All DHR Documents by Control Number

Control #: 00-07 Revised
Subject: Comprehensive Program Review System Modification
Issue Date: 11/1/1999
Effective Date: 11/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: All Family Investment Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0007.pdf

The Comprehensive Program Review System's (CPRS) primary purpose is to ensure program accuracy by assessing case manager's adherence to laws and regulations through the identification and correction of errors. Additionally, the system provides an effective management tool for evaluation, performance appraisals, and determining training needs.

Control #: 00-09
Subject: Informal Child Care Changes
Issue Date: 8/1/1999
Effective Date: 9/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0009.pdf

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) consolidated all Federal child care funding. The legislation includes health and safety requirements for all types of child care and requires that states allow parental choice in the selection of all types of child care and requires that states allow parental choice in the selection of a child care provider. Parental choice has increased the use of informal care. To provide protection for children in informal care, the Child Care Administration has amended its regulations, policy and procedures to require Child Protective Services (CPS) clearances for informal providers and any adult regularly present in the provider's home during child care hours and limit to six the number of children in an informal provider's care.

Control #: 00-10
Subject: Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Stamp Mass Change - October 1999
Issue Date: 9/1/1999
Effective Date: 10/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Stamps
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0010.pdf

Control #: 00-12
Subject: Pickle Amendement
Issue Date: 9/9/1999
Effective Date: 9/9/1999
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0012.pdf

The Federal Law known as the Pickle Amendment establishes Medical Assistance Eligibility for former Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who received both SSI and Social Security Benefits (SSB) and would have maintained eligibility for SSI payment if their income were reduced by the total amount of the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA).

Control #: 00-13
Subject: Allowable MCO Disenrollments
Issue Date: 10/1/1999
Effective Date: 10/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance (MA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0013.pdf

In April of 1996, the Maryland legislature passed Senate Bill 750. This bill directed the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to employ managed care principles to promote patient-focused, accessible services to Medicaid customers and to create a "medical home" for Medicaid recipients through which all medical care will be delivered. DHMH created HealthChoice.

Control #: 00-14 Addendum
Subject: TCA Quality Control-Correction to Error Definitions
Issue Date: 5/12/2000
Effective Date: 10/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0014Add.pdf

The chart of error definitions that was attached to AT 00-14 (Temporary Cash Assistance Quality Control) issued in October, 1999 contained an error. Under the error condition of Assistance Unit Composition, the chart stated that a potential error would be cited if the Assistance Unit contained a Kinship Care Child. This is incorrect. Only Subsidized Guardianship children are excluded from being part of an assistance unit. A corrected page of the error condition chart is attached.

Control #: 00-15
Subject: Medical Assistance Retrospective Relief
Issue Date: 10/15/1999
Effective Date: 10/15/1999
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0015.pdf

Federal welfare reform legislation signed into law in August 1996 required that we determine eligibility for Medicaid separately from welfare. Unfortunately, as an unintended consequence of welfare reform, Medicaid eligibility was not always considered when denying or closing a TCA case. As a result, some families may not have received Medicaid benefits to which they're entitled. DHR and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) developed strategies to ensure that families who may have been incorrectly denied or closed have eligibility for Medicaid continued.

Control #: 00-16
Subject: Medical Assistance De-Linking and Corrective Actions
Issue Date: 10/15/1999
Effective Date: 10/15/1999
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0016.pdf

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA) required many significant changes to the way in which states administered welfare programs. The most significant change was the elimination of AFDC replacing it with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). TANF provided for welfare grants to be fully administered by the states. A corollary to this change was the elimination of automatic or "categorical" eligibility for Medicaid to those families who receive welfare. Before PRWORA, all AFDC recipients were certified for Medicaid upon approval for AFDC, with no additional application or testing required. PRWORA eliminated the requirement that state grant Medicaid to all welfare recipients, but did permit sates the option of offering automatic eligibility for Medicaid to welfare recipients which is sometimes referred to as "de-linking," since it broke the link between receipt of welfare and receipt for Medicaid.

Control #: 00-17
Subject: Work Registration Exemption for Parents with A Child Under Age One
Issue Date: 11/17/1999
Effective Date: 11/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0017.pdf

When Maryland crafted the Family Investment Program, Maryland's Welfare Reform initiative, we tried to make the Food Stamp Program match Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). One of the TCA initiatives lowered the age that a child exempts a caretaker from work requirements from age six to age one. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 let us do this for the Food Stamp Program for only three years. Maryland's 3-year period ended October 1, 1999.

Control #: 00-20
Subject: Waivers for Reporting Changes
Issue Date: 11/19/1999
Effective Date: 10/1/1999
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0020.pdf

In an effort to simplify policy for case managers and customers, we requested two food stamp waivers that modify change reporting. This transmittal describes a new waiver and modifies an existing waiver. The new waiver defines the date that a household knows about a new source of earned income as the date the new employment begins. The modified waiver increases the change reporting threshold for households who receive earnings on a piecework basis from $80 to $100.;

Control #: 00-21
Subject: Treatment of Condominium Fees
Issue Date: 11/19/1999
Effective Date: 11/19/1999
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamps
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0021.pdf

Recently, the Food and Nutrition service reinterpreted policy about how to treat condominium fees. This action transmittal provides this new information.

Control #: 00-23
Subject: Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) FY 2000 Operations
Issue Date: 11/10/1999
Effective Date: 10/25/1999
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0023.pdf

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) began taking applications for its program year on October 25, 1999. MEAP will continue to take applications for heating assistance through March 31, 2000.

Control #: 00-24
Subject: Sixty-Month Time Limits Compliance for Customers From Out of State
Issue Date: 11/29/1999
Effective Date: 11/29/1999
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0024.pdf

In May 1999, a Supreme Court decision on a California case concluded that residency requirements violated the individual's right to travel. As a result of this decision, Maryland rescinded the residency requirements for families moving from other states. However, the local departments must continue to apply the sixty-month time limit on all cases. The time limit includes any month that TANF benefits were received from other states. Case managers must take the following steps to ensure proper application.

Control #: 00-26
Subject: SOCIAL SECURITY (RSDI) AND SSI COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE AND RELATED INCREASES
Issue Date: 11/24/1999
Effective Date: 1/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0026.pdf

Historically, Social Security Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have increased each year. This is usually true for Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits also. The mass change process to take thes0026.pdfe changes into account for grant, food stamp and medical assistance purposes is described in this transmittal.

Control #: 00-27
Subject: Family Self-Sufficiency Program and Welfare-to-Work Rental Vouchers
Issue Date: 12/13/1999
Effective Date: 1/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps and Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0027.pdf

This Action Transmittal provides guidance on the treatment of funds placed in the Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and the Welfare-to-Work Voucher Program.

Control #: 00-31
Subject: Excluded Income for Short-Term, Temporary Census Enumerators
Issue Date: 12/15/1999
Effective Date: 12/15/1999
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) and Purchase of Care (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0031.pdf

Information Memo FIA/OPRS #99-23 dated 12/14/98 gave instructions to local departments to consider all earnings from Census employment as countable earned income when determining benefits for cash assistance, food stamps or medical assistance. Customers were to report Census employment and income, as with any other job.

Control #: 00-34
Subject: Case Transfer Process
Issue Date: 1/20/2000
Effective Date: 1/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0034.pdf

The procedure for transferring cases within the CARES system when a household moves from one jurisdiction to another is being updated in order to ensure an efficient process that will provide high quality service to the customer.

Control #: 00-34 Addendum
Subject: Case Transfer Process
Issue Date: 2/23/2000
Effective Date: 4/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0034Add.pdf

On January 20, 2000, FIA issued Action Transmittal 00-34 outlining the procedures for transferring case records between jurisdictions. The transmittal state that staff must attach a Case Transfer Form to the front of the paper record. The AT does not include a copy of this form.

Control #: 00-35
Subject: Modification of SSI/SDX Accretion, Deletion and Change Processing
Issue Date: 2/23/2000
Effective Date: 4/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: SSI Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0035.pdf

Since 1974, the local Departments of Social Services have used Form DHR/DDP950, Supplemental Security Income, to process SSI and SDX additions, deletions and changes of information to the Maryland MEDICAID Information System (MMIS). Effective April 1, 2000, FIA will replace Form 950 with automated processing via the on line State Date Exchange (SDX) system. The 950 forms will not be sent to the local department offices after April 30, 2000.

Control #: 00-39
Subject: Work Requirements Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (Federal Welfare Reform)-Temporary Cash Assistance
Issue Date: 3/20/2000
Effective Date: 3/20/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0039.pdf

The Administration has established policies in Action Transmittal 97-66 Revised and Action Transmittal 97-67 that require the local departments to collect timely and accurate data on work activities. Local departments are not currently required to enter attendance data into the Work Opportunities Management Information System (WOMIS) for all cases. They may use the system for managing their single parent family caseload. However, attendance data must be entered for all two-parent cases.

Control #: 00-42
Subject: Failure to Comply with Federal, State or Local Assistance Program Requirements
Issue Date: 3/24/2000
Effective Date: 4/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0042.pdf

Action Transmittal FIA/OPA 97-80, issued March 1, 1997 contained information about the section of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that prohibits an increase in food stamps when a household's benefit from a means-tested program is decreased for failure to perform a required action. Action Transmittal FIA/OPRS 99-28, issued February 16, 1999, Conciliation and Sanction Procedures Guide, includes information about how Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) Sanctions affect food stamps. This action transmittal provides policy that clarifies and expands the application of the policy.

Control #: 00-43
Subject: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)-Change in Exempt Counties
Issue Date: 3/24/2000
Effective Date: 3/24/2000
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0043.pdf

The waivers that allow us to certain jurisdictions from the ABAWD work requirements are approved for one year at a time. Each year we submit a new waiver request to the Food and Nutrition Service along with our justification for exempting counties. We were informed that effective March 1, 2000 all jurisdictions that were approved for 1999 except Wicomico County were approved for the next year.

Control #: 00-45
Subject: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DE-LINKING, REDERTERMINATION PROCESSING, FAC AND MCHP SPROUT, AND INCOME COMPUTATION
Issue Date: 4/5/2000
Effective Date: 4/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0045.pdf

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA) eliminated the requirement that states grant Medicaid to all welfare recipients. This is sometimes referred to as "se-linking" because it separated Medicaid eligibility from welfare eligibility. States were given an option to continue to provide automatic Medicaid eligibility to cash assistance recipients, and Maryland has taken this option. The de-linking also required that states make separate Medicaid eligibility determinations for those who are ineligible for cash assistance, and that applicants be tested for eligibility in all categories for which they may qualify. Action Transmittal 99-45 addressed the short term steps taken to ensure that applicants were appropriately tested for Medical Assistance and Temporary Cash Assistance is denied or closed, and whenever eligibility in any Medical Assistance category is denied or closed.

Control #: 00-46
Subject: Excluded Income for Temporary Census Employees
Issue Date: 3/15/2000
Effective Date: 4/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: TCA, Food Stamps (FS), Medical Assistance (MA) and POC
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0046.pdf

Action Transmittal FIA/OPRS #00-31 dated 12/15/99 gave instructions to local departments to exclude the earnings for TCA and POC customers who are employed for 90 days or less as short-term, temporary enumerators during the year 2000. Census employment was considered countable earned income when determining benefits for food stamps or Medical Assistance.

Control #: 00-49
Subject: Purchase of CAre (POC) Provider Payment Changes
Issue Date: 4/28/2000
Effective Date: 5/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Care (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0049.pdf

Effective May 1, 2000, the Child Care Administration is making regulatory and/or procedural changes to the Purchase of Care (POC) program. This action transmittal provides information on changes associated with provider payment.

Control #: 00-50
Subject: Child Immunization Elgibility Requirement
Issue Date: 4/28/2000
Effective Date: 5/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0050.pdf

Federal regulations (45 CFR Part 98) for subsidized child care funding through the Child Care and Development Fun (CCDF) require states to establish immunization requirements to assure that children receiving services under the CCDF are age-appropriate immunized according to the latest recommendation of the state public health agency.

Control #: 00-51
Subject: Purchase of Chile Care Policy Changes-Gaps In Employment, Study, Children Enrolled in Head Start Programs
Issue Date: 4/28/2000
Effective Date: 5/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0051.pdf

Effective May 1, 2000, the Child Care Administration is making regulatory and/or procedural changes to the Purchase of Child Care (POC) program to provide support to families moving from welfare to work. This action transmittal provides information on changes associated with authorization for POC services.

Control #: 00-52
Subject: Provider of Care (POC) Income Changes
Issue Date: 4/28/2000
Effective Date: 5/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Care (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0052.pdf

Control #: 00-54
Subject: Elimination of the 14-Day Delay for TCA Applications
Issue Date: 7/15/2000
Effective Date: 7/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0054.pdf

The 14-day delay provision was introduced as a cash assistance requirement in November 1995. As part of the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) application process, the initial TCA benefit received was prorated from the 14th day after the date of application. The only exceptions to the 14-day delay were cases closed in error by the local department or the application is to cure a TCA sanction in the first non-pay month.

Control #: 00-55
Subject: End of Medial Assitance in Lieu of Temporary Cash Assistance Option
Issue Date: 6/22/2000
Effective Date: 6/22/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0055.pdf

The waiver allowing Medical Assistance in lieu of Temporary Cash Assistance ended December 31, 1999.

Control #: 00-56
Subject: Vehicle Exclusion As An Inaccessible Resource
Issue Date: 6/26/2000
Effective Date: 7/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0056.pdf

The Food and Nutrition Service granted approval of a waiver so that we can exclude a vehicle as an inaccessible resource if the estimated amount of return from its sale is less than half the applicable resource standard.

Control #: 00-57
Subject: Eligibility for Custodial Parents Convicted of a Drug-Related Felony
Issue Date: 6/30/2000
Effective Date: 7/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance, Emergency Assistance, Welfare Avoidance Grants and Food Stamps
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0057.pdf

Action Transmittal 97-56 described penalties and disqualifications resulting from provisions of Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 amended the section of PRWORA that denied benefits to individuals convicted of drug-related convictions for crimes committed since August 22, 1996 are permanently ineligible to receive Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA, Emergency Assistance (EA) or Food Stamps (FS).

Control #: 01-01
Subject: ACTION TRANSMITTALS AND INFORMATION MEMOS FOR 2000
Issue Date: 7/11/2000
Effective Date: 7/11/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0101.pdf

Control #: 01-02
Subject: KINSHIP CARE SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM
Issue Date: 8/7/2000
Effective Date: 8/7/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0102.pdf

In April 1997, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Social Services Administration approval to conduct a five-year demonstration project to test the feasibility of subsidized guardianship for children who are court-committed to a local department of social services and living with non-parent relatives. The demonstration project is designed to provide a more permanent family living arrangement for children in the custody of the local departments of social services. Participation in the demonstration project is voluntary. Families are randomly selected and asked if they would like to participate in the pilot project. Under this demonstration project SSA pays a subsidy of $300 per month per child to the non-parent caretaker relative for care of the child if the caretaker relative agrees to become the child's court appointed guardian. When the relative becomes the legal guardian, the State is no longer legally responsible for the child's care and the Foster Care/Kinship Care case is closed.

Control #: 01-03
Subject: NEW DISTRICT OFFICE IN BALTIMORE CITY
Issue Date: 8/16/2000
Effective Date: 8/16/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0103.pdf

A new district office has been designated for Baltimore City. The Harford Heights DSS has been divided into two offices. One office will remain Harford Heights D.O. #337 and the other office will be named "Northwood DSS" D.O. #360.

Control #: 01-04
Subject: Withdrawl of Request for Hearing Form (DHR/OS 87)-Revision and Instructions
Issue Date: 8/10/2000
Effective Date: 8/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0104.pdf

Applicants or customers have the right to file an appeal and request a hearing if a local department's decision adversely affects their benefits or other services. Use the Withdrawal of Request for Hearing (DHR/OS 87) form when an applicant or customer withdraws the request for hearing.

Control #: 01-05
Subject: TREATMENT OF ATTENDANT CARE INCOME
Issue Date: 8/11/2000
Effective Date: 10/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0105.pdf

At the request of another State, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has reconsidered the treatment of attendant care payments made by an outside source to a disabled household member for attendant care when the person providing the care is also a household member. This action transmittal provides the new policy about treatment of income in this situation.

Control #: 01-06
Subject: HEARINGS REQUEST FORM - DHR/FIA 334 (REVISED 7/00)
Issue Date: 8/16/2000
Effective Date: 8/16/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0106.pdf

Applicants or customers have the right to file an appeal and request a hearing if a local department's decision adversely affects their Family Investment Program benefits. Use the Request For Hearing (DHR/FIA 334) form when an applicant or customer requests a hearing. This form must be readily available in local department reception areas and given to the applicant/customer upon demand.

Control #: 01-07
Subject: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, SDX ON-LINE
Issue Date: 8/28/2000
Effective Date: 8/28/2000
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance (MA) State Data Exchange System (SDX)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0107.pdf

The attached pages contain responses to questions raised by staff regarding the implementation of the SDX On-Line system and the associated Action Transmittal #00-35. The questions were voiced during the March 2000 Quarterly Policy Briefings, and at the FIA Medical Assistance Eligibility Conference held on Wednesday, May 5, 2000.

Control #: 01-08
Subject: LONG TERM CARE (LTC) PROCESSING USING VENDOR CODE 3473
Issue Date: 8/29/2000
Effective Date: 8/29/2000
Program(s) Affected: LTC Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0108.pdf

In August of 1995, DHMH issued a Request for Clarification of Medical Assistance Eligibility Policy and/or Procedure (CR-720 & 728) to clarify the procedures for instances when non-institutionalized persons make a request for coverage of LTC. This procedure is still in effect. In order to accommodate the applicant and the LTC facility with the least amount of time and effort on the part of the local department, please use the following procedure whenever a non-institutionalized person makes a request for LTC coverage.

Control #: 01-09
Subject: ASYLEE ELIGIBILITY FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM BENEFITS
Issue Date: 8/31/2000
Effective Date: 8/31/2000
Program(s) Affected: Refugee Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0109.pdf

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced that, effective June 15, 2000 asylees are eligible for refugee assistance and services beginning on the date that they are granted asylum. This is a substantial policy change, since previously asylees were deemed eligible for refugee cash assistance benefits for 8 months from the date they arrived in the United States. Since the process of applying for asylum and having the case heard and decided often exceeded 8 months, many asylees were ineligible by the time they arrived at the local Department of Social Services Office to apply for benefits. Effective immediately under ORR's new policy, an asylee's entry date will be the date that the individual is granted asylum in the United States. This policy change is particularly important for asylees who need to access refugee cash and medical assistance (RCA and RMA). For example, an individual enters United States on December 1, 2000 as a tourist. He or she applies for asylum on April 1, 2001. The asylum office interviews the individual on June 1, 2001 and grants asylum on August 1, 2001. This individual's date of entry would be August 1, 2001, the date asylum was granted. The asylee would be eligible to access refugee cash and medical assistance from August 1, 2001, through March 31, 2002. Under the old rule, the 8-month eligibility period would have begun December 1, 2000 and would have ended just before asylum was granted.

Control #: 01-10
Subject: COLLECTING AND POSTING FOOD STAMP OVERPAYMENTS FROM THE TREASURY OFFSET PROGRAM (TOP)
Issue Date: 9/6/2000
Effective Date: 9/6/2000
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0110.pdf

Effective October 1, 1999 the Food and Nutrition Service changed the way they distribute funds from the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). This change has caused some confusion about how to record payments on the FNS-209 report.

Control #: 01-11
Subject: TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE AND FOOD STAMP MASS CHANGE - OCTOBER 2000
Issue Date: 9/1/2000
Effective Date: 10/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance Food Stamps
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0111.pdf

Each October, the United States Department of Agriculture publishes a new Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) on which food stamp program allotments are based. The net and gross monthly income standards increase effective October 1, 2000. The maximum food stamp allotments and excess shelter deduction also increase. The standard deduction and homeless shelter allowance are unchanged. The Welfare Innovation Act of 1996 requires that the total of Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Stamps be at least 61percent of the established Minimum Living Level. The established minimum living level for Federal Fiscal Year 2001 is $1,278 for a family of three. On October 1, 2000 a 5.276 percent payment increase for Temporary Cash Assistance applicants and recipients is in effect. The key dates for actions related to the benefit increase for this program are noted below.

Control #: 01-12
Subject: STATE ON-LINE QUERY (SOLQ)
Issue Date: 9/14/2000
Effective Date: 10/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0112.pdf

On August 22, 1997, DHR implemented the state Verification Exchange System (SVES) statewide. SVES is an automated data exchange system with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for verifying social security numbers, Title II Social Security benefits, Title XVI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, and Quarters of Coverage History (QCHS).

Control #: 01-13
Subject: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -- 2000 FIRST QUARTER
Issue Date: 9/19/2000
Effective Date: 9/19/2000
Program(s) Affected: TCA, FS AND MA
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0113.pdf

FIA Policy and Training staff conducted Quarterly Briefings in March 2000 to provide local staff with information concerning newly released policy. Questions surfaced during the briefings and other training sessions conducted since that time. The following is a compilation of program questions with the answers and clarifications related to those questions. This transmittal also clarifies and expands on answers given in FIA Information Memo 00-41.

Control #: 01-14
Subject: DISABILITY MEDICAL EXAMINATION FEE INCREASE
Issue Date: 9/26/2000
Effective Date: 8/14/2000
Program(s) Affected: Transitional Emergency, Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0114.pdf

The Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR Committee) approved the Department's request for emergency adoption of regulations (COMAR .07.06.05.04) to increase the medical examination fee and laboratory work fee for TEMHA (Transitional Emergency, Medical and Housing Assistance) applicants. This change will bring physician and laboratory test fees into conformity with fees paid under Medical Assistance (Medicaid) schedules. The increase is effective August 14, 2000.

Control #: 01-15
Subject: PURCHASE OF CHILD CARE CASE TRANSFER POLICY
Issue Date: 10/16/2000
Effective Date: 10/16/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0115.pdf

The procedures for transferring cases within the CARES system for FIA programs was outlined in Action Transmittal 00-34 and�34 Addendum. This action transmittal aligns POC's case transfer process with the FIA process to the extent possible.

Control #: 01-16
Subject: QUESTONS AND ANSWERS -- BALTIMORE APPEALS AND HEARINGS TRAINING
Issue Date: 10/17/2000
Effective Date: 10/17/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0116.pdf

FIA Policy and Training staff conducted the Baltimore City Appeals and Conciliation Training in May and Consent Order training in August. Both training sessions provided BCDSS staff with information concerning new policy and procedures. The following is a compilation of questions resulting from the sessions with answers and clarifications related to those questions.

Control #: 01-17
Subject: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DE-LINKING, REDERTERMINATION PROCESSING, FAC AND MCHP SPROUT, AND INCOME COMPUTATION
Issue Date: 11/6/2000
Effective Date: 11/6/2000
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0117.pdf

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (PRWORA) eliminated the requirement that states grant Medicaid eligibility to all welfare recipients. This is sometimes referred to as "de-linking" because it separated Medicaid eligibility from welfare eligibility. States were given an option to continue to provide automatic Medicaid eligibility to cash assistance recipients, and Maryland has taken this option. The de-linking also required that states make separate Medicaid eligibility determinations for those who are ineligible for cash assistance, and that applicants be tested for eligibility in all categories for which they may qualify. Action Transmittal 99-45 addressed the short term steps taken to ensure that applicants were appropriately tested for Medical Assistance when Temporary Cash Assistance is denied or closed, and whenever eligibility in any Medical Assistance category is denied or closed.

Control #: 01-18
Subject: CIS SERVICES - 1
Issue Date: 11/17/2000
Effective Date: 11/17/2000
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0118.pdf

CIS data entry for the POC program requires the completion of a Services-1 form. The purpose of this Action transmittal is to convey procedures for completing the Services-1 form for POC.

Control #: 01-19
Subject: LEGAL REPRESENTATION
Issue Date: 11/27/2000
Effective Date: 1/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance (LTC
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0119.pdf

Customers applying for long-term care medical assistance must meet technical and financial criteria before eligibility can be determined. Often times, customers may be denied eligibility for failure to meet certain requirements of eligibility. These customers may require legal assistance with the appeals process. The customers can receive, upon request, a booklet titled"Some Questions and Answers about Financial Eligibility for Medicaid Nursing Home Services" from their case managers. This booklet lists the names of organizations that assist customers in the pursuit of Medicaid eligibility. (A new supply of the booklet will be sent to each local department by the DHR warehouse.) The Maryland Bar Association's Elder Law Section has instituted a new program to provide free legal representation, if qualified, to individuals denied Medicaid eligibility for long-term care benefits. The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) will accomplish eligibility screening and locate an attorney to assist with the appeal.

Control #: 01-20
Subject: POC CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
Issue Date: 12/1/2000
Effective Date: 5/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0120.pdf

This action transmittal clarifies the Department of Human Resources� policy regarding citizenship and immigration status when determining eligibility for POC benefits. Its purpose is to assure that eligible children of foreign born parents have access to child care services. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), P. L. 104-193, restricts the access of certain categories of immigrants to specified Federal benefits. In 1998, the Department of Health and Human Services provided clarification to States that the child is the primary beneficiary of the child care benefit and only the citizenship and immigration status of the child is relevant for eligibility purposes for child care subsidy programs. Local departments were advised of this policy through a memorandum to local directors dated September 27, 1999.

Control #: 01-21
Subject: SOCIAL SECURITY (RSDI) AND SSI COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE AND RELATED INCREASES
Issue Date: 11/24/2000
Effective Date: 1/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0121.pdf

Historically, Social Security Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have increased each year. This is usually true for Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits also. The mass change process to take these changes into account for grant, food stamp and medical assistance purposes is described in this transmittal.

Control #: 01-21 addendum
Subject: SOCIAL SECURITY (RSDI) AND SSI COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE AND RELATED INCREASES
Issue Date: 12/22/2000
Effective Date: 12/22/2000
Program(s) Affected: Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0121add.doc

On November 24, 2000, the Family Investment Administration issued an updated Cost-of-Living-Arrangements (COLA) Action Transmittal #01-21. Since then we have received several questions about a new category on the rates and per diems chart called Assisted Living. The terminology in the letters attached to AT #01-21 also changed to Assisted Living. The reason for the addition of this term is because DHMH promulgated regulations last year which changed the term Domiciliary Care (Dom Care) to Assisted Living . In addition please make note of the statement at the bottom of page one on AT #01-21 in capital letters. This statement gives the impression that the local staff must manually change the Railroad Retirement and Veteran Benefit increased amounts. CARES will automatically update these figures during the mass modification, therefore the FIA worker is not required to do a manual change. Please attach this Information Memo to Action Transmittal #01-21.

Control #: 01-22
Subject: INCREASE IN THE PHONE AND UTILITY ALLOWANCES
Issue Date: 12/18/2000
Effective Date: 1/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0122.pdf

Each year we reassess the amount of the utility standards based on the Consumer Price Index for fuel. We also contact the telephone companies to determine if there has been an increase in basic phone cost. This transmittal provides information about increases in the standard and limited utility allowances and the phone allowance.

Control #: 01-23
Subject: INTERVIEWING, COMPLETING FORMS AND REVIEWING CASE RECORDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Issue Date: 12/22/2000
Effective Date: 12/22/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0123.pdf

The Annotated Code of Maryland, Section 15-501(a) (1) states that �an official or employee may not participate in a matter if: the official or employee or a qualifying relative of the official or employee has an interest in the matter and the official or employee know of the interest�� Section 15-102 (2) (gg) defines a qualifying relative as �a spouse, parent, child, brother.� This information memo addresses how DSS staff should handle processing and review of cases when the applicant is a relative or close associate of that DSS staff.

Control #: 01-24
Subject: WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998
Issue Date: 12/21/2000
Effective Date: 7/1/2000
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0124.pdf

On July 1, 2000 the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) replaced the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). The WIA provides services to individuals under the same programs that JTPA funded.

Control #: 01-25
Subject: REMINDERS FOR STATE-FUNDED TCA GROUPS, 24-MONTH WORK REQUIREMENT, ATTENDANCE DATA, FAMILY INDEPENDENCE PLANS, AND WO MIS AND CARES CODING
Issue Date: 12/22/2000
Effective Date: 12/22/2000
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0125.pdf

Action Transmittal #99-05 describes the reporting process used to identify Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) customers that are nearing the 24-month time limit. Action Transmittal #99-18 provides local departments with reminders, clarifications and new expectations regarding TCA customers reaching the 24-month time limit. Action Transmittal # 99-32 identifies Maryland�s state-funded TCA customer groups, the time limits, work requirements and CARES coding for those groups. Action Transmittals #99-46 and #99-48 identify two new state-funded TCA groups and instructions for CARES coding.

Control #: 01-26
Subject: TANF WORK PARTICIPATION RATE REQUIREMENTS
Issue Date: 1/2/2001
Effective Date: 1/2/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0126.pdf

Action Transmittals 97-66R and #97-67 describe the work requirements under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the definitions for each of the federal work activities. Each month, states must ensure that a significant number of all parents receiving Temporary Cash Assistance participate in a work activity, as defined by the federal legislation. During Federal Fiscal Year 2001 (October 2000 � September 2001), the percentage served each month (known as the Participation Rate) must average 45% minus the State's Caseload Reduction Credit. We anticipate that our caseload reduction credit will significantly reduce our actual Participation Rate Requirement. For a case to be countable toward meeting the Participation Rate Requirement in FFY 2001, the parent must be participating in a federally defined activity for an average of 30 hours per week. The first 20 hours must be in one of the core work activities described in AT #97-67. For the cases selected in the monthly federal reporting sample, the activity and attendance information must be entered into the Work Opportunities Management Information System (WO MIS) to be included in the federal report.

Control #: 01-27
Subject: CARES 2001 PRODUCTION OPERATIONS SCHEDULE
Issue Date: 1/26/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: All
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0127.pdf

The attached is the CIS Production Operations Schedule for 2001. If there are any questions regarding the schedule please contact Ruth Waugh at (410) 238-1242.

Control #: 01-28
Subject: STATE REVIEW TEAM (SRT) - PROCEDURES
Issue Date: 1/31/2001
Effective Date: 1/31/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance and Transitional Emergency, Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0128.pdf

This action transmittal provides procedures to refer Medial Assistance applicants to the State Review Team (SRT) for a disability determination. The SRT makes disability determinations for Medical Assistance (MA) and Transitional Emergency Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA).

Control #: 01-28a
Subject: MEDICAL REPORT FORM 402B
Issue Date: 1/31/2001
Effective Date: 1/31/2001
Program(s) Affected:
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0128a.pdf

Control #: 01-28b
Subject: Authorization to Release InformationPersonal Physician, Hospital or Clinic
Issue Date: 1/31/2001
Effective Date: 1/31/2001
Program(s) Affected:
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0128b.pdf

Control #: 01-29
Subject: FIP Substance Abuse Treatment and Services
Issue Date: 2/2/2001
Effective Date: 1/2/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps and Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0129.pdf

During its 2000 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1160, the Welfare Innovation Act of 2000. Provisions of this bill set forth a revised process for substance abuse screening, treatment referrals and reporting for customers receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). The bill requires certified addiction specialists to be on-site in all local departments of social services (LDSS) to conduct substance abuse screening; conduct or refer for assessment; refer drug felons for testing; refer for treatment; and, provide information case managers need to determine eligibility for benefits.

Control #: 01-30
Subject: EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) AND OTHER TAX CREDITS
Issue Date: 2/7/2001
Effective Date: 2/7/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0130.pdf

Now that tax season is upon us it is important to remind our low income working families about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other benefits available to them as they begin preparing their taxes. EITC reduces the tax burden on low-income families, supplements wages and helps make work more profitable than welfare. Anyone who has worked and earned money during the year 2000 may qualify for EITC. EITC does not count as income for TCA, Food Stamps and most other FIA programs. There are some other tax credits that our low income workers can file for as well: the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Montgomery County Working Families Income Tax Supplement. This memo disseminates information about the available tax benefits and encourages local departments to raise the awareness of these benefits for working customers through local promotional campaigns.

Control #: 01-31
Subject: VEHICLE EXCLUSION
Issue Date: 2/12/2001
Effective Date: 3/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0131.pdf

This action transmittal provides information about changes in how we treat vehicles

Control #: 01-32
Subject: HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION - CHILD AGE 17 OR YOUNGER LIVING WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN A PARENT
Issue Date: 2/13/2001
Effective Date: 2/13/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0132.pdf

Final Food Stamp Program regulations published October 30, 2000 included a definition of parental control. This will help with determining whether a child age 17 or younger is under the parental control of someone other than a parent.

Control #: 01-33
Subject: CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD STAMPS
Issue Date: 2/26/2001
Effective Date: 3/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0133.pdf

The Food and Nutrition Service published new regulations on November 21, 2000 that clarified food stamp categorical eligibility for families that receive a Temporary Assistance Needy Families (TANF) service or benefit. TANF funds many programs for families in Maryland. This policy will make more households potentially eligible for food stamp benefits effective March 1, 2001.

Control #: 01-34
Subject: INCREASE IN THE EXCESS SHELTER DEDUCTION
Issue Date: 3/8/2001
Effective Date: 3/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0134.pdf

On October 28, 2000 President Clinton signed Public Law 106-387, which amends the Food Stamp Act. One of the provisions of this rule increases the maximum amount of excess shelter expense deduction.

Control #: 01-35
Subject: 2001 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVELS AND FIP SCHEDULE UPDATE
Issue Date: 4/9/2001
Effective Date: 4/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0135.pdf

The Federal Poverty Income guidelines increased on March 1, 2001. The new poverty levels were on CARES effective April 1, 2001. For your convenience, a chart with the new poverty levels is attached (Attachment 1). In addition, this Information Memo updates only Column C - 50% Poverty Level - of the FIP Schedule. The amounts in Columns A and B do not change. The new amounts are used when determining eligibility for Temporary Cash Assistance applications and recertifications completed on or after April 1, 2001. For your convenience, a copy of the updated FIP Schedule is attached (Attachment 2).

Control #: 01-36
Subject: INCREASE IN MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND LABORATORY FEES
Issue Date: 4/30/2001
Effective Date: 5/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0136.pdf

Action Transmittal #01-14 (CSA/OAS 01-02) notified local departments of the increase in the fee for completion of the medical form DHR/FIA 402-B to $60 and an increase in the cap for laboratory work to $40 for TEMHA applicants. The increase was effective August 14, 2000. This action transmittal informs local departments of increases in medical examination and laboratory fees for the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program and the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) category of the Medical Assistance program.

Control #: 01-37
Subject: WELFARE AVOIDANCE GRANTS
Issue Date: 5/1/2001
Effective Date: 5/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0137.pdf

Federal regulations for the treatment of Welfare Avoidance Grants (WAG) have changed. This action transmittal supercedes action transmittal #00-36 Treatment of Welfare Avoidance Grants issued March 7, 2000.

Control #: 01-38
Subject: DISQUALIFIED RECIPIENT SUB-SYSTEM AND VOICE RESPONSE UNIT (DRS/VRU)
Issue Date: 5/3/2001
Effective Date: 5/3/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMPS
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0138.pdf

In the Food Stamp Program persons disqualified from participation for intentional program violations (IPV) are subject to escalating penalties depending on the number of offenses (up to permanent disqualification). Since the Food Stamp Program is national, the penalties imposed by one state are valid in all states. So that states can track records and determine appropriate penalty levels, FNS has a central database in which states enter data. States can retrieve data directly from the database, called the Disqualified Recipient Sub-system (DRS), or by telephoning the Voice Response Unit (VRU). The Family Investment Administration has access to the DRS, maintains it through monthly updates and uses it for inquiry. Local departments forward the Disqualified Recipient Report FNS 524 or the Waiver to an Administrative Disqualification Hearing DHR OIG 7 to Sherri Dyson-McCray in FIA�s Office of Policy, Research and Systems to implement disqualification penalties for IPV�s. Ms Dyson-McCray enters the disqualification into the DRS.

Control #: 01-39
Subject: GUIDE FOR DISABLED TCA CUSTOMERS AND TCA ADULT CAREGIVERS
Issue Date: 5/4/2001
Effective Date: 5/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0139.pdf

Action transmittal #99-46 provided local departments with a Guide to policy and procedures for the state-funded Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program for disabled TCA customers who are referred to the Disability Entitlement Advocacy Program (DEAP/TCA). Action transmittal #99-46 Attachments provided copies of the DEAP/TCA program forms. This action transmittal obsoletes AT #99-46 and AT #99-46 Attachments, and provides a new Guide

Control #: 01-40
Subject: POC APPLICATION PROCESS
Issue Date: 5/21/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CHILD CARE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0140.pdf

This action transmittal outlines the policy changes regarding the application process.

Control #: 01-41
Subject: POC INCOME ELIGIBILITY
Issue Date: 5/22/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CHILD CARE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0141.pdf

This action transmittal clarifies Child Care Administration policy and procedures for determining income eligibility.

Control #: 01-42
Subject: PURCHASE OF CARE (POC) PROVIDER VOLUNTARY CLOSURES
Issue Date: 5/23/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CARE (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0142.pdf

Control #: 01-43
Subject: PURCHASE OF CARE (POC) CHANGES FOR CHILD CARE DURING NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS
Issue Date: 5/24/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CARE (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0143.pdf

Effective July 1, 2001, the Child Care Administration is making regulatory and/or procedural changes to the Purchase of Care (POC) program. This action transmittal provides information on changes associated with child care during non-traditional hours. Non-traditional hours are 1 hour or more between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and any period of 1 hour or more on Saturday or Sunday. We continue to pay a differential percentage above the subsidy rates listed on the voucher for care authorized during non-traditional hours

Control #: 01-44
Subject: POC TIERED REIMBURSEMENT
Issue Date: 5/25/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CHILD CARE (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0144.pdf

Beginning July 1, 2001, regulated family child care providers and child care centers who care for children receiving Purchase of Child Care (POC) may be eligible for monthly incentive payments if they meet requirements tied to quality improvements.

Control #: 01-45
Subject: POC PROVIDER FRAUD AND RECOUPMENT
Issue Date: 5/29/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: PURCHASE OF CHILD CARE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0145.pdf

Payment is denied to any provider who has committed fraud against the Department. The determination of fraud is based on a determination by the Inspector General's Office, a law enforcement agency or an adjudication by a reviewing tribunal and the initiation of recoupment procedures by the local department. Providers who commit fraud cannot receive any POC payments for 12 months from the date payment was denied for committing fraud even if they make full restitution to the local department within the 12 month period. If the repayment period exceeds 12 months, providers cannot receive payment until they make full restitution to the local department. Any child care center, family child care home or informal provider who is denied payment for committing fraud can appeal to the Office of Administrative Appeals. Please find the statewide list of investigators from the Inspector General's Office attached for quick reference. Please refer to Action Transmittal 98-51 for overpayment processing information.

Control #: 01-46
Subject: TRANSITIONAL EMERGENCY, MEDICAL AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE (TEHMA) GRANT INCREASE
Issue Date: 6/1/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEHMA
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0146.pdf

The Transitional Emergency, Medical and Housing Assistance (TEHMA) is a State-funded initiative to provide essential medical, housing and other services to low-income disabled adults who are ineligible for other categories of assistance. TEMHA is a capped entitlement for eligible customers. This Information Memo confirms the July 2001 implementation of a $53 payment increase for TEHMA applicants and recipients. The maximum TEHMA grant effective July 1, 2001 is $185. CARES will be updated on June 8, effective July 1, 2001. Customer notices for increases and decreases will be generated at the time of the mass change.

Control #: 01-47
Subject: ADDED ALLOWABLE UTILITY COSTS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCE
Issue Date: 6/1/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0147.pdf

This Action Transmittal is one of several that we will issue about the recently published Food Stamp regulation changes. Many of the regulation changes must be implemented by June 1, 2001. One of the changes added several allowable shelter costs. It also changed expanded eligibility for the utility allowance. This action transmittal provides the new policy.

Control #: 01-48
Subject: NEW VOTER REGISTRATION FORM (SBE 03-202-1 Rev 3/00)
Issue Date: 6/6/2001
Effective Date: 6/6/2001
Program(s) Affected: ALL
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0148.pdf

After the past election, all states are taking a hard look at their voter registration and voting process. In Maryland, this includes a renewed effort to promote voter registration through the agencies mandated to offer their clients the opportunity to apply to register to vote by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), of which the Department of Human Resources is one. The Secretary of State continues to hold meetings with NVRA agencies to assure compliance with the Act.

Control #: 01-49
Subject: APPLICATION PROCESSING AND INTERVIEWS
Issue Date: 6/8/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0149.pdf

This Action Transmittal is one of several that we will issue about the recently published Food Stamp regulation changes. Many of the regulation changes must be implemented by June 1, 2001. These revised rules change office operations and application processing slightly. The regulations also include requirements that will enhance customer service.

Control #: 01-50
Subject: Recertification
Issue Date: 6/9/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0150.pdf

This Action Transmittal is one of several that we will issue about the recently published Food Stamp regulation changes. We must implement many of the changes by June 1, 2001. The revised rules change the requirement for face-to-face interviews at recertification, require that we send a notice of missed interview when a household misses the recertification appointment and streamlines the procedures for delays in processing at recertification.

Control #: 01-51
Subject: CERTIFICATION PERIODS, ENDING A CERTIFICATION PERIOD EARLY AND LENGTHENING A CERTIFICATION PERIOD
Issue Date: 6/9/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0151.PDF

This Action Transmittal is one of several that we will issue about the recently published Food Stamp regulation changes. The revised rules change how we assign certification periods and how we shorten certification periods. It also permits us to extend certification periods.

Control #: 01-52
Subject: EXPANSION OF THE MARYLAND CHILDREN�S HEALTH PROGRAM
Issue Date: 6/8/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: MARYLAND CHILDREN�S HEALTH PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0152.pdf

In last year�s session the General Assembly enacted The Maryland Health Program Expansion Act of 2000. This act expands coverage under the Maryland Children�s Health Program (MCHP) to include two new groups. The first group includes pregnant women who have income greater than 200% of the Federal Poverty level (FPL) but not greater than 250%. The second group includes children under the age of 19, who have family income greater than 200% FPL, but not greater than 300% FPL. This act is effective July 1, 2001. The second group will pay a premium for coverage

Control #: 01-52 addendum
Subject: EXPANSION OF THE MARYLAND CHILDREN�S HEALTH PROGRAM addendum
Issue Date: 6/8/2001
Effective Date: 7/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: MARYLAND CHILDREN�S HEALTH PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0152a.pdf

NEW CARES PROCESSING

Control #: 01-53
Subject: DHMH NOTICE ABOUT RECIPIENTS TURNING AGE 65
Issue Date: 6/12/2001
Effective Date: 6/12/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0153.pdf

Effective January 1, 2001, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) amended the HealthChoice eligibility and enrollment regulations, COMAR 10.09.63, requiring Medical Assistance (Medicaid) recipients to be disenrolled from HealthChoice when they turn 65 years old.

Control #: 01-54
Subject: ST. MARY�S COUNTY- LEXINGTON PARK OFFICE
Issue Date: 6/14/2001
Effective Date: 6/14/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0154.pdf

The Lexington Park Office of St. Mary�s County has relocated.

Control #: 01-55
Subject: CHANGE IN COUNTIES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS
Issue Date: 6/29/2001
Effective Date: 5/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0155.pdf

Every year we send a waiver request to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend Maryland's waiver to exempt counties from the requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD). We recently received the FNS response that eliminated three jurisdictions from the exemption.

Control #: 02-01
Subject: ACTION TRANSMITTALS AND INFORMATION MEMOS FOR 2001
Issue Date: 7/17/2001
Effective Date: 7/17/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0201.pdf

The Office of Policy Research and Systems (OPRS) answers policy and procedures questions from local departments statewide on a daily basis. When providing clarification, the caller is often referred to a specific Action Transmittal (AT) or Information Memo (IM) that outlines the policy or procedure in question. The Bureau of Policy and Training developed listings of ATs and IMs issued for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2001 from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001. The attached list includes the number, the originating office, the topic, and the programs affected. Beginning in 1999, ATs and IMs were numbered consecutively. The list of ATs and IMs for SFY 2001 is numbered from 01-01 through 01-55. Programs affected include Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Food Stamps (FS), Medical Assistance (MA), Emergency Assistance (EA), Transitional Emergency Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA), Public Assistance to Adults (PAA), Purchase of Care (POC) and Child Support (CSEA).

Control #: 02-01 Addendum
Subject: ACTION TRANSMITTALS AND INFORMATION MEMOS FOR 2001 -tables
Issue Date: 7/17/2001
Effective Date: 7/17/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0201add.pdf

TABLE

Control #: 02-02
Subject: CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRANT STATUS AND SPONSORED IMMIGRANTS
Issue Date: 7/23/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0202.pdf

This Action Transmittal is one of several that we will issue about the recently published Food Stamp regulation changes. The required implementation date for many of the regulation changes was June 1, 2001. The changes clarify the definition of a child, describe how to determine countable quarters, define an indigent immigrant and change how we calculate the countable amount of a sponsor's income. This action transmittal provides the new policy and clarifications.

Control #: 02-03
Subject: SOCIAL SECURITY (RSDI) AND SSI COST-OF-LIVING CORRECTION
Issue Date: 8/8/2001
Effective Date: 8/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: ALL
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0203.pdf

Due to an error in calculating the Consumer Price Index, several Federal agencies underpaid benefits beginning January 2000, including the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA will send recipients a lump sum check dated July 2, 2001 to cover underpayments in Retirement, Survivors and Disability Benefits and Supplemental Security Income for the period covering January 2000 through June 2001. Beginning August 1, 2001, SSA will issue correct payments for that month and for future months. The CARES system will do an automatic adjustment to reflect the change in SSA income October 1, 2001.

Control #: 02-04
Subject: NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993
Issue Date: 8/10/2001
Effective Date: 8/10/2001
Program(s) Affected: ALL PROGRAMS
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0204.pdf

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 became effective on January 1, 1995. The intent of NVRA is to increase the number of citizens registered to vote and to establish safeguards that ensure voter�s rights for all citizens. Action Transmittals # 9622, dated December 18, 1995 and #01-48, dated June 6, 2001 restate the NVRA requirements, procedures for capturing statistical data and our obligation to offer customers voter registration opportunities.

Control #: 02-05
Subject: CUSTODIAL PARENTS CONVICTED OF A DRUG-RELATED FELONY
Issue Date: 8/10/2001
Effective Date: 8/10/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEMPORARY CASH ASSISTANCE, FOOD STAMPS, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0205.pdf

During the 2000 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1160, The Welfare Innovation Act of 2000. Provisions of this bill set forth requirements for substance abuse testing and treatment for custodial parents applying for TCA or food stamps who have been convicted of a felony involving the possession, use or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance which was committed after August 22, 1996. The bill also requires sanctions, drug testing and treatment for a custodial parent convicted after July 1, 2000 of a felony that has an element of manufacturing, distribution or possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, while receiving TCA or food stamps.

Control #: 02-06
Subject: Interpretation Services For Non-English Speaking Households
Issue Date: 8/15/2001
Effective Date: 8/15/2001
Program(s) Affected: all
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0206.pdf

Some households that apply for assistance through local Departments of Social Services are non-English speaking or have limited English language proficiency. This Action Transmittal reminds local departments to give special communication assistance to these individuals. We want to ensure they receive the same application and eligibility opportunities that are given to all other households.

Control #: 02-07
Subject: Customer�s Right To Refuse To Work With A Religious Organization
Issue Date: 8/17/2001
Effective Date: 8/17/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0207.pdf

Some local departments have contracted with churches and other faith-based organizations to provide services or serve as third party payees for our customers. Federal regulations as well as the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) prohibit discriminating against any individual when administering our programs. COMAR states: An individual may not be required to accept assistance from a religious organization if acceptance would violate the individual�s bona fide religious beliefs and practices.

Control #: 02-08
Subject: Services For Immigrant Survivors Of Domestic Violence
Issue Date: 8/23/2001
Effective Date: 8/23/2001
Program(s) Affected: TCA, FS, and MA
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0208.pdf

The Office of Civil Rights has received complaints from several advocacy and legal groups concerning instances in which immigrants were improperly denied access to domestic violence shelters and other federally funded benefits because of confusion about eligibility rules. This information memo is a reminder of the services and programs available to immigrants who are victims of domestic battery or extreme cruelty by a family member.

Control #: 02-09
Subject: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) - Final Rule
Issue Date: 9/11/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0209.pdf

On January 17, 2001 the Food and Nutrition Service published the Personal Responsibility Provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 Final Rule. We implemented the ABAWD provisions based on the PRWORA legislation. Since there were no federal regulations at that time, FNS permitted states to decide how to interpret the legislation in some areas. This final rule now provides regulatory direction to some of the policy that is different from our policy decisions.

Control #: 02-10
Subject: Verification
Issue Date: 9/11/2001
Effective Date: 6/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0210.pdf

Over the past several months we have issued action transmittals about food stamp policy changes that affect customer service and application processing. This action transmittal provides new policy about eligibility while waiting for proof of immigration status. It expands on the acceptable methods for supplying proof to the local department. It also includes reminders about verifying information through collateral contacts or home visits and the responsibility for getting proof of a customer's statements.

Control #: 02-11
Subject: Reporting Changes In Unearned Income From A Private Source
Issue Date: 9/11/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0211.pdf

The Food and Nutrition Service recently approved a waiver that increases the threshold for reporting changes in unearned income from a private source.

Control #: 02-12
Subject: Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance For Members Of The Armed Forces
Issue Date: 9/11/2001
Effective Date: 9/11/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0212.pdf

On May 1, 2001, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) that will provide qualifying members and their families with a cash allowance of up to $500 per month. This program was created to partially address the issue of enlisted members relying on food stamps to make ends meet.

Control #: 02-13
Subject: Rent Subsidy
Issue Date: 9/12/2001
Effective Date: 9/12/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0213.pdf

FIA is issuing this action transmittal to clarify the local department�s responsibility regarding subsidized housing verification. We are changing the penalty for non-compliance with the requirements and have included CARES procedures that explain how to correctly code the subsidized housing fields.

Control #: 02-14
Subject: Treatment Of Funds In Individual Development Accounts
Issue Date: 9/12/2001
Effective Date: 12/21/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0214.pdf

Recently the Department received a letter from the Food and Nutrition Service that notified us that the President signed Public Law 106-554, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 on December 21, 2000. The legislation contains a provision that affects how we treat individual development accounts (IDA) under the Assets for Independence Act (AFIA) for the Food Stamp Program. IDAs under the AFIA provide federal funds to match the amount of earnings that low-income working individuals and families put into savings for a first time home, post secondary education, or to start a new business. Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action, Inc. is the only organization that we are aware of that is sponsoring an AFIA Demonstration Project

Control #: 02-15
Subject: Failure To Comply With A Requirement Of A Public Assistance Program
Issue Date: 9/12/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0215.pdf

Action Transmittal 97-80, which was issued on March 1, 1997, provided information about prohibiting an increase in food stamps when a household�s federal, State or local means-tested public assistance benefit is reduced because of a penalty imposed by that program for failure to follow the program requirements. Action Transmittal 00-42, issued March 24, 2000: � Clarified that the policy applies to any federal, State or local means-tested program (i.e. Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Transitional Emergency, Medical, and Housing Assistance (TEMHA) and Public Assistance to Adults (PAA). � Expanded the application of the policy to the disallowance for failure to comply with preschool health checkups and school attendance. � Expanded the policy to include household caused overpayments. On January 17, 2001, the Food and Nutrition Service published a Final Rule that made changes to this policy. The regulation also provided clarification of the policy

Control #: 02-16
Subject: Exclusion Of Vehicles
Issue Date: 9/12/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Transitional Emergency Medical And Housing Assistance (TEMHA), Public Assistance To Adults (PAA), Food Stamps (FS) And Medical Assistance (MA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0216.pdf

The President signed Public Law 106-387 on October 28, 2000. This law includes several provisions affecting the Food Stamp Program. One of these provisions allows States to substitute their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) vehicle rules for the food stamp vehicle rules where doing so results in a lower attribution of resources to food stamp households. Maryland has changed the State's TCA, TEMHA, PAA and MA vehicle rules to exclude all vehicles. Because of PL 106-387, the new rules also apply to the Food Stamp Program

Control #: 02-17
Subject: Immigrants Who Are Victims Of Severe Trafficking To Be Treated As Refugees
Issue Date: 9/11/2001
Effective Date: 9/11/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0217.pdf

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has certified a number of individual immigrants as adult victims of a severe form of trafficking. These individuals are eligible to apply for public benefits and services to the same extent as refugees, per Public Law 1063-386 Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. In the Act, the term �severe form of trafficking in persons� means: (A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or (B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Control #: 02-18
Subject: Simplified Reporting Requirement
Issue Date: 9/14/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program And Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0218.pdf

Beginning October 1, 2001 Maryland implements new Simplified Reporting (SR) for Food Stamps (FS) and Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). This means that all FS and TCA cases with countable earnings are included in this Simplified Reporting group. Movement of FS and TCA cases into Simplified Reporting does not require local departments to transfer any cases. The only requirements for local department staff are to enter: � Countable earnings correctly and change certification end dates, as appropriate, on CARES at application, interim change or recertification and � Customers' activity on WOMIS and maintain attendance records. This action transmittal provides local departments with the new simplified reporting policy and procedures for FS and TCA cases with earnings. Reporting requirements for all other FS and TCA households without earnings are also restated in this AT. Reporting requirements for MA, TEMHA and PAA remain the same. These programs are not subject to the simplified reporting policy and procedures

Control #: 02-19
Subject: New Out-Of-Home Services Office
Issue Date: 9/1/2001
Effective Date: 9/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0219.pdf

Effective September 1, 2001, the Foster Care and Subsidized Adoption Medical Assistance caseload for Prince George�s County will be located in District Office #163, formerly the Rise Office. The new name and address of this office is: Out-of-Home Services 925 Brightseat Road Landover, MD 20785

Control #: 02-20
Subject: Temporary Cash Assistance And Food Stamp Mass Change - October 2001
Issue Date: 9/21/2001
Effective Date: 10/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance And Food Stamps
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0220.pdf

Each October, the United States Department of Agriculture publishes a new Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) on which food stamp program allotments are based. The net and gross monthly income standards increase effective October 1, 2001. The maximum food stamp allotments and excess shelter deduction also increase. The standard deduction and homeless shelter allowance are unchanged. The Welfare Innovation Act of 1996 requires that the total of Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Stamps be at least 61percent of the established Minimum Living Level. The established minimum living level for Federal Fiscal Year 2002 is $1,356 for a family of three. On October 1, 2001 a 7.5 percent payment increase for Temporary Cash Assistance applicants and recipients is in effect. The key dates for actions related to the benefit increase for this program are noted below

Control #: 02-21
Subject: Changes In Claims/Overpayment Policy
Issue Date: 10/12/2001
Effective Date: 8/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0221.pdf

On August 2, 2000, the Food and Nutrition Service published final rules - Recipient Claim Establishment and Collection Standards with an implementation date of August 1, 2001. This action transmittal highlights the changes in policy. It also includes current policy in certain sections so that the changes are in context.

Control #: 02-22
Subject: Refugee Employment Services
Issue Date: 10/15/2001
Effective Date: 10/15/2001
Program(s) Affected: Refugee Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0222.pdf

The Maryland Office for New Americans (MONA) has recently received calls from refugees who were sent to the wrong address to register for refugee employment. The correct refugee employment services contractor addresses are listed below.

Control #: 02-23
Subject: Use Of TCA Child Specific Benefit Third-Party Payments
Issue Date: 10/15/2001
Effective Date: 10/15/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0223.pdf

As a provision of Senate Bill 754, Maryland implemented the Child Specific Benefit (CSB) policy for Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) in April 1996. Action Transmittals #96-30 and #97-78 notified local departments of CSB policy and procedures. The purpose of the CSB initiative is to provide a benefit that is paid separately from other TCA benefits for an assistance unit when a child is born ten months or more after the date the head of household is informed of the CSB provision.

Control #: 02-24
Subject: Ensuring Meaningful Access to TANF Funded Programs by People with Disabilities
Issue Date: 10/31/2001
Effective Date: 10/31/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0224.pdf

The Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) has issued a memorandum concerning the Federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities. This Information Memo serves as a reminder and provides policy guidance on how to recognize potential civil rights issues. For your convenience, we have also attached the list of �promising practices� suggested by the DHHS.

Control #: 02-25
Subject: Earned Income Change Reporting for: 1. Migrants and Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents 2. A New Source of Earned Income
Issue Date: 10/31/2001
Effective Date: 10/31/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0225.pdf

Most households with earnings are subject to the simplified reporting requirements that were described in Action Transmittal 02-18 issued September 14, 2001. As stated in this action transmittal, households that include a migrant or able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) are not included in the simplified reporting group. This action transmittal describes a change in the reporting requirements for migrant and ABAWD households. It also describes information about a change in reporting requirements for a new source of earned income. Action Transmittal 00-20 issued November 19, 1999 included information about waivers for reporting a new source of income within 10 days after the start date of the job and for piece rate earnings. Because of the changes in policy for change reporting, AT 00-20 is obsolete.

Control #: 02-26
Subject: Lump Sum Shortened Period of Ineligibility
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0226.pdf

This is one of several action transmittals for Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) that is being issued as the result of the adoption of new Family Investment Program (FIP) Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR 07.03.03.01 - .26). Prior FIP regulations were repealed and new FIP regulations were adopted in November 2001. When a TCA customer receives a lump sum, the amount is divided by the TCA grant amount to determine the number of months the family is ineligible for TCA benefits. Before the adoption of the new TCA regulations, local departments were limited in the reasons considered to determine when the lump sum became unavailable to the assistance unit. This action transmittal provides local departments with more flexibility in determining whether a lump sum is unavailable to the TCA family and the period of ineligibility can be shortened.

Control #: 02-27
Subject: Applicants/Recipients Quitting a Job Without Good Cause
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0227.pdf

Control #: 02-28
Subject: Child from a SanctionedAssistance Unit Living with Another Caretaker Relative
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0228.pdf

Control #: 02-29
Subject: Reconciliation of DEAP/TCA Cases on Cares with SSI Pending Applications and DEAP Referrals
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 11/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0229.pdf

Action Transmittal (AT) FIA #99-46 notified local departments that the state-funded Disability Entitlement and Assistance Program for Temporary Cash Assistance (DEAP/TCA) was implemented on July 1, 1999. AT#01-39, issued May 4, 2001, provided local departments with an updated DEAP/TCA Guide.

Control #: 02-30
Subject: Change to Automatic Re-Enrollment for Healthchoice Recipients
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 11/17/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0230.pdf

Effective June 1, 2001, The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) adopted a new policy to comply with House Bill 1227-Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCO) Continuity of Care. The bill allows an enrollee 120 days, instead of 90 days to return to the MCO of record after losing and regaining eligibility. COMAR 10.09.06 will be amended after the first of the year.

Control #: 02-31
Subject: Applicants/Recipients Filing for Potential Resources
Issue Date: 11/17/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0231.pdf

Control #: 02-32
Subject: Purchase of Care (POC) Changes in Income and Provider Payment Rates
Issue Date: 11/23/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Care (POC)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0232.pdf

Effective January 1, 2002, the Child Care Administration is making regulatory and /or procedural changes to the Purchase of Care (POC) program. The changes will provide support to families in their efforts to achieve and maintain economic independence. This action transmittal provides information on the changes.

Control #: 02-33
Subject: Certification Periods at Application and Recertification
Issue Date: 11/30/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0233.pdf

Control #: 02-34
Subject: Social Security (RSDI) and SSI Cost-of-Living Increase and Related Increases
Issue Date: 11/30/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0234.pdf

Historically, Social Security Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have increased each year. This is usually true for Railroad Retirement and Veterans Benefits also. The mass change process to take these changes into account for cash assistance, food stamps and medical assistance purposes is described in this transmittal.

Control #: 02-35
Subject: 2001 First, Second and Third Quarterly Briefing Questions and Answers
Issue Date: 12/7/2001
Effective Date: 12/7/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0235.pdf

This Information Memo includes questions that were raised at the last three quarterly briefings and their answers. We apologize for the delay.

Control #: 02-36
Subject: New Medical Assistnace Waiver Unit Office
Issue Date: 11/20/2001
Effective Date: 12/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0236.pdf

Effective December 1, 2001, the Medical Assistance Waiver Unit will be assigned a new district office. The new number is D.O. 259.

Control #: 02-37
Subject: Maryland Primary Care Enrollment Cap
Issue Date: 11/7/2001
Effective Date: 12/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: TEMHA
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0237.pdf

The Maryland Primary Care (MPC) health care program was designed to provide health care for individuals that have no other health care coverage. Customers eligible for the MPC program must be participating in the Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program (MPAP), be between the ages of 19 and 65 and have an ongoing verifiable medical condition. Many of our customers who receive Temporary Emergency Medical and Housing Assistance (TEMHA) and have not established eligibility for Medicaid receive health coverage thorough MPC.

Control #: 02-38
Subject: Change Reporting Requirements
Issue Date: 12/14/2001
Effective Date: 12/14/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0238.pdf

Beginning October 1, 2001 Maryland implemented new Simplified Reporting for Food Stamps (FS) and Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). Action Transmittal 02-18 provided local departments with the new simplified reporting policy and procedures for FS and TCA cases with earnings. This Information Memo is a reminder that the reporting requirements for Medical Assistance (MA) remain unchanged. The MA program is not subject to the simplified reporting policy and procedures.

Control #: 02-39
Subject: Social Security Disability/Supplemental Security Income Benefits
Issue Date: 12/14/2001
Effective Date: 12/14/2001
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0239.pdf

Recently, we received information that the Social Security Administration identified approximately 130,000 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who appear to be insured for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments based on their own earnings, but are not receiving these benefits. Some of these cases may have a retroactivity period that dates back to 1973, although the average retroactivity period is about eight years.

Control #: 02-40
Subject: Absence of Household Members Due to Military Obligations
Issue Date: 12/12/2001
Effective Date: 12/12/2001
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamps Temporary Cash Assistance Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0240.pdf

In response to the terrorist attacks and heightened security, the military has called up military reservists. This has disrupted the lives of many Maryland families. As a result, local departments may see unique situations as military families resort to unusual living arrangements while coping with the financial and emotional stress of the deployment. Case managers may need to make decisions based on the household�s statement of circumstances.

Control #: 02-41
Subject: Additional Excluded Unearned Income
Issue Date: 12/12/2001
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0241.pdf

This is one of several action transmittals for Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) that is being issued as the result of the adoption of Family Investment Program (FIP) Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR 07.03.03.01 through .26). Prior FIP regulations were repealed and new FIP regulations were adopted in November 2001.

Control #: 02-42
Subject: Purchase of Child Care Case Transfer Policy
Issue Date: 12/26/2001
Effective Date: 12/26/2001
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Child Care
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0242.pdf

This action transmittal outlines the policy and procedures regarding the electronic and paper transfer of a Purchase of Child Care case.

Control #: 02-43
Subject: New Baltimore County Long Term Care District Office
Issue Date: 12/27/2001
Effective Date: 12/1/2001
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0243.pdf

Effective December 1, 2001, Baltimore County�s Long Term Care Unit will be assigned a new district office.

Control #: 02-44
Subject: TCA 60-Month Time Limit Reports
Issue Date: 1/28/2002
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0244.pdf

Action Transmittals #99-05, #99-18, #99-32, #99-46, #99-48 and #01-25 describe the time limit policies for families that have received 24 or more cumulative months of federally funded Temporary Cash Assistance since January 1997. An action transmittal will be distributed soon that describes requirements and procedures for families reaching the 60- month time limit. This memorandum describes the reports available to local departments to manage their caseloads and comply with the time limit requirements.

Control #: 02-45
Subject: September 2001 Quarterly Briefing Questions and Answers
Issue Date: 2/1/2002
Effective Date: 2/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0245.pdf

FIA Policy and Training staff conducted Quarterly Briefings in September 2001 to provide local staff with information concerning newly released policy. The following are program questions with the answers and clarifications related to those questions.

Control #: 02-46
Subject: CARES 2002 Production Operations Schedule
Issue Date: 2/2/2002
Effective Date: 1/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: All Programs
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0246.pdf

The attached is the CIS Production Operations Schedule for 2002. If there are any questions regarding the schedule please contact Ruth Waugh at (410) 238-1242.

Control #: 02-47
Subject: Conciliation and Sanction Policy and Procedures Guide Update - January 2002
Issue Date: 2/3/2002
Effective Date: 2/3/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance Food Stamps Medical Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0247.pdf

Action Transmittal (AT) #99-28 provided instruction for denying/sanctioning Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) applicants and recipients for noncompliance with program requirements. This AT obsoletes AT # 99-28, and provides the policy and procedures surrounding conciliation and sanction for non-compliance with child support, work, substance abuse, custodial parent drug felons, DEAP/TCA, and minor parent school requirements, and sanction for Intentional Program Violation (IPV).

Control #: 02-48
Subject: Clarification of Fleeing Felon and Parole Violators Policy
Issue Date: 2/18/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamps Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0248.pdf

Since the Food and Nutrition Service issued the final rule on the Personal Responsibility Provisions of PRWORA, we have received questions from local departments regarding what constitutes a fleeing felon or a parole violator. A fleeing felon was defined as an individual fleeing prosecution or custody for a crime or attempt to commit a crime that would be classified as a felony. A parole violator was determined to have violated a condition of his parole or probation under federal or state law. Both parole violators and fleeing felons are ineligible for FS and TCA. There are no policy changes regarding fleeing felons or parole violators. However, we have a clarification of the definition of what a fleeing felon is and what actions local departments must take.

Control #: 02-49
Subject: Purchase of Childcare Income Calculations
Issue Date: 2/27/2002
Effective Date: 2/27/2002
Program(s) Affected: Purchase of Childcare
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0249.pdf

This action transmittal clarifies the procedures for calculating income for Purchase of Child Care (POC) cases. For simplification purposes, average the last 4 weeks of income in standard and non-standard income circumstances. The only exception is child support which requires 6 months of income consideration. Up to 2 months of additional income may be requested in order to detect income patterns, but should not be used in the calculation. Updated information is printed in bold.

Control #: 02-50
Subject: Counting the Income and Resources of an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD)
Issue Date: 3/3/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0250.pdf

Action Transmittal #02-09, which was issued September 11, 2001, provided ABAWD policy that was in the Food Stamp Program final rule published on January 17, 2001. At that time we implemented all the ABAWD provisions except for the change in the treatment of income and deductions. We delayed implementation to allow time to change the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Control #: 02-51
Subject: Application Processing - Scheduling Interviews
Issue Date: 3/12/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Food Stamp Program
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0251.pdf

When the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the Final Rule on November 21, 2000, there were several provisions that were not effective until after review and approval by the federal Office of Management and Budget. Recently, FNS informed us that OMB approved the sections on September 10, 2001. This action transmittal provides information about changes in the interview process at application. This will primarily affect local departments that have a walk-in system for accepting applications.

Control #: 02-52
Subject: 2002 Federal Poverty Levels and RP Schedule Update
Issue Date: 4/1/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0252.pdf

The Federal Poverty Income guidelines increased on March 1, 2002. The new poverty levels will be on CARES effective April 1, 2002. For your convenience, a chart with the new poverty levels is attached (Attachment 1). In addition, this Information Memo updates only Column C - 50% Poverty Level - of the FIP Schedule. The amounts in Columns A and B do not change. The new amounts are used when determining eligibility for Temporary Cash Assistance applications and recertifications completed on or after April 1, 2002. For your convenience, a copy of the updated FIP Schedule is attached (Attachment 2).

Control #: 02-53
Subject: Sixty-Month Time Limits Compliance for Customers from Out of State
Issue Date: 3/14/2002
Effective Date: 3/14/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0253.pdf

Action transmittal (AT) #00-24 outlined procedures for complying with the TANF sixty-month time limit for families moving from other states. This AT updates the TANF Information Contact List. All other procedures remain the same. Local departments must continue to apply the sixty-month time limit on all cases. The time limit includes any month that TANF benefits were received from other states and Maryland. Case managers must take the following steps to ensure proper application of this policy.

Control #: 02-54
Subject: Simplified Redetermination Process for Combined QMB/SLMB and Food Stamp Households
Issue Date: 3/15/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Medical Assistance (MA) Food Stamps (FS)
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0254.pdf

For the past two years the Departments of Aging (DOA), Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and Human Resources (DHR) have worked together conducting extensive outreach to the Medicare eligible population. The goal is to increase awareness of other Medical Assistance programs available for individuals who receive Medicare. In addition, the outreach hoped to increase the number of individuals receiving Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB) or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB) benefits. In March 2000, interviewers began using a streamlined application in community and home-based settings. The outreach effort was successful and substantially increased QMB/SLMB participation. A form was specifically designed for Medicare Beneficiaries entitled, �Redetermination for Medicare Beneficiaries,� (DES 9201). The simplification of the redetermination process for QMB/SLMB recipients who also receive Food Stamp benefits has expanded the outreach effort. A redetermination for Food Stamp Benefits form is included with the Medicare Beneficiaries redetermination form. This change provides customers with the opportunity to file one form for both programs eliminating the duplication of the redetermination process in local departments. The new form is yellow.

Control #: 02-55
Subject: CARES Narration Desk Guide
Issue Date: 3/22/2002
Effective Date: 3/22/2002
Program(s) Affected: ALL
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0255.pdf

The CARES Narration Desk Guide is complete. Its purpose is to serve as a resource guide for producing a quality standard narration statewide. The Narration Guide Workgroup sincerely thanks all the contributors who assisted in completing this project.

Control #: 02-56
Subject: CSB Child Living With Another Caretaker Relative
Issue Date: 3/26/2002
Effective Date: 4/1/2002
Program(s) Affected: Temporary Cash Assistance
Link to Document: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/dhr/0256.pdf

The Child Specific Benefit (CSB) regulations state that there are exceptions to the CSB policy when a CSB child leaves the parent's Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) assistance unit to live with another caretaker relative. The exceptions include: When another caretaker relative has obtained legal guardianship for the child; The child has been placed in the home of a caretake