Kansas Economic and Employment Services Manual

2000 General Eligibility

10-17

2512 Eligibility Factors and Verification Deemed for Food Assistance Eligibility Purposes -

The eligibility factors which are deemed to be met for food assistance eligibility purposes because of categorical eligibility status are:
1. Resources - The resources of all categorically eligible households are exempt and do not have to be verified for food assistance purposes. Also, see 5430 (20).
2. Social Security Number Information - Since Social Security numbers (SSN) will have already been provided or applied for as a result of receiving TANF and/or SSI benefits, this information does not have to be separately provided for food assistance eligibility purposes. However, SSN's or the fact that an application for an SSN has been completed should be documented for all household members.
3. Residency - Residency does not have to be verified for food assistance eligibility purposes when the household is categorically eligible.
4. Sponsored Alien Information - If a household is categorically eligible, sponsored alien information provided for TANF or SSI purposes does not have to be verified.
5. Gross and Net Income Limits - The gross and net income eligibility limits do not apply when the household is categorically eligible. Therefore, a household could exceed the food assistance income limits and still be eligible due to their categorical status, but may or may not receive food assistance benefits because of the way benefit levels are calculated.
  
  All other verification requirements of 1322 and subsections continue to apply with the only exceptions as listed above.

If a categorically eligible household is denied benefits on the KAECSES system due to excess gross or net income or excess resources, the following special procedures apply:
1. Excess Resources - The resource(s) that are causing the household to fail the food assistance resource test must be identified and recorded. On LIRE and OTAP, these resource(s) must be coded as follows:
  1. If the resource is countable for TANF purposes, the resource must be coded with the resource type code of "ZZ". This code will allow the resource to be considered for AF purposes, but will totally exempt the resource for food assistance purposes.
  2. If the resource is excluded for TANF purposes, the resource must be coded with the resource type code of "XA" (Other Excluded All Programs). This code will exempt the resource for both TANF and food assistance purposes.
  Coding of resources to exempt them for food assistance purposes can either be done at the time the resource is being entered on KAECSES (if it known the household is categorically eligible) or at the time the case fails the food assistance resource determination test and it is determined that the resource is exempt since the household is categorically eligible.
  
  When eligibility for TANF or SSI ceases, all resources coded "ZZ" or "XA" on LIRE and OTAP must be reviewed and recoded appropriately since the resources are no longer automatically excluded due to categorical eligibility.
2. Excess Net Income - If a categorically eligible household is determined ineligible due to excess net income, and the household is entitled to a benefit per the Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables (Appendix item F-3) (benefits show past the net income limit for the household size), the following steps must be followed:
  1. Note the dollar amount of the net income as reflected on FSAD and go to the Food Assistance Program Benefit Tables (Appendix item F-3). If the household size is 1 or 2 and a $16 benefit amount is reflected in the categorical section of the issuance tables, then the net income must be reduced to the maximum net income limit for the household size. (For example, an SSI household of 2 unrelated adults has a net income of $1204 ($1348 SSI – $152 standard deduction), and the maximum net income is $1167. On UNIN, the SI income entered is $1348, and must be reduced by $37. The amount to be excluded would be coded "XF", in this case $37 would be coded "XF", with $1311 coded regular SI.)
  2. If the household size is 3 or greater and a benefit amount is reflected in the categorical section of the issuance tables, contact HELP DESK for further instructions.
  3. If no benefit amount is reflected on the issuance tables according to the net income and household size in question, then the household is eligible for zero benefits and the case shall be closed.
3. Excess Gross Income - Because the gross income limits do not apply to special category households, and because the gross income limits are so much higher than the State TANF payment standards, there should be very few instances of an TANF and/or SSI categorically eligible household being ineligible due to failing the food assistance gross income eligibility test on KAECSES. However, if a categorically eligible household fails the gross income eligibility test, a food assistance benefit computation form (ES-1510.1) shall be completed to determine if the household will be eligible for a benefit. If a categorical benefit amount is reflected on the Issuance Tables for the net income calculated, contact HELP DESK for further instructions.
  
  NOTE: Contacting HELP DESK for further instructions on (b)(ii) and (c) above is necessary because each case situation must be evaluated and adjusted on a case-by-case basis.

2513 Households Not to be Considered Categorically Eligible – The following TANF, and/or SSI households shall NOT be considered categorically if the following applies:

A household contains a member who is disqualified for fraud per 11200. The remaining household members may participate if otherwise eligible, but may not participate solely on the basis of categorical eligibility. The disqualified member may not participate under any circumstances.
A household is closed for failure to complete the Interim Report Form or the 12 Month Report Form per 9122.6 and 9372, respectively.
A household contains a member who is disqualified as a fleeing felon/probation or parole violator per 2182. The remaining household members may participate if otherwise eligible, but may not participate solely on the basis of categorical eligibility. The disqualified member may not participate under any circumstances.

2514 Persons Not to be Included in a Household Which is Otherwise Categorically Eligible - The following persons shall not be considered when determining if a household is categorically eligible, nor shall they be included as a household member in any household which is otherwise categorically eligible:

An ineligible alien as defined in 2140.
Ineligible under the student provisions of 2530.
Institutionalized per 4230, unless residing in one of the five types of institutions listed that are eligible to participate in the Food Assistance Program.
Ineligible due to failure to comply with work related requirements per 3511 or the comparable requirements of 2550.
Persons determined ineligible due to the able-bodied adults without dependents provision of 2520.

2515 Work Related Requirements - For the purposes of work related requirements, the exemptions listed in 3500 shall be applied to individuals in categorically eligible households.

2516 Special Provisions for SSI Households - Households applying simultaneously for SSI and food assistance shall be subject to food assistance eligibility criteria. Benefit levels shall be based solely on food assistance eligibility criteria until the household is considered categorically eligible.

Individuals who have applied for SSI and food assistance, or who are receiving food assistance, who become entitled to the excess medical deduction and uncapped shelter deduction due to the approval of SSI benefits, shall receive such deductions for the period for which they are authorized to receive SSI or the date of the original food assistance application whichever is later. Such individuals shall have benefits restored using these special deductions if they have such expenses.

2517 Termination of Categorical Eligibility - If the household has a change in circumstances and any household member is no longer a recipient of TANF and/or SSI, or the household no longer qualifies under 2510 (2), the household is no longer considered to be categorically eligible. The change in circumstances shall be handled in accordance with 9121 or 9122 as appropriate. When categorical eligibility terminates, the special provisions of 2512 no longer apply.

2518 Categorical Eligibility and Claims - If it is determined that an TANF or SSI categorically eligible household's resources exceed the TANF or SSI limit and an overpayment exists on the TANF or SSI program, no corresponding overissuance shall exist for Food Assistance Program purposes. This is because categorical eligibility is based on all household members receiving or being authorized to receive TANF or SSI payments and the household's subsequent eligibility for these payments is not relevant for food assistance eligibility purposes