I.
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Notification Stage: Initial
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II.
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Status: Request for participation in development of policy
Comment Due Date: 4/8/2008
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III.
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Description of Proposed Policy:
All Programs - Tax rebates issued via the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 are exempt as income and a resource in the month received and exempt as a resource in the following two months for all programs.
Child Care, Grandparents as Caregivers, and Medical Assistance - New poverty level guidelines have been published by the Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines affect the eligibility standards in the Child Care, Grandparents as Caregivers, and medical programs. Separate implementation instructions will be issued to staff for these changes.
Food Assistance - The counties considered exempt from the ABAWD provisions are being updated for May 1, 2008.
Provisions are being added for the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS), a national repository of persons who have been found guilty of food stamp fraud and have been disqualified from the program.
Medical - Changes are being included regarding processing medical applications.
All individuals eligible for TransMed are now required to provide proof of having a social security number.
The new HCBS waiver, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility – Community Based Alternative (PRTF – CBA), is being implemented effective April 1, 2008.
The HCBS effective date for the Frail Elderly (FE) waiver is being changed from the date services actually begin to the date the customer chooses HCBS services.
Successful Families - Information is being corrected to reflect the correct procedure to follow when customers report DV/SA but do not want to participate in OARS.
Solutions Recovery Care Coordination material is being added to KEESM.
KEESM is being updated to reflect that staff are no longer allowed to encourage customers to volunteer for additional hours.
TAF Assistance - The Work Incentive Enhancement is being implemented to increase the earnings disregard from 40% to 60% for low income families.
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IV.
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Reason for Proposed Policy:
All Programs - These provisions are specific to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, Title I, Section 101(d).
Child Care, Grandparents as Caregivers, and Medical Assistance - Poverty level increases are based on the annual HHS updates.
Food Assistance - The updates for the counties that are exempt from the ABAWD provisions are based on FY 2008 information from the US Department of Labor. The eDRS is a new web-based system that replaces the Disqualified Recipient Subsystem (DRS) which was accessed via a Voice Response Unit. USDA has specific policies and procedures that must be followed in regard to the eDRS.
Medical Assistance - Medical applications are valid for a 45 day period, regardless of the reason for denial. The current manual instruction requires a new application be provided for all programs when an application is denied for reasons other than failure to provide information.
Removal of language exempting TransMed from SSN requirements is necessary to reflect the new policy.
The goal of the PRTF-CBA waiver is to divert children and youth at risk of placement in a PRTF and to transition those children and youth residing in a PRTF back into the community. This will result in a decrease in the average length of stay in a PRTF, decrease admissions to PRTF’s and increase the number of diversions from the PRTF’s.
The HCBS FE waiver start date was changed from the date services begin to the client choice date due to case management billing issues associated with the former.
Successful Families - Staff are already attempting to engage customers reporting DV/SA but declining OARS assignment in other appropriate compontents and KEESM is being updated to reflect this policy.
This incorporates the Solutions Recovery Coordination (SRCC) changes implemented during the staged roll out which occurred in fall/winter 2007 and spring 2008. The changes will become official policy on May 1, 2008.
Staff are no longer allowed to encourge consumers to volunteer for additional hours in order to conform with the Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines and reduce liability for SRS in the case of loss or injury to customers.
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V.
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Major Changes Made Since Initial Notification:
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VI.
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Contact Person(s): Allen Mossman785-296-3340 or e-mail Allen.Mossman@srs.ks.gov
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VII.
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Time Frame for Implementation:
May 1, 2008
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VIII.
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Fiscal Impact Information:
None.
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IX.
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Changes Required:
Modification of relevant KEESM references.
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X.
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Review of Impact:
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Mission of SRS: All manual changes are consistent with the Mission of SRS. The following specific elements have additional impact:
All Programs - Exempting incentive payments will allow the agency to further support adults to gain self-sufficiency.
Food Stamps - Changes in the ABAWD status will foster adult self-sufficiency in the new counties approved.
Successful Families - The addition of the SRCC program will further increase the agency’s efforts to assist adults achieve self-sufficiency.
Stakeholders (internal and external):
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Customers: The Work Incentive Enhancement will allow customers to retain TANF benefits while getting work experience and the benefit of being rewarded for behavior that would sustain self sufficiency.
Food Stamps -
a. Customers will be affected in the city of Wichita and the counties of Douglas and Sumner. Affected ABAWD’s will be limited to 3 months of food stamp benefits in a 36 month period instead of unlimited participation. ABAWDs in Bourbon, Lyon and Miami will now be allowed to receive FS unlimited, instead of limited to 3 months out of 36.
b. The eDRS will have no affect. Customers will still have 10 days to provide postponed verification and benefits will be reinstated without proration if provided timely.
Medical Assistance -
a. Medical applicants will not be required to reapply when case circumstances change within the 45 day period.
b. Qualifying children and youth under the new PRTF-CBA waiver will be able to receive needed services in a less restrictive community setting.
c. Applicants will now be able to promptly receive services under the HCBS FE waiver in a more timely manner.
Employees: Food Assistance -
The change in this revision to the exempt labor surplus counties will substantially affect staff in Sedgwick, Sumner and Douglas counties, as those counties are losing their exempt status. Other changes and clarifications will have a minimal effect.
Medical Assistance -
The medical changes in this revision will likely result in a moderate increase in staff effort to determine the status of resources in both the assessment and eligibility process.
Other Programs or Divisions: KHPA has been contacted and has agreed the exemption of work incentives from Work Experience and Community Service Providers will reduce errors on medical benefits.
Other Policies: No effect.
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Budget of SRS: These changes will not affect the SRS budget.
Information Technology: No needed change.
Any Political Impact: The change in ABAWD status will result in termination of food stamp benefits for many households, especially in Sedgwick county.
A positive reaction is anticipated for exempting the performance incentives for consumers in Work Experience and Community Service programs and for the SRCC
program.
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XI.
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Training/Educational Requirements:
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Staff: Materials distributed with the manual revision should be reviewed by supervisors and discussed with eligibility staff. The implementation memo and implementation teleconference will provide further information. Training material will be updated as needed. Staff in Sedgwick, Douglas and Sumner county staff will have to be trained on the ABAWD provisions if they have been hired in the last two years.
Customers: Customers will be notified by staff at application, orientation, or review. Notices will also be sent as appropriate. Customers will be notified via a special notice, telling them about the ABAWD change and what they can do to continue to receive benefits, and if they are no longer eligible, when their benefits will end. Most persons in the counties that are losing exempt status will get food stamps for three months following the change before assistance is terminated.
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Supporting Documents and Downloads
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SOC Rev 35 0508
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Advocate and Consumer Feedback
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