N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.610.8 - CASH ASSISTANCE

A. Method of payment: Cash assistance benefits are paid by issuing funds into an EBT transfer account.

B. Initial issuance: The EBT card is issued to the payee or designated authorized representative during the application process prior to the application being approved. The applicant or participant shall receive training on the use of the EBT card prior to activation of the EBT card.

C. Replacement card: The caseworker, the HCA EBT help desk or the contractor customer service help desk shall have the card deactivated once reported by participant that the card is lost, stolen, or destroyed. The card will be deactivated immediately and a replacement card provided to the participant. Once the card is deactivated, it cannot be reactivated for any reason.

D. Authorizing payments:

(1) Cash assistance benefits are authorized, changed, and terminated through the automated benefit delivery system.

(2) Initial payments are issued on the first mailing day following authorization. In the case of EBT, the transfer of funds takes place on the first working day after the day of authorization.

E. Initiation of payment:

(1) Payment is initiated and prorated from the date of authorization or from the 30^th day after the day of application, whichever is earlier.

(2) If the case was eligible in a month prior to the month of approval but is not eligible for payment in the month following the month of disposition, the benefit group is not eligible for payment in any of these months.

(3) Payments effective in the current month: A payment that is issued during the month is deposited into the EBT account no later than the business day after payment is approved.

(4) Payments effective in the ongoing month:

(a) When authorized, the payment amount remains the same from month to month until changed.

(b) EBT issuances are transmitted to the fiscal agent so that the funds are available on the first working day of the month. Payments authorized after the monthly transmission to the fiscal agent are issued as part of the next nightly benefit batch.

F. Change in amount of payment:

(1) Following approval, there is a continuing responsibility on the part of both the participant and the caseworker to make sure that eligibility and benefit amount are correctly determined. Failure on either side to recognize and carry out this responsibility can result in overpayment to the participant. Overpayments are charged to the participant regardless of fault.

(2) A participant's assistance grant shall be increased or decreased after receipt of information indicating that changes in a participant's circumstances may affect the amount of assistance to which the participant is entitled.

(3) Changes in the payment amount shall be made in accordance with changes in program policy.

G. Regular changes: A change in the benefit group circumstance may change the amount for which the group is eligible.

H. Other changes: If a change occurs which cannot be processed before the benefits issuance run, an overpayment or underpayment may occur. If an underpayment occurs, it shall be corrected by issuing a supplemental payment. In case of an overpayment, an overpayment claim shall be filed and appropriate efforts shall be made to recover the overpayment.

I. Whereabouts unknown: Benefits shall be terminated if the whereabouts of the benefit group are unknown to the HCA. A benefit group's whereabouts shall be considered to be unknown if:

(1) mail sent to the last known address is returned to the HCA indicating that the benefit group no longer lives at that address and at least 30 days have passed since the caseworker sent the mail; or

(2) the participant does not make any withdrawals from the participant's EBT account for 60 days or more.

J. Death of client:

(1) Payment: Payment may be made on behalf of a client who has been approved for cash benefits but has died before an EBT withdrawal was made. If the client was alive on the first day of the month for which cash assistance benefits were issued and all eligibility conditions were met at the time of death, then another person may be authorized to use the deceased recipient's benefits. A person authorized to use the deceased recipient's benefits must be the surviving spouse, next of kin, or a person with responsibility for the deceased recipient's affairs.

(2) Withdrawing EBT benefits: When payment is made in accordance with these circumstances, the county office shall not restrict or dictate the use of the money paid.

(3) ISD may authorize the issuance of a replacement EBT card to the person authorized to use the deceased recipient's benefits.

(4) EBT transactions shall not be in any liquor store; any casino, gambling establishment; or any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.610.8

8.102.610.8 NMAC - Rp 8.102.610.8 NMAC, 7/1/2001; A, 2/28/2007; A, 11/15/2007; A, 4/1/2014, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024