Transcript Document

2005 Pro Bono Training
on Food Stamps
By
Jessica Price
Public Benefits Advocate
Legal Assistance Foundation of
Metropolitan Chicago
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Private Attorney Involvement

Clients call Public Benefits Hotline
 Food
mail

Stamp-only Cases Offered by E-
Advocate Accepts and Receives Cases
by Fax
 Consult
Manual or Call with Questions
 Provide Weekly Updates on Progress

Fax Closed Case back to Hotline
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What are Food Stamps?

Not Stamps
 Debit
Card (LINK) to purchase Food Items
Amount is based on household size,
income, rent, and utilities not included
in rent.
 Cannot be used for non-food items
(e.g. soap, tobacco, or alcohol) or hot
food for immediate consumption.

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Where Do You Apply?

Illinois Department of Human
Services
 Approx.
24 offices in Cook County
Office based on Zip Code
 Can locate office from Manual or
IDHS web page

 http://www.dhs.state.il.us/officelocator/
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How do clients access their
benefits?

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Link Card
Before a card is issued the client must attend a
training session, select a PIN number, and
provide proof of identity.
Disabled individuals can request that a proxy
attend the training session or have a PIN pack
mailed to them.
Clients can use benefits at stores that accept
the Link card.


Must be withdrawal at least once every 90 days.
Stale accounts are moved off-line, and client
must contact caseworker.
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Applications

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Application must be taken the same day
client requests services
Only a legible name and signature
required
One application is for all programs
Applications are given a return date for
eligibility appointment and to bring back
documents
Individuals must be screened for
emergency Food Stamps on the day they
apply
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Emergency Food Stamps

Food Stamps available on expedited basis


Household eligible if:

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5 calendar days from date of application
The food stamp unit has no more than $100 in cash
or other liquid assets, and no more than $150 in
gross income in the fiscal month of application, or
The food stamp unit’s combined gross countable
income and liquid assets are less than the
household’s monthly rent or mortgage payments
plus utilities.
Applicant only needs to verify identity
Applicant must provide all verifications for
regular Food Stamps!
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Food Stamp “Households”


Individuals who live together, and
purchase and prepare together, are
considered a household
Required household members include:

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
Spouses living together
Children under age 22 sharing any living
space with a parent
Any person under 18 who is under the
parental control of an adult, and who resides
with that adult
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Financial Requirements

Assets
 Savings
and other property that a
household owns

Income
 All
money that the household receives
or expects to receive each month
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Exemptions

Exempt assets include:

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Any assets of a unit member who receives TANF or SSI
Personal and household goods
The dwelling where the unit lives
One licensed motor vehicle per household
Up to $2,000 of otherwise countable assets
Exempt income includes:

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In-kind gifts (food, clothing, and shelter)
Payments made directly to creditors (such as landlords)
Earnings of elementary and secondary school students
under age 17
Loans (some student loans are not exempt)
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Non-Financial Requirements

Residence

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
Clients must have residence in Illinois.
Clients must provide information on how to
contact them.
Citizenship or Qualifying Status:


Refugees/Asylees
Legal Permanent Residents if:
 They have lived in the U.S. 5 years with this status or
 They are under 18, disabled/blind, a veteran, or can
be credited with 40 quarters of work
 Certain abused non-citizens qualify
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Other Non-Financial Requirements

Cooperation
A
food stamp household must
cooperate with IDHS in determining
eligibility.
 Generally, the household has 10 days
to provide requested information.
May have good cause if not able to
cooperate (I.e. the applicant was not able
to get wage information from the
employer)
Can request extra time to submit
documents
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General Food Stamp
Deadlines
If you do not qualify for expedited
Food Stamps, IDHS must determine
eligibility within 30 calendar days
from the application date.
Food Stamps are payable from the
date of application.
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Continuing Eligibility for
Food Stamps

Food Stamp eligibility is redetermined on a
periodic basis.
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These redeterminations (recertifications) may
be done on a 3, 6, or 12 month basis.
A redetermination is treated like a new
application and benefits will be terminated
if the redetermination is not completed by
the end of the previous food stamp
eligibility period.
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Quitting a job

If client quit a job within 60 days of
application or while receiving Food
Stamps
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2 month sanction
Exceptions
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Good Cause (illness, emergency, lack of
transportation or child care for ages 6-11)
Job was less than 20 hours per week
Responsible for the care of someone under 6
or incapacitated
Receiving Unemployment Benefits
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Common Problems and
Solutions

Food Stamp Calculations
 Go
to illinoislegaladvocate.org
Need to know unit information
Approximate amount
 Advise

client to appeal, call Caseworker
Failure to file a Redetermination
 If
it is within 30 days of end of approval
period, client must go to office ASAP to do
Redetermination
Benefits may be prorated
 Otherwise
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client must reapply
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More Common Problems
and Solutions

Failure to provide necessary information
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Changes in income/household structure
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Client should appeal within 90 days of notice of
adverse action
Assist the client in turning in missing verification
Get CW to agree to backdate benefits based on
eligibility and the information given (PM 01-07-08)
Should be processed immediately, do not have to
wait for next recertification
The more “households” under one roof, the more
Food Stamps clients will receive.
Problem Workers

Grievance Procedure to create a record
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Appeals

Clients may appeal notices or
inactions on their case
 90
days to appeal Food Stamp decision
Appeal on or before the date of
change
 Clients can reapply and appeal

Appeal at local office or call
800-435-0774
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Advocacy Tips

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Be persistent
Know what outcome the client should get

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If you leave a message,

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Do not expect the Caseworker to be familiar with
rules
If Caseworker facts conflict with client facts, get
verification from client and continue
Do not expect a call back
Skip the caseworker, call the supervisor

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Do not expect a call back
Every supervisor has a supervisor
Don’t be afraid to call the Local Office Administrator
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Working on a Case

If you have any questions while
working on a case,
 Consult
the Policy Manual:
http://163.191.134.21/pmwag/internet.html
 Call
the Legal Assistance Foundation
Public Benefits Advocate
(312) 347-8362
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Good Luck!
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