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State of Wisconsin |
HISTORY |
The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook.
7 CFR 273.2(i)
2.1.4.1 Eligibility for Priority Service and Expedited Issuances at Application
2.1.4.2 Verification Requirements for Expedited Services
2.1.4.3 Eligibility for Migrant Workers
2.1.4.4 Postponing the Interview for Expedited Issuance
Expedited services are designed to ensure that expedited services are issued to eligible FoodShare assistance groups by the seventh day after the date of the application. The applicant must be allowed to complete the interview quickly and benefits must be issued timely. The two phases of expedited services are described below.
Expedited Issuance: Benefits must be issued by the seventh day after the application is filed. Benefits will be available on the member's QUEST card the same day the application is confirmed in CWW. An interview is still required prior to issuance unless postponed (2.1.4.4). Postponing the Interview for Expedited Benefits). All food units that apply after the 15th of the month and who are eligible for expedited issuance must receive the prorated initial allotment and next month's allotment by the seventh day after the application filing date.
Agencies must provide expedited benefits to applicants who qualify for them after they are screened through the priority service process.
When contact is made by phone, every effort should be made to complete the FoodShare interview on the same day whenever possible. If an interview cannot be completed that day, an interview appointment must be scheduled within the seven-day time frame at the time of contact with the agency. If an applicant cannot make the scheduled appointment, the applicant will lose their right to expedited benefits.
7 CFR 273.2(i), 273.10(e)(3)
A person or food unit may be eligible for priority services and expedited issuance if:
Their total monthly gross income (actual income received in that calendar month) and available assets are less than the monthly allowable Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) (8.1.3 Deductions) and monthly shelter expenses; or
Their gross monthly income is less than $150 and they have $100 or less in available liquid assets; or
Their food unit includes a migrant seasonal farm worker, who is also defined as "destitute" by meeting all of the following criteria:
Liquid assets are less than $100,
They don't expect to receive more than $25 from a new source ten days after the date of application, and
Income prior to the day of application was from a terminated source, defined as:
Income received on a monthly or more frequent basis, shall be considered as coming from a terminated source if it will not be received again during the balance of the month of application or during the following month, or
If income is normally received less often than monthly (i.e. quarterly), it is considered terminated if the source has been terminated and no future payments are made.
Treatment of Income for Destitute Migrants:
Budget income from a terminated source which was received by the food unit between the first of the month of application and the application date, as income available for the food unit’s needs in the month of application.
disregard any income from a new source expected during the month of application if income of more than $25 from the new source will not be received by the 10th day after the date of application [7 CFR 273.10(e)(3)(ii)].
After the application month, budget income from a new source for the months it will be received.
The home of a migrant worker in his or her state of residency is an exempt asset.
There is no eligibility for expedited services at renewal [2.2.1 Certification Periods (Renewals)].
7 CFR 273.2(i)(4)
A food unit eligible for expedited benefit issuance is only required to provide verification of identity of the primary applicant and the authorized representative if applicable, before the expedited benefits can be issued. Any documents, that reasonably establish the applicant's identity, must be accepted, and no requirement for a specific type of document, such as a birth certificate or photo ID, may be imposed. Collateral contact is also acceptable. If any other required verification is readily available, it must be used in the initial eligibility determination. Other outstanding required verification items must be requested, however do not delay the issuance of expedited benefits pending the receipt of other requested verification.
CARES will deny ongoing months with a failure code reason related to expedited verification requirements. If requested verification is not received, the FoodShare assistance group will remain closed due to failure to provide requested expedited verifications (codes 152, 153, or 154). In many instances a verification checklist is not sent, resulting in negative QC errors. To avoid possible errors confirm all FoodShare benefit months, including the second or third month "fail”. Run eligibility a second time to place the case in pending status and to send a system generated verification request. Change the verification due date on the checklist to the 30th day of the application. Suppress any incorrect notices.
There is no limit to the number of times a FoodShare assistance group can be certified under expedited procedures as long as the FoodShare assistance group:
Submitted all the required verifications within the last 30 day application processing period following an expedited issuance, or
Was certified under normal processing standards since the last expedited certification.
According to Wis. Stat. § 103.90(5)(a), "A 'migrant worker' is any person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residence outside of this state and comes to this state for not more than 10 months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state."
Migrants are eligible for priority service if:
Gross income is less than $150, and
Available assets are $100 or less, or
They meet the definition of "destitute” by meeting all three of the following criteria:
Assets are $100 or less, and
The only income received by the food unit prior to the application filing date was from a terminated source, and
The food unit does not expect to receive more than $25 from a new source within 10 calendar days from the date of application.
Treatment of Income for Destitute Migrants:
Budget income from a terminated source which was received by the food unit between the first of the month of application and the application date, as income available for the food unit’s needs in the month of application.
Disregard any income from a new source expected during the month of application. This income may not be more than $25.00 or must be received at least 10 days after the date of application.
After the application month, budget income from a new source for the months it will be received.
The home of a migrant worker in his or her state of residency is an exempt asset.
7 CFR 273.2(i)(3)(iii) Waiver approval
Applicants that meet criteria for expedited issuance through a CWW priority service screening eligibility determination may be allowed to postpone their interview under certain circumstances.
The interview may be postponed prior to expedited issuance only when all of the following conditions are met:
There is sufficient information to determine household composition and income,
A food unit meets the criteria for expedited issuance as determined by CWW priority service screening, and
There are no individuals in the requesting food unit who have exhausted three months of time-limited FoodShare benefits and have no apparent exemption or non-ABAWD status, and
The identity of the applicant can be verified, and
The agency has made two attempts, but was unable to contact the food unit to complete the interview, or
The agency determines that the interview cannot be scheduled in time to complete the expedited issuance process timely because the applicant did not provide a phone number and the agency is unable to obtain a phone number using other sources such as a phone book or previous case.
Postponing the interview for expedited benefits may be applied only at the time of application and not at time of renewal. Postponing the application interview for expedited benefits does not exempt the applicant from the interview requirement or from completing the verification requirements for ongoing FoodShare benefits. The IM agency may treat the interview like other required verification and postpone the interview during the month of application. Once expedited benefits have been issued, however, a determination must be made for ongoing benefits within 30 days from the original filing date.
When an application is received for an individual who has no known or no apparent non-ABAWD status or exemption, and the worker has verified that the individual has received three time-limited FoodShare benefit months within a current 36-month clock, the FoodShare interview must be completed prior to issuing expedited FoodShare or denying the application; the interview cannot be postponed. If the IM worker is unable to verify that the applicant has exhausted their three time-limited FoodShare benefits on their current 36-month clock, and/or the applicant has reported a non-ABAWD status or an exemption from the work requirement, then expedited FoodShare may be issued and the interview may be postponed, as long as all other expedited criteria are met.
In all cases, the primary person's or authorized representative’s identity must be verified through a collateral contact or readily available documentary evidence. Any documents which reasonably establish the primary person's identity must be accepted. If identity cannot be verified by the agency, the applicant does not qualify for a postponed interview and eligibility should be processed under normal FoodShare application processing guidelines, including the requirement to complete an interview prior to issuing benefits.
Information on the application and readily available verification, such as those submitted with the application or verified via data exchange should be used to determine eligibility. This may include items that can be verified upon receipt such as unemployment compensation and Social Security Administration records, and others such as new hire and state wage. If the food unit is not eligible for expedited benefits because unreported income was discovered through a data exchange or for any other reason, FoodShare benefits should remain in pending status for completion of the interview.
If a phone number is not provided on the application the agency must attempt to obtain a phone number through other means, such as a previous CARES case or by using online tools. If the agency is able to contact the applicant but the applicant is unable to complete the interview during the phone call or within seven days, the interview can be postponed and expedited benefits issued, provided the above conditions for postponing the interview are met.
Note: The time frame for issuing expedited benefits has remained unchanged. Expedited benefits must be issued no later than seven calendar days from the date of application or by the 30th day after filing date, whichever is sooner, to avoid a Quality Control finding of untimely application processing.
If the IM agency discovers that a regular, 30-day FoodShare application is eligible for expedited benefits, issue benefits within seven days of the discovery or by the 30th day after the filing date, whichever is sooner.
Agencies do not have to wait until day seven to issue expedited benefits. The benefit may be issued when the IM worker has determined that the criteria for postponing the interview have been met.
This page last updated in Release Number: 16-01
Release Date: 05/31/2016
Effective Date: 05/31/2016
Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.
Publication Number: P-16001