(a)
Cash
assistance.
(1) Section
183.104 (relating to deletions
from the budget group) provides for removal of a person from a budget group
effective with the first payment that can be reached after proper notice as
specified in §
133.4 (relating to procedures).
However, persons under a sanction will continue to be removed effective with
the first payment month.
(2) In
most cases, Advance Notice (PA/FS 162-A) is the proper notice. However, Advance
Notice is waived and Confirming Notice (PA/FS 162-C) is used in the following
two instances:
(i) A client requests the
change and consents to the decrease in writing (
See
§
133.4(b)(2)(ii)(A)).
(ii) A budget group enrolled in the Monthly
Reporting system reports a change on the Monthly Reporting Form (MRF) or
Late/Incomplete Notice (LIN).
(3) In addition to removing persons promptly
in accordance with established deadlines, the CAO shall ensure that persons are
authorized initially or added to existing budget groups as quickly as possible.
Consistent with the requirements of Chapters 125 and 133 (relating to the
application process; and redetermining eligibility), a person shall receive
eligibility determinations no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of a
completed, signed Common Application Form (CAF). The procedures to be followed
when an applicant requests removal from an existing budget group and
authorization of assistance in his own name; or from a person who wishes to add
someone to his budget group are as follows:
(i) A CAF is mailed or provided on the same
day that assistance is requested. Requests are documented on a PA 601 Notes
page. The applicant is informed that the CAF may be mailed or brought to the
office at any time and that the sooner it is filed, the sooner assistance can
begin.
(ii) An interview is
scheduled with the applicant as soon as possible after the request for
assistance, but no later than 13 days from the date of the request.
(iii) At the interview, the CAF is accepted
and date stamped if it has not already been received in the mail. The worker
shall assist the applicant with completion of the CAF as necessary.
(iv) Applicants moving from one budget group
to another, if determined eligible, shall be added to the new budget group no
earlier than the effective date of removal from the other budget
group.
(4) The following
are case examples of the proper application of the policy:
Example I. Mrs. Smith receives
assistance for herself and five children.
| Payment
Dates |
Benefit Hold Deadline
|
| 7/7 |
7/1 |
| 7/21 |
7/16 |
| 8/5 |
7/31 |
| 8/19 |
8/14 |
A.
7/17-Mrs. Smith's son James, moves in with his grandmother, Mrs. Jones. Mrs.
Jones calls the CAO to report that James is in her household. The worker sends
a CAF that day and schedules an application interview for 7/22.
7/22-Mrs. Smith reports the change in household
composition. A PA/FS 162-A is sent.
8/1-Appeal period expires after PA/FS 162-A sent.
8/19-James is removed from his mother's grant. (First
check that can be reached after proper notice.)
B. 7/22-Mrs. Jones, James' grandmother, comes
into the CAO for her interview. Her CAF is filed and date-stamped. Therefore,
an eligibility determination shall be made no later than August 5. Mrs. Jones
is interviewed and eligibility is established.
| Payment
Dates |
Benefit Hold Deadline
|
| 7/9 |
7/6 |
| 7/23 |
7/20 |
| 8/7 |
8/4 |
| 8/21 |
8/18 |
8/1-James is added to Mrs. Jones' grant effective with
the 8/21 check. A supplemental check is issued to cover 8/19 through 8/20.
Example II. Mr. Clark receives
assistance for himself, his wife and their three children.
| Payment
Dates |
Benefit Hold Deadline |
| 7/16 |
7/13 |
| 7/30 |
7/27 |
| 8/14 |
8/11 |
| 8/28 |
8/25 |
6/30-Mrs. Clark and children leave the household due to
physical abuse.
7/1-Mrs. Clark visits the CAO, confirms her change of
address and requests assistance for herself and the children. A PA/FS 162-A is
sent to Mr. Clark to confirm decrease and category change effective 7/16. A CAF
is given to Mrs. Clark and an interview is scheduled for 7/8.
7/8-Mrs. Clark is interviewed and eligibility is
established. AFDC is authorized effective 7/16.
7/11-Appeal period expires for Mr. Clark and Mrs. Clark
and children removed from Mr. Clark's grant effective 7/16.
(b)
Medical
Assistance. In cases involving a split in the budget group, with one
family member retaining control of the Medical Assistance Identification (MAID)
Card, the CAO should issue a duplicate MAID Card to the remaining family
members using the Interim MAID Card process. The family is not required to
verify a need for a medical service. This will ensure that MA is available to
the remaining family members until the new budget/budget change is
authorized/initiated.
(c)
Food stamps. Policy regarding timing the effect of additions
and deletions to budget groups has changed for cash assistance purposes as
outlined in this section. There are no concurrent changes in food stamp policy
regarding additions to and deletions from food stamp
budgets.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 183.104a adopted January 12, 1990, effective
1/13/1990 and apply
retroactively to November 1, 1988, 20 Pa.B. 225; amended July 28, 2000, the
provisions under Act 35 effective retroactive to June 17, 1996, 30 Pa.B.
3779.
The provisions of this § 183.104a amended under
sections 201(2) and 403(a) of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. §§
201(2) and
403(a)).
