MR #21.03: SNAP Work Requirement - New 3 Year Period and Other Miscellaneous Policy Clarifications

Illinois Department of Human Services Logo

01/12/2021

Summary

  • This manual release updates the iii-year fixed period for the SNAP Work Requirement in the Cash, Medical and SNAP policy manual. The new 3-year fixed menses begins January 1, 2021 and ends Dec 31, 2023. The entire State continues to be exempt from implementing the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy due to Illinois' loftier unemployment rate. Waiver approval was granted by Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) from 07/01/2020 through 06/thirty/2021.
  • To comply with two Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Management Evaluation (ME) findings this manual release:
    • adds policy on how a self-employed private who is nether-employed is determined to be meeting the SNAP Piece of work Requirement, if the policy was in issue.
    • clarifies policy on the employ of SNAP Piece of work Registration Notice (Grade 2646) and stresses the importance for the Human being Services Caseworker (HSC) to review the Eligibility Summary Screen to decide if authentic Work Provision (PM 03-15-02) exemptions take been given.

SNAP Work Requirement - New iii Year Menstruation

The entire State continues to be exempt from implementing the SNAP Work Requirement Fourth dimension-Express Benefits policy due to Illinois' high unemployment rate. Waiver blessing was granted past Food and Diet Services (FNS) from 07/01/2020 through 06/30/2021. The SNAP Work Requirement limits an able-bodied developed age 18-49 years old to iii-months of SNAP benefits in a 36-calendar month period. In Illinois, the 36-calendar month flow is a fixed 3-year menses that begins 01/01/2021 through 12/31/2023. This transmission release  updates the 3-year period in the Cash, Medical and SNAP policy manual. No Illinois county should exist enforcing the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy. Staff will be notified if there is a change in this policy.

IES System Changes

IES system programming changes to update the Time Limited Clock with the new 3-year period and other related work requirement changes are currently beingness made. The Time-Limited Clock screen and any other appropriate work requirement screens volition be updated systematically. Workers should non attempt to make changes to any of the work requirement screens. The entire State is currently exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy through 06/30/2021. The Family Community Resources Centers (FCRCs) will be notified prior to implementation of whatever policy changes and system related changes in a manual release.

Miscellaneous Policy Clarifications

As a event of two Nutrient and Diet Services (FNS) Management Evaluation (ME) findings, this release provides policy clarification on the following:

When is a Person Employed or Self-employed Meeting the SNAP Work Requirement?

When the SNAP Piece of work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy is in outcome, it volition be necessary to decide if an employed or self-employed individual isexempt from meeting the SNAP Work Requirement or is only meeting the requirement.

  • A person who is employed or self-employed 30 hours or more than per calendar week or earning weekly wages at least equal to the Federal minimum wage ($seven.25) multiplied by 30 hours is exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement.
  • An individual who is employed or self-employed working an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours monthly) or earning at least the Federal minimum wage ($7.25) multiplied by 80 hours ($7.25 x fourscore) = $580 is meeting the Work Requirement past working the required number of hours. The individual must report when their hours fall below 20 hours per week.

Note: The entire State is exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Express Benefits policy 07/01/2020 through 06/30/2021. Staff will be notified if there is a modify in implementing this policy.

Give and Explain SNAP Work Registration Notice (Class 2646)

  • Equally a reminder to all Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs), all SNAP recipients who are non exempt from Work Provisions (PM 03-15-01) must register for work. For SNAP eligibility purposes in Illinois, giving each member in the SNAP household who does non encounter a Piece of work Provision exemption in PM 03-15-02  SNAP Work Registration Notice (Form 2646), along with the HSC completing the IES screens to indicate that the individual is nonexempt from Work Provisions serves as registering the individual for work. The HSC should review the Eligibility Summary Screen to determine if accurate Work Provision exemptions accept been given. Do not refer the individual to the Illinois Section of Employment Security (IDES) to register for piece of work.
  • The HSC must complete Grade 2646 at initial application or redetermination (REDE) for each nonexempt individual in the SNAP household and whenever an exempt individual becomes nonexempt. Enter the case information on Form 2646 including the name of the nonexempt private.
    • Explain the reason why the form is being given to the person. As a condition of eligibility for SNAP benefits, each SNAP household member not exempt for ane of the reasons in PM 03-15-02 must comply with the Work Provisions (formerly known equally work registration) in PM 03-fifteen-01.
    • Upload a copy of Class 2646 to the Electronic Case Record (ECR) and document in Case Comments which SNAP household fellow member was given Class 2646 and the method of how information technology was given.
    • Consummate the IES screens to indicate that the private is nonexempt from Work Provisions. The HSC should review the Eligibility Summary Screen to determine if the appropriate exemption has been given.

 Manual Revisions

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretarial assistant, Illinois Department of Human Services

Form Referenced:

Grade 2646