaster benefits period, it is not a deductible expense. Likewise, if the household has received or reasonably anticipates receiving a reimbursement for part or all of the expense during the disaster benefit period, only the net expense to the household would be deductible. If reimbursement is not anticipated until after the benefit period ends, the full amount of the expense paid or expected to be paid would be deductible.
If the disaster benefit period is one month, income over that full month period and all accessible resources shall be counted, disaster-related expenses that are paid, or are expected to be paid over that full month period, shall be deducted and the maximum income limit shall be for a one month period.
If the disaster benefit period is for one-half month, income over the half-month period shall be counted, disaster-related expenses paid or expected to be paid over this period shall be deducted, and the disaster eligibility limit shall be one half of the monthly SNAP maximum limit. However, the full amount of accessible cash resources shall be counted, regardless of the length of the disaster benefit period.
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP): 461-135-0491
Application
A household must submit a completed DHS 349 application form at a certification site in person or through an authorized representative. If the household designates a nonhousehold member as authorized representative, a Designation of Authorized Representative or Alternate Payee form (MSC 231) must be completed and filed with the case record.
The application must be filed during the period designated by FNS for acceptance of applications for disaster SNAP assistance.
The application must be signed by a responsible member of the household or by an authorized representative designated by the household.
No emergency SNAP benefits shall be authorized after the expiration of the period for which the state is authorized by FNS to process and approve applications for emergency SNAP assistance.
The household or its authorized representative must be interviewed and must provide the required verification.
The length of the benefit period, which is the length of time corresponding to the allotment to be provided, either one-half or one full month, will be based on an estimate of how long it will take households to return to their normal means of support.
Application, Interviews, and Verification for DSNAP: 461-135-0492
Interviews
All applicants must be interviewed. The interviewer shall advise the household orally or in writing of the disposition of its application, its rights and responsibilities, when its emergency certification period ends, and of the regular SNAP program.
The interviewer shall advise the household of the civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Food and Nutrition Act, and of the fact that the household may be subject to a post-disaster review.
The interviewer shall inform each household certified eligible of the proper use of and the amount of SNAP benefits and the period the benefits are intended to cover. If the application is denied, the household must be given an explanation of the basis for denial.
If the household also wishes to file an application for the ongoing SNAP program, the interviewer shall advise the household orally or in writing of the address and telephone number of the appropriate office.
Eligibility and Benefit Amount for DSNAP: 461-135-0493
Verification
The applicant must verify the following:
| Note: | Since documents can be destroyed or be unobtainable in a disaster situation, the emergency certifier may use a collateral contact as a source of verification when the household's identity and residency cannot be verified through documentary evidence or when a collateral contact would expedite the household's certification. It is program intent that in those instances where the household has arrived in the area just prior to the disaster and residency cannot readily be verified, the household would not be denied if residence is the only requirement that cannot be verified. The worker must be satisfied that this is actually the case. |
DSNAP Treatment of Households Already Certified and Receiving SNAP Benefits: 461-135-0494
Issuance of benefits
Disaster SNAP benefits will be issued to an eligible household immediately after completion of the application and eligibility determination (benefits can be issued to the head of the household, spouse or properly identified authorized representative). Households determined eligible shall receive benefits no later than three days after the date of application. If the third day falls on a weekend, issue benefits on either the first or second day.
Recertifications for DSNAP: 461-135-0495
Treatment of households already certified and receiving SNAP
Households certified and receiving SNAP benefits may also be eligible for emergency SNAP assistance. They may get a replacement allotment.
If the households are later determined eligible for disaster benefits, they may receive a supplement up to the maximum allotment amount per household size.
Ongoing program benefits will be used to reduce the disaster benefits unless the household's food has been damaged by the disaster and the household must replace the food.
Household Liability in the DSNAP: 461-135-0497
Recertifications
If FNS extends the authorization period beyond the original designation and the extension goes beyond the end of the original disaster benefit period, FNS may authorize CAF to permit certified households who have already received emergency benefits to apply for recertification and receive additional SNAP benefits for an additional benefit period, if they still meet the disaster eligibility criteria.
A household applying for recertification must again submit an DHS 349 and be interviewed.
At recertification, identity and residency need not be reverified unless the branch office believes these items to be questionable. If an extension is granted, the State Office shall issue a press release notifying households that the disaster authorization period has been extended for emergency SNAP benefits. The press release will advise households of where they may apply for additional emergency benefits and the date by which a household must file an application to receive extended benefits.
Eligibility and Benefit Amount for DSNAP: 461-135-0493
Hearings
Recertifications for DSNAP: 461-135-0495
Household liability
Households will be held liable for any overissuances discovered in the course of post-disaster audit activities.
CAF will establish claims and apply penalties in accordance with OARs 461-195-0501 through 461-195-0621 against any household that received more emergency SNAP benefits than it was entitled to receive.
Regardless of whether overissuances are discovered in the course of the post-disaster review or by other means, in accordance with OARs 461-195-0501 through 461-195-0621, a claim will be established against any household that received more emergency SNAP than it is entitled to receive.
Household Liability in the DSNAP: 461-135-0497
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers examples
| Example 1: | Mark is a migrant farmworker. He and his wife and two children meet
all nonfinancial eligibility requirements for SNAP. They moved to Oregon in April and live
in a migrant camp where they are awaiting the strawberry harvest. Work is expected to be
available the first or second week of June. The family applies for SNAP in April. Their
only resources are $50 cash and a vehicle they depend on to follow the crops from state
to state. Their only income for the month is $200 Mark received from the camp he left the
first week of April.
Mark is reasonably certain that he will be able to work in June, but he says he has no idea how much money he will make. He tells his worker that he has never picked strawberries in Oregon before and has no way of even guessing how much he will earn. He will be the only member of the filing group working. The family expects to leave Oregon in August. Mark and his family are destitute and therefore eligible for expedited service. Count $200 earned income in April, $0 in May. Exclude the vehicle. Use DHS 7294 to list the income amounts that will be used each month to calculate benefits. To determine the redetermination period, choose one of these two options: Approve SNAP benefits for two months. If the family wants SNAP in June, they will have to reapply and have their prospective income determined. Require Mark to get a statement from his prospective employer stating the approximate amount Mark can be expected to earn during the three months he will be working in that camp. Then use this estimate to determine jointly with the client his anticipated income during those months. If the amount is under income limits, approve SNAP benefits through the end of August. Flag your calendar to adjust the income amount online before June 1. |
Note: If Mark's family received SNAP benefits in another state before moving to Oregon, contact their state of origin per MP-WG#4 to confirm that they do not receive and use duplicate benefits for April. Also, April benefits in Oregon would begin on April 1.
| Example 2: | Julie is a migrant farmworker who applies for SNAP on May 18. She
has no resources or income so far this month. She expects to start work the following
week and receive her first paycheck May 29, but this depends largely on the weather. She
will be paid every week and from past experience knows that she can expect to earn
about $400 per month until August, when she expects to earn only $200 due to the
crop slowing down and the harvest ending before the end of the month. She plans to return to
California in August when the work runs out.
Julie meets all nonfinancial eligibility requirements. She says she received SNAP in California in April but not in May, and this has been verified by phone. Julie is destitute because her only income for May is a check she expects to receive from a new source on May 29, more than 10 days after the filing date. Approve her SNAP benefits for four months (May through August). Count $0 income in May because the only anticipated income that month is from a new source after the filing date. Give her expedited service and open the case effective May 1, not May 18, because she received SNAP from another state in April. Two computer transactions must be done on two separate days: one to open the case and issue May benefits, another to adjust the earned income amount for June. After agreeing with Julie on what income to reasonably anticipate, count $400 for June and July, $200 for August. Because Julie cannot be in SRS, the worker must flag a calendar to adjust the income amount on-line before August 1. Use DHS 7294 to list the amounts that will be used for each month of the redetermination period. Provide her with a copy of the Change Report (DHS 943) and explain reporting requirements. Overpayment situation #1: When Julie's quarterly wage match is received, the income exceeds the total amount calculated but the income source is the same. There is no overpayment because the client used the best information available at the time of the eligibility determination and was not able to anticipate the change. Overpayment situation #2: Julie's quarterly wage match indicates earnings that exceed the varied amount by $800 due to a second employer, not reported and not taken into consideration at the eligibility determination. An overpayment may exist because the client did not report a change in the source of income. Earnings information would have to be obtained from the second employer to determine when the earnings occurred. If the money was all received during the last month of the redetermination period, there would be no overpayment because, even if she had reported, no action would have been taken. |
| Example 3: | Jim is a seasonal farmworker applying for SNAP for himself in June. He
works on a farm for five months of the year, May through September. He has worked there
for several years, knowing the work will end when the season ends. He earns $1,000 per
month for five months, then approximately $200-$300 each of the other seven months when
he finds odd jobs.
Jim is not destitute, but he still cannot be in SRS. His income can be averaged over a five-month period; it is possible and easy to anticipate income due to past history and a long-standing commitment with this employer. Jim can choose whether his income is averaged or counted on a month-to-month basis, but with $1,000 monthly earnings, he is over income either way. He cannot have his income averaged over a 12-month period, taking into account the $200-$300 per month he usually makes in the off-season, because there is no way to be reasonably certain what will happen that far in advance when his current job ends. Deny the application and invite Jim to reapply when his seasonal farm work ends or when there is another change in circumstances that could make him eligible. |
| Example 4: | Shirley and Howard are migrant farmworkers who permanently reside in
Texas. They work crops in Texas during the winter months and travel to Oregon
each summer to work for Acme Fruit picking apples. They finished winter crops in
Texas in April, received their final pay checks totaling $534 on April 27, and moved to Oregon
to begin work May 1. On May 5, they file for SNAP benefits in Oregon. They received
SNAP benefits in Texas for April before they left and closed their case, but were
unable to provide verification. Contact Texas per
MP WG#4 to confirm
that they will not receive and use duplicate benefits.
The worker, with the client's input, calculates income for the redetermination period, using information from the previous summer's employment and the pay rate expected for this year. They are paid weekly, on Friday, and their first paycheck will be received May 10. Resources are $200 in cash savings from April income. They plan to return to Texas in September to harvest chickpeas. Shirley and Howard meet all nonfinancial eligibility requirements. They choose to have their income averaged. They are not destitute because they anticipate receiving income from their current jobs on May 10 (less than 10 days from May 5, the date of application) and they have more than $100 in resources. The redetermination period is May through August. The filing date is May 5, but they are eligible for benefits effective May 1, because they received SNAP benefits in another state the previous month. Income is computed as follows: |
| May | June | July | August | Total | Monthly Income |
|
| Shirley | $175 + | $200 + | $300 + | $275 = | $950 ÷ 4 | = $237.50 |
| Howard | $200 + | $300 + | $250 + | $325 = | $1,075 ÷ 4 | = $268.75 |
| The family is eligible because the total monthly income
of $506.25 ($237.50 + 268.75) is within the countable income limit for two.
Give Shirley and Howard a copy of the completed DHS 7294 showing how the income was averaged. Inform them of reporting requirements and give them a change report form DHS 943. Overpayment situation #1: A quarterly wage match report is received indicating Shirley and Howard have a discrepancy in the earnings they anticipated. Although they worked only for Acme Fruit, they earned a total of $400 more than the figures used to average the income. There is no overpayment as there was no way for them to anticipate their earnings would have exceeded the projected amount and they used the best knowledge available at the time of the eligibility determination. Overpayment situation #2: Same situation only the quarterly wage match report indicates Howard and Shirley worked not only for Acme Fruit, but also for Franklin Farms during the redetermination period, earning $1,005 total. The worker contacts Franklin Farms, and they confirm that Howard and Shirley worked for them in June and July, cutting asparagus. An overpayment exists in this situation because they failed to report a new income source. However, when computing the overpayment, the $400 excess from Acme Fruit is not part of the overpayment, as explained in overpayment situation #1. |
| Example 5: | Ben, a seasonal farmworker, applies for SNAP benefits March 15. For the
past few years, he has worked for various farmers during the growing season and has received
UC benefits during the winter. His UC benefits ended February 15. He has
been hired to work for Crunchy Carrot Farms and started work on March 14. Ben has no
resources and the only income he received in March was $25 from the sale of plasma on
March 1.
Ben has been guaranteed at least two months work for Crunchy Carrot Farms; crops look good and he is optimistic that work will continue throughout the summer. He estimates earnings in April and May of $400 per month. He is paid weekly, on Saturdays, and will receive his first paycheck March 26. He is being paid for the number of pounds of carrots he washes, sorts, and bags a day. He has not worked for this farm before but has worked in the carrot harvest and earned about $100 a week then. Ben meets all nonfinancial eligibility criteria. He is destitute and is eligible for expedited SNAP benefits. He is a seasonal farmworker; the only income he earned in the month of application was from a one-time sale of plasma; he has no resources, and the only income from the new job will be received after the 10th calendar day following the filing date. Since Ben is unable to predict with any reasonable certainty what his income beyond May will be, a three-month redetermination period is appropriate. The only countable income for March is $25 received from the first of the month through the filing date. For April and May, $100 X 4.3 weeks = $430 per month is counted prospectively. Give Ben a copy of the completed DHS 7294 showing the income used to calculate benefits. After explaining reporting requirements, give him a change report form DHS 943. |