Department of Human Services Food Stamp Online Policy Manual
FOOD STAMP MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter	Section	Subject		Updated
1		INTRODUCTION & RIGHT TO APPLY
	1.1	Introduction
	1.2	Purpose of the Food Stamp program
	1.3	Legal Basis of Administration of the Food Stamp Program
	1.4	Right to Apply
	1.5	Assistance Groups
2		HOUSEHOLD CONCEPT
	2.1	Household Composition Policy
	2.2	Purchasing and Preparing Meals
	2.3	Separate Household Status
	2.4	Designating Head of Household
	2.5	Absent Wage Earner
	2.6	Individuals Receiving Foster Care Board Payments
	2.7	Non-Household Members
	2.8	Individuals Who Cannot be Considered Non-Household Members
	2.9	Treatment of Income, Resources, and Deductible Expenses of Non-Household Members
	2.10	Excluded Household Members
	2.11	Treatment of Excluded Household Members in Determining Financial Eligibility
	2.12	Boarders
	2.13	Residents of Institutions
	2.14	Authorized Representatives
	2.15	Verification
3		CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD STAMPS
	3.1	Defining Who Is Categorically Eligible (CE)
	3.2	Exceptions to Categorical Eligibility
	3.3	Determining Eligibility for CE Households
	3.4	Verification Procedures for CE Households
	3.5	Determining Benefit Levels for CE Households
	3.6	Processing Applications for Potential CE Households
	3.7	Termination of Families First or SSI Benefits
4		STUDENT STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL INCOME
	4.1	Student Status
	4.2	Student Eligibility Criteria
	4.3	Ineligible Students
	4.4	Changes in Student Status
	4.5	Procedures for Establishing Student Status
	4.6	Treatment of Educational Income
	4.7	Treatment of Resources
	4.8	Acceptable Forms of Verification
5		RESIDENCE
	5.1	Residency Requirement
	5.2	Definition of Resident
	5.2.1	1240-1-3-.03 RESERVED
	5.3	Termination of Residence
	5.4	Reporting Addresses
	5.5	Verification
6		CITIZENSHIP AND ALIEN STATUS REQUIREMENT
	6.1	Eligibility Requirements
	6.2	Verification of United States Citizenship
	6.3	Method of Verification of United States Citizenship
	6.4	Promptness of Case Action – Questionable Citizenship
	6.5	Eligible Aliens – General Requirements
	6.6	Description of Eligible Aliens
	6.7	Determination of Qualified Alien Status
	6.8	Qualified Aliens – Unlimited Eligibility Period
	6.9	Victims of Severe Form of Trafficking
	6.10	Battered Immigrants
	6.11	Eligibility of Sponsored Aliens
	6.12	Ineligible Aliens
	6.13	Verification of Alien Status
		ENUMERATION
	7.1	Social Security Enumeration Requirements
	7.2	Enumeration
	7.3	Mandatory Verification
	7.4	Enumeration Procedures
	7.5	Enumeration Requirements
	7.6	Good Cause for Failure to Comply
	7.7	Failure to Obtain a Social Security Number
	7.8	Refusal to Provide or Apply for a Social Security Number
	7.9	Social Security Number Cannot be Verified by Social Security
	7.10	Recording and Documentation
8		AGE AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
	8.1	Age Requirements
	8.1.2	1240-1-3-.17 RESERVED
	8.2	School Attendance
9		WORK REQUIREMENTS
	9.1	Work Registration
	9.2	Work Registration Requirement
	9.3	Exemptions from Work Registration
	9.4	Barriers to Work Requirements
	9.5	Caseworker’s Responsibilities
	9.6	Work Registrant’s Responsibilities
	9.7	Unsuitable Employment
	9.8	Deregistration
	9.9	Employment and Training Components (E&T)
10		ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENT CHILDREN
	10.1	Exemptions
	10.2	Who is an ABAWD
	10.3	Eligibility
	10.4	Maintaining Eligibility
	10.5	Regaining Eligibility
	10.6	Caseworker’s Responsibility
	10.7	Good Cause Determination
	10.8	Non-Compliant ABAWD
	10.9	ABAWD’s Work Hours Decrease
	10.10	Closure
11		FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH WORK COMPONENTS
	11.1	Non-Compliance by a Household Member
	11.2	Non-Compliance with work Requirements in Cash Assistance
	11.3	Determining Good Cause
	11.4	Disqualification
	11.5	Ending the Disqualification
12		VOLUNTARY QUIT
	12.1	Voluntary Quit Determination
	12.2	The Voluntary Quit Provision Does Not Apply to an Individual When…
	12.3	The Voluntary Quit Provision Applies When…
	12.4	Good Cause
	12.5	Federal, State, or Local Government Employees
	12.6	Verification of Voluntary Quit/Reduction in Hours and Good Cause Determination
	12.7	Implementing a Voluntary Quit/Reduction of Work Hours Disqualification
	12.8	Ending the Disqualification
13		FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
	13.1	Consideration of Resources and Income
	13.2	Categorically Eligible Households
	13.3	Mixed households
14		RESOURCES
	14.1	Resource Eligibility Standards
	14.2	Application of Resource Limits
	14.3	Verification
15		EXEMPT RESOURCES
	15.1	Home and Lot
	15.2	Household Goods and Personal Effects
	15.3	Insurance Policies
	15.4	Exempt Vehicles
	15.5	Burial Policies, Burial Agreements, and Burial Plots
	15.6	Pension Funds
	15.7	Income Producing Property
	15.8	Inaccessible Resources
	15.9	Resources Excluded by Law
	15.10	Resources of Non-Household Members
	15.11	Agent Orange Settlement Payment
	15.12	Allowances Paid to Children of Vietnam Veterans Born with Spina Bifida
	15.13	Individual Development Account (IDA)
	15.14	“Dedicated Accounts” for SSI Children
	15.15	Earmarked Resources
	15.16	Prorated Income
	15.17	Indian Lands
	15.18	Livestock and Poultry
	15.19	Handling of Excluded Funds
	15.20	Education Accounts (Effective 10-1-08)
	15.20.1	Reserved
16		COUNTABLE RESOURCES
	16.1	Countable Liquid Resources
	16.2	Countable Non-Liquid Resources
17		DOCUMENTATION
	17.1	Verification of a Resource
	17.2	Actions on Cases Receiving Lump Sum Payments
18		SPECIAL RESOURCE SITUATIONS
	18.1	Jointly Owned Resources (Real or Personal Property)
	18.2	Victims Compensation Awards
	18.3	Establishing Ownership of Property Through Legal Title
	18.4	Treatment of Vehicles
19		TRANSFER OF RESOURCES
	19.1	Transfers Resulting in Disqualification
	19.2	Transfers Not Resulting Disqualification
	19.3	Period of Disqualification
	19.4	Disqualifying a Household
20		INCOME
	20.1	Income Eligibility Standards
	20.2	Definition of Income
	20.3	Earned Income
	20.4	Unearned Income
	20.5	Unemployment Compensation
	20.6	Strike Benefits
	20.7	Vacation, Sick, Longevity and Bonus Pay
	20.8	Certain Rental Income
	20.9	Interest Payments, Dividends, and Royalties Income
	20.10	Assistance Payments
	20.11	Pensions and Benefits
	20.12	Support and Alimony
	20.13	Contributions
	20.14	Monies Received from Trust Funds
	20.15	Income of Excluded or Ineligible Members
	20.16	Foster Care Payments and/or Guardianship Payments
	20.17	Severance Pay
21		PAYMENTS/BENEFITS EXCLUDED IN ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
	21.1	Relocation Assistance Payments
	21.2	Funds Held in Trust for Members of Indian Tribes
	21.3	Payments Received Under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
	21.4	Receipts Distributed to Members of Certain Indian Tribe
	21.5	Benefits Received From Programs Under the Older Americans Act of 1965
	21.6	Value of Supplemental Food Assistance under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
	21.7	Payments for Support Services and Reimbursements of Out-of-pocket Expenses
	21.8	Payments under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973
	21.9	Workforce Investment Act Income
	21.10	Experimental Housing Allowance Program Payments
	21.11	Nazi Persecution Payments
	21.12	Educational Loans, Grants, Scholarships, Fellowships, & Veteran’s Education Benefits
	21.13	Energy Assistance Payments
	21.14	Agent Orange Settlement Payments
	21.15	Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
	21.16	Compensation Received Under the Crime Act of 1984
	21.17	Earnings of Children
	21.18	Cost of Producing Self –Employment Income
	21.19	Irregular Income
	21.20	Loans
	21.21	Income of Non-Household Members
	21.22	Non-Recurring Lump Sum Payments
	21.23	Recoupments
	21.24	Reimbursements
	21.25	Support Payments
	21.26	Vendor Payments
	21.27	PASS Accounts
	21.28	AmeriCorps
	21.29	Allowances Paid to Children of Vietnam Veterans
	21.30	SSI Lump Sum Installment Payments
	21.31	Youthbuild Program Payments
	21.32	Non-Cash Items
	21.33	Payments Under Title I
	21.34	Disaster Income
	21.35	Military Combat Pay
	21.36	Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Payments
	21.37	Income Included in Eligibility Determination
22		TREATMENT OF INCOME /DETERMINATION OF AVAILABLE INCOME
	22.1	Projecting Income
	22.2	Converting Income to Monthly Amounts
	22.3	Rounding Truncating Procedures
	22.4	Income at Application
	22.5	Anticipating Changes and Benefit Amounts
	22.6	Income at Recertification
	22.7	Consideration of Income Belonging to Particular Individuals
23		DEDUCTIONS FROM INCOME
	23.1	Limitations on Deductions
	23.2	Types of Expenses Not Allowed as Deductions
	23.3	Billed Expenses Deducted in Month Due
	23.4	Fluctuating Expenses
	23.5	Anticipating Expenses
	23.6	Types of Expenses Allowed as Deductions
	23.7	Earned Income Deduction
	23.8	Standard Deduction
	23.9	Excess Medical Deduction
	23.10	Dependent Care
	23.11	Shelter Costs
	23.12	Child Support Payments Deduction
	23.13	Deduction for a Representative Payee
	23.14	Types of Expenses Allowed for Excluded Household Members
24		TREATMENT OF INCOME
	24.1	Treatment of Unearned Income
	24.2	Treatment of Earned Income
	24.3	Policies Regarding Determination of Net Income
	24.4	1240-1-4-.21 RESERVED
25		MEDICAL DEDUCTION SUPPLEMENT
	25.1	Definitions
	25.2	Criteria for Determining Who Is Eligible for a Medical Deduction
	25.3	Consideration of Medical Expenses
	25.4	Reimbursements
	25.5	Repayment Plans for Medical Plans
	25.6	One-Time Medical Expenses
	25.7	Recurring Medical Expenses
	25.8	Changes
26		CALCULATING NET INCOME AND BENEFIT LEVELS
	26.1	Net Monthly Income
	26.2	Prorating Initial Month’s Benefit
	26.2.1	1240-1-4-.23 RESERVED
	26.3	Treatment of Income from Self-Employment
	26.4	Determining Self-Employment Income
	26.5	Special Income Consideration
	26.6	Cost of Producing Self-Employment Income
	26.7	Determining Monthly Income When Averaged
	26.8	Determining Monthly Income When Anticipated
	26.9	Households With Boarders
	26.10	Resident Farm Laborers
	26.11	Migrant Farm laborers
	26.12	School Employees
	26.13	Treatment of Income (CE Households)
27		STANDARD OF NEED/INCOME
	27.1	Food Stamp Gross Monthly Income Standard
	27.2	Net Monthly Income Standards
	27.3	Basis of Coupon Issuance – Value of Thrifty Food Plan
	27.4	Food Stamp Deductions
	27.5	Food Stamp Utility Allowance
	27.6	Food Stamp Standard Telephone Allowance
	27.7	Homeless Household Shelter Standard
	27.8	1240-1-4-.28 RESERVED
	27.9	1240-1-4-.29 RESERVED
	27.10	Information for Computing Food Stamp Allotments
28		DESTITUTE HOUSEHOLD
	28.1	Household Eligible for Expedited Service – FS
	28.2	Pre-screening
	28.3	Monitoring
	28.4	Definitions of Destitute Migrant or Seasonal Farm Worker Households
	28.5	Source of Income Defined
	28.6	Terminated Income Source
	28.7	New Source
	28.8	Both Sources
	28.9	Processing Standards
	28.10	Late Determinations
	28.11	Determining Income for Expedited Service Household
	28.12	Expedited Procedures for Households Applying Through the 15^th of the Month
	28.13	Expedited Procedures for Households Applying After the 15th of the Month
	28.14	When Expedited Procedures Apply
	28.15	Verification for Expedited Service
	28.16	Certification Periods
29		PERIODS OF ELIGIBILITY
	29.1	Establishing Certification Periods
	29.2	Determining Length of Certification Period for FS Households		6/27/11
30		TRANSITIONAL FOOD STAMPS
	30.1	Eligibility Requirements
	30.2	Determining the Transitional Food Stamp Benefit
	30.3	Changes
	30.4	Recertification for Regular Food Stamp Benefits
	30.5	Ending Transitional Food Stamp Benefits
	30.6	1240-1-11 RESERVED
31		RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
	31.1	Nondiscrimination
	31.2	Availability of Information
	31.3	Uses for Food Stamp Benefits
	31.3.1	1240-12-.05 RESERVED
	31.4	Food Stamp Benefits as Income
	31.5	No Aid Reduction Because of Food Stamp Participation
	31.6	Complaint Procedures for Program Matters
32		GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
	32.1	Management of Case Records
	32.2	Confidentiality of Case Records
	32.3	Information Considered Confidential
	32.4	Exceptions to Confidential Information
	32.5	Release of Information to the Applicant/Recipient or His Representative
	32.6	Release of Information to Persons Other Than the Recipient or Someone Acting on his Behalf
	32.7	Applications by Department Employees and Their Relatives
	32.8	1240-1-13-.02 RESERVED
	32.9	1240-1-13-.03 RESERVED
33		THE APPLICATION PROCESS
	33.1	Application Process
	33.2	Voluntary Withdrawal
	33.3	Promptness
	33.4	Filing an Application
	33.5	Prescreening
	33.6	Disposition of Application
	33.7	Approval or Denial of Application
	33.8	Procedures for Determining Eligibility
	33.9	Actions Based on Eligibility
	33.9.1	1240-1-14-.10 RESERVED
	33.10	Providing Notices of Eligibility
	33.11	Actions Based on Ineligibility and Delayed Eligibility Determination
	33.12	SSI/Food Stamp Joint Application Process
	33.13	SSI Households
	33.14	Responsibilities of SSA
	33.15	Responsibilities of the Department (DHS)
	33.16	Verification Procedures
	33.17	Assigning Certification Periods
	33.18	SSI Households Applying at the County Office
	33.19	Restoration of Loss Benefits
	33.20	Work Registration Requirements
	33.21	Mass Changes
	33.22	Categorical Eligibility
34		INTERVIEWING FOR ELIGIBILITY
	34.1	Introduction
	34.2	Purpose of Interviewing
	34.3	Mandatory Interviewing
	34.4	Scheduling Interviews
	34.5	Single Interview
	34.6	Waiver of Office Interview
	34.7	General Intake Information
	34.8	Failure/Refusal to Cooperate in Eligibility Process
35		VERIFICATION PROCEDURES
	35.1	Introduction
	35.2	Verification Process
	35.3	Verification at Initial Application
	35.4	Status of Application Awaiting Verification
	35.5	Verification of Reported Changes
	35.6	Verification at Recertification
	35.7	Contacting and using Other Sources of Verification
36		TIMELINESS STANDARD
	36.1	Introduction
	36.2	General Standard
	36.3	Action When Food Stamp Determination Precedes Families First Determination
	36.4	Opportunity to Participate
	36.5	Providing Notices to Households
	36.6	Notice for Special Cases
	36.7	Time Limit for Providing Notice of Denial
	36.8	Denial of Application When A/R Fails to Keep an Appointment
	36.9	Failure to Meet Timeliness Standard
	36.10	1240-1-17-.10 Reserved
	36.11	1240-1-17-.11 Reserved
37		AUTHORIZATION OF ALLOTMENT
	37.1	Introduction
	37.1.1	1240-1-18-.02 RESERVED
	37.1.2	1240-1-18-.03 RESERVED
	37.2	Method of Delivery
	37.3	Designation of an Authorized Representative
	37.4	1240-1-18-.06 RESERVED
38		CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES
	38.1	Recertification
	38.2	Notice of Expiration of Certification
	38.3	Notification of Recertification
	38.4	County Office Failure to Act on Timely Certification Application
	38.5	Loss of Right to Uninterrupted Benefits
	38.6	Good Cause for Failure to Timely Reapply
	38.6.1	1240-1-19-.02 RESERVED
	38.6.2	1240-1-19-.03 RESERVED
	38.7	Changes During the Food Stamp Certification
	38.8	Household Responsibilities
	38.9	Households Subject to Simplified Reporting		6/27/11
	38.10	Applicant Household’s Responsibilities
	38.11	How Changes are Reported
	38.12	Failure to Report
	38.13	Providing the Change Report Form
	38.14	Worker’s Responsibilities
	38.15	When a Change Results in Increased Benefits
	38.16	Changes Resulting in Increased Benefits Through a Supplement
	38.17	Changes Which Reduce Benefits
	38.18	Mass Changes
	38.19	Changes Affecting Food Stamp Households Receiving Families First
	38.20	Notice of Adverse Action
	38.20.1	1240-1-19-.08 RESERVED
	38.20.2	1240-1-19-.09 RESERVED
	38.21	When a Food Stamp Household Moves from One County to County
	38.22	Simplified Reporting Cases
	38.23	Non-Simplified Reporting Cases
	38.23.1	1240-1-19-.11 RESERVED
	38.24	When a Food Stamp Household Moves Out of the State
	38.24.1	1240-1-19-.13 RESERVED
	38.25	Change of Address (Within the County)
	38.26	Procedures for Closing a Case
	38.27	1240-1-19-.16 RESERVED
	38.28	1240-1-19-.17 RESERVED
	38.29	1240-1-19-.18 RESERVED
	38.30	1240-1-19-.19 RESERVED
	38.31	1240-1-19-.20 RESERVED
	38.32	Replacement of FS Allotments, Food Destroyed in a Disaster and Partial Allotments
	38.33	1240-1-19-.22 RESERVED
	38.34	1240-1-19-.23 RESERVED
	38.35	1240-1-19-.24 RESERVED
39		Overissuances and Claims
	39.1	Claims Against Households
	39.2	Intentional program Violations
	39.3	Administrative Disqualification Hearing
	39.4	Waived Administrative Disqualification Hearing
	39.5	Court Referrals
	39.6	Pre-Trail Diversion
	39.7	Collecting Claims Against Households
	39.7.1	1240-1-20-.08 RESERVED
	39.8	Restoration of Loss Benefits
40		COMPLAINTS, APPEALS, AND FAIR HEARING – PROCEDURES
	40.1	Introduction
	40.2	Definitions
	40.3	Complaints
	40.4	Appeals
	40.5	Procedures for Processing Appeals
41		SPECIAL LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
	41.1	Drug and Alcoholic Treatment Centers
	41.2	Group Living Arrangements
	41.3	Shelters for Battered Women and Children
	41.4	Shelters for the Homeless
	41.5	Homeless Meal Provider
42		STRIKERS
	42.1	Persons Who Would be Considered Strikers
	42.2	Persons Not Considered to be Strikers
	42.3	Household Eligibility
	42.4	Treatment of Income/Resources
	42.5	Work Registration