SR 20-17 Dated 12/20

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION – BUREAU OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE (BFA)

SUMMARY

This SR releases expungement changes to SNAP benefits remaining on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account when the client has not accessed all or a portion of SNAP benefits for a period of 274 days.

New HEIGHTS generated BI008, EBT Expired Benefits Letter , will be sent to SNAP households after 239 continuous days of non-use of SNAP benefits.

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Act of 2018 requires SNAP benefits to expunge after 274 days, with the final rule released on August 24, 2020 in the Federal Register, Vol. 85, No. 164. Client notification of SNAP benefits that are about to hit the 274 day expungement time limit are now required to be notified no fewer than 30 days prior to the benefit expungement due date. POLICY SNAP benefits are expunged after 274 days of non-use. The 274-day clock begins when the first SNAP benefit becomes available to the client, and then resets after each SNAP transaction. Any subsequent SNAP benefit that becomes available in the EBT account will not be expunged until the first SNAP benefit is removed from the system. Example 1: A SNAP benefit becomes available on 1/25/2021. No transactions ever occur on this EBT account. This SNAP benefit will expunge on 10/25/2021, 274 days after the benefit is available. Example 2: A SNAP benefit becomes available on 1/25/2021, and another SNAP benefit becomes available on 2/5/2021. A transaction occurs on 3/1/2021, using a portion of the 1/25/2021 benefit, triggering a new 274-day clock to begin. If no other transactions occur on this account, both the 1/25/2021 and the 2/5/2021 benefits will expunge on 11/30/2021, as this is 274 days after a portion of the 1/25/2021 benefit wa s used, and the 2/5/2021 benefit cannot expunge until the 1/25/2021 benefit is deleted from the system. New HEIGHTS generated BI0008, EBT Expired Benefits Letter, generates when a SNAP benefit is not accessed for a period of 239 days. This letter notifies the client that any SNAP benefits remaining in the EBT account that have not been accessed for a period of 274 days will be permanently removed from the EBT account.

POLICY

SNAP benefits are expunged after 274 days of non-use. The 274-day clock begins when the first SNAP benefit becomes available to the client, and then resets after each SNAP transaction. Any subsequent SNAP benefit that becomes available in the EBT account will not be expunged until the first SNAP benefit is removed from the system.

Example 1: A SNAP benefit becomes available on 1/25/2021. No transactions ever occur on this EBT account. This SNAP benefit will expunge on 10/25/2021, 274 days after the benefit is available.

Example 2: A SNAP benefit becomes available on 1/25/2021, and another SNAP benefit becomes available on 2/5/2021. A transaction occurs on 3/1/2021, using a portion of the 1/25/2021 benefit, triggering a new 274-day clock to begin. If no other transactions occur on this account, both the 1/25/2021 and the 2/5/2021 benefits will expunge on 11/30/2021, as this is 274 days after a portion of the 1/25/2021 benefit was used, and the 2/5/2021 benefit cannot expunge until the 1/25/2021 benefit is deleted from the system. New HEIGHTS generated BI0008, EBT Expired Benefits Letter, generates when a SNAP benefit is not accessed for a period of 239 days. This letter notifies the client that any SNAP benefits remaining in the EBT account that have not been accessed for a period of 274 days will be permanently removed from the EBT account.

NEW HEIGHTS & NH EASY SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

Notice of Decision text was updated for any case opening for SNAP benefits, as follows:

If you do not use your SNAP benefits on your EBT card for 274 days in a row, these benefits will be removed from your EBT account. You will not be able to get these benefits back

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

BFA Form 800, Application for Assistance, was revised to incorporate the updated version BFA Form 811S, as described below

BFA Form 811S, Statements of Understanding , was revised to notify the applicant that SNAP benefits not used for 274 days in a row will be lost and they will not get them back. Since there are no changes associated with the use of this form, the instructions did not require revisions and will not be re-released with this SR. The Spanish versions of BFA Form 800 and BFA Form 811S have been updated accordingly.

The current version of all forms identified in this SR will be used until the supply is exhausted, at which point the new version will be printed.

BFA Form 811S, Statements of Understanding , is available in t he DHHS Warehouse and can be ordered using current forms reordering procedures, via the Quarterly Forms Order (QFO). The forms are also available electronically, for Department staff only, in the Family Services Folder on the N Drive. Translated forms may be printed from the Family Services Folder on the N Drive when needed, or, if a larger supply is required, contact the BFA Bureau Chief.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

Section 709.02   Deactivation and Return of EBT Benefits form Unused EBT Accounts

IMPLEMENTATION

This policy is effective December 23, 2020

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Interim rules associated with the project were heard at the December 17, 2020 JLCAR meeting. No other client notification is planned.

TRAINING

 No special training is planned or needed.

 FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line Manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electr onic distribution list for BFA policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm, effective January 4, 2021. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Food Stamp Manual.

BFA/LRB:s