07012022 Dispatch

Category

Question:

Answer:

General

What are work requirements?

Federal policy for Food Assistance has two sets of work requirements. General work requirements is the first set and applies to the Work Registrant population. Work requirements and time limits is the second set for the ABAWD population.

ABAWDS

What is an ABAWD?

ABAWD stands for Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents. They are between the ages of 18 and 49, do not live with a child under 18, and are considered physically and mentally able to work.

Where can I find ABAWD information in KEESM?

KEESM 2520

Do we still need to add ABAWD time limit records for 5 months into the future?

Yes. If an ABAWD client is Exempt or Meeting work requirements it is important to enter the ABAWD records up to the next IR/Review or 5 months in the future, whichever comes first.

Can the hard stop validation for entering ABAWD time limit records be extended so we can enter up to six months in the future, that way it would go to the next review/IR?

We are currently working on adding this enhancement to KEES for the Fall of 2022.

Work Registrants

What is a Work Registrant?

Food Assistance clients subject to general work requirements are often referred to as Work Registrants. They are between the ages of 16-59 and able to work.

Where can I find Work Registrant information in KEESM?

KEESM 3100 and KEESM 3220

What does "Register to Work" mean?

Federal policy dictates general work requirements as registering to work, accepting any job offer, and not quitting a job or choosing to work less than 30 hours without a good reason. In Kansas, clients are considered to be 'Registered to Work' after they are informed of the Consolidated Work Requirements which consists of Based Work Rules, Job Search and Training Rules and Time Limit Rules. The Consolidated Work Requirements must be sent and read to the client before they can be considered as 'Registered to Work' in Kansas. There is no official sign-up or program that clients must complete to meet the 'Register to Work' requirement.

Do 16 year old's have to work?

KEESM 3220 #9 - " A person who is aged 16 or younger or who is aged 16-18 who is a non-head-of-household member, and working toward attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent" is exempt.

If we are requiring kids who are 16-17 to register for work, accept any job, etc., are we now supposed to be counting their income? (Assuming they're not high school students.)

KEESM 6400 12b - Children's earnings are exempt in month received if child is under age of 18 and working towards attainment of high school diploma or its equivalent. If the child is not enrolled in school then child's earnings would be countable; or if child turns 18, the month following the month the child turns 18 the child's income would be countable.

Are there consequences for not following the Job Search and Training Rules?

Yes, there is a potential loss of FA benefits; 1st Sanction - ineligible for 3 months, 2nd Sanction - ineligible for 6 months and 3rd Sanction - ineligible for 12 months.

If someone is age 50 (so they are not an ABAWD) and not meeting work requirements, do we take negative case action?

If person is not exempt per KEESM 3220, then yes the person could potentially be ineligible due to not following Work Registrant Rules and receive a sanction.

Should we note on the interview template when a client is exempt from Work Registration?

No. This information can be found in KEES on the Food Assistance EDBC Summary page. All clients who are exempt will appear as Exempt with an Exclusion Reason under the Work Eligibility block.

How does what we enter in KEES impact what appears on EDBC for the Work Eligible indicator?

KEES looks at a variety of data collection to determine if a person is Work Eligible. Examples include date of birth, number of hours working, if the client is receiving unemployment, school attendance records, a living arrangement record of Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, medical condition records, etc.

Consolidated Work Requirements

Is the new Work Requirements form specific to the case head or all household members?

The new Work Requirements forms in KEES are specific to any household member who needs to follow work rules.

When is the new KEES Work Requirements form sent to clients?

The form is sent nightly by KEES to when: 1. A client applies and is approved for Food Assistance benefits and is subject to the Food Assistance Work Requirements. 2. A client's Food Assistance review is approved and is subject to the Food Assistance Work Requirements. 3. A program member who was formerly exempt becomes subject to the Food Assistance Work Requirements. 4. A new member on the program is added who is subject to the Food Assistance Work Requirements.

How does the Work Eligible indicator work on EDBC Food Assistance Summary page when a client has worked a job with over 30 hours/week in the application month, but then is not working after the application month? Does KEES still send the Consolidated Work Requirements since the client is no longer exempt after the application month?

Yes, KEES will send the Consolidated Work Requirements in this scenario. KEES looks at the high dated EDBC to determine if the form needs to be sent.

Do we have to know which 1 of the 7 new Work Requirements form in KEES needs to be sent to the client?

No, KEES will send the correct form through a nightly batch. There is not a need for staff to manually send these forms from KEES.

Do we still have to mail the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements form to clients?

No. The new Consolidated Work Requirements forms in KEES replace the need for staff to manually send the E-26.

What date can we stop manually mailing the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements to clients?

Monday, June 27, 2022.

If a client is exempt from Work Requirements or ABAWD do we have to read the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements to them during the Food Assistance interview?

No. We would need to read it if there is a change in their status and they are no longer exempt.

Do we need to read the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements to people receiving Social Security Disability?

No.

Do we have to read the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements to elderly/disabled households (such as individuals 65+) that are retired?

No.

Can a recording of the E-26: Consolidated Work Requirements be created so we don't have to read it anymore?

No. Federal guidelines state we must read it to the clients directly. It cannot be recorded.

Public Health Emergency (PHE)

Do we know when the PHE period will end?

No.

How much notice will clients have when the PHE period ends?

The Federal government will give states 60 days notice when the Public Health Emergency period is to end. DCF is drafting a notice to send to clients shortly after Kansas is notified by the Federal government and will provide timely notice to households.

Will there be a clean up report for ABAWD month entered incorrectly when the PHE period ends?

Yes.

What should I tell clients when they ask if I know when the PHE period is ending?

Inform clients that at this time we do not have a confirmed date of closure, but they will be notified accordingly when the information is available.

If we aren't technically counting ABAWD months because of the PHE period, and the client says they are disabled but don't receive disability or have a reason they cannot work, do we request proof of their disability or a Doctor's note? Do I pend their case for something like this?

ABAWD months are not counted at this time. However, in this scenario, staff should enter the ABAWD record(s) into KEES and send a Doctor's statement to the client. Do not pend the application while waiting for a Doctor’s statement. IF the Doctor's statement is returned, the ABAWD record(s) can be updated to Exempt.