Transitional Food Assistance

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-489-0005

1. Authorizing Transitional Food Assistance:

When a Basic Food AU is eligible for TFA, the system opens TFA using the existing Basic Food Assistance Unit (AU), calculates transitional benefits as described under WAC 388-489-0010, and sends the AU letter 008-01 to tell them about their transitional benefits. TFA cases are automatically taken out of the mid-certification review cycle and will not receive a MCR for Basic Food.

1. When a family leaving TANF / Tribal TANF is not eligible for TFA:

   A family leaving TANF/Tribal TANF that is not eligible for TFA may be eligible for continued non-TFA Basic Food.​

   EXAMPLE:

   Ms. Robinson’s TANF grant is in sanction for DCS non-cooperation. On March 1, she reports that she started a new job and asks to terminate TANF benefits.

   Since the TANF AU was in DCS sanction at the time of ACES monthly issuance in February, Ms. Robinson is not eligible for TFA. We process the TANF termination and update the case for the income from the new job as well as other known changes. We consider both the loss of TANF and the income from the new job to determine ongoing eligibility and benefits for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Same situation as example above, but Ms. Robinson provides proof that she is now cooperating with DCS requirements. She met DCS requirements after monthly issuance.

   Since the TANF AU was in DCS sanction at the time of ACES monthly issuance, Ms. Robinson is not eligible for TFA. We consider all the AU’s current income, expenses, and other circumstances to determine ongoing eligibility and benefits for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Mark receives Basic Food and Tribal TANF for himself, his wife, and their two children. Mark did not meet Tribal TANF work requirements, and has been notified that the family will be terminated from Tribal TANF as a result.

   Because Mark left Tribal TANF due to a sanction, the family is not eligible for TFA. We consider all the AU’s current income, expenses, and other circumstances to determine ongoing eligibility and benefits for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Steve, Mary, and their two children receive TANF and Basic Food.

   Steve is sanctioned for failing to meet WorkFirst requirements. Mary is employed. Mary’s income and the reduction due to sanction results in the TANF closing.

   Since the family left TANF while in sanction, the family is not eligible for TFA. We consider all the AU’s current income, expenses, and other circumstances to determine ongoing eligibility and benefits for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Heidi lives alone. She is pregnant and receives TANF and Basic Food.

   On October 4th, she contacts her worker and informs them that she has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for forging a prescription. Her worker terminates TANF and Basic Food effective October 31st.

   Heidi will not get TFA because she is the only person in her AU, and she is ineligible for Basic Food while she is in prison.

   • If a Basic Food AU cannot receive TFA benefits based on the requirements of WAC 388-489-0005, the system will not provide TFA.
   • If the AU is not eligible for TFA, we consider all of the Basic Food AU’s current circumstances to determine the impact on eligibility and benefits.
2. Basic Food applications during the last month of TANF:

   If a household does not already receive Basic Food at the time we take action to close TANF or remove Tribal TANF income, they are not eligible for TFA. This includes:

   EXAMPLE:

   A family receives TANF benefits in January. On January 4th, the family turns in an application for Basic Food. The worker has pended the application for necessary verification. On January 7th, the client requests termination of their TANF benefits. They have indicated that they still want food benefits. The worker immediately updates the case to terminate TANF effective January 31st.

   On January 9th, the client provides the necessary verification to open Basic Food benefits. The family is eligible for food benefits back to their date of application of January 4th.

   Even though the AU was eligible for Basic Food for the period of time we took the action to terminate TANF benefits, the TANF AU did not receive Basic Food on January 7th, the date we terminated TANF. The family is not eligible to receive TFA. We would process the application for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   The Parker family receives F04 medical benefits, Basic Food, and Tribal TANF in March. They failed to recertify their Basic Food benefits in March, so Basic Food terminates on March 31st.

   On April 10th, we hear from the Tribal TANF worker that Mr. Parker has started working, and that Tribal TANF benefits are ending. The worker updates the F04 case based on this information. On April 14th, Mr. Parker turns in an application requesting Basic Food benefits.

   The Parker family did not receive Basic Food at the time we removed the Tribal TANF income. They are not eligible to receive TFA. We would process the application for Basic Food.

   1. Basic Food applications pending at the time we take action to close TANF or remove Tribal TANF income;
   2. Basic Food applications approved after we have taken action to terminate TANF benefits or remove Tribal TANF income.
3. Pending clients in an active Basic Food AU:
   • If a person is pending on an active Basic Food AU when the TANF/ Tribal TANF closure moves the AU into TFA, the pending AU member stays in pending status.
   • When we complete the add-a-person actions for the person in pending status, the system will automatically designate them as a non-member with ACES Reason Code 130.
4. TANF / Tribal TANF suspension and TFA:

   People on an active TANF or Tribal TANF case who are in suspense are not eligible for TFA, even though they do not receive a cash benefit. These families may receive TFA when TANF/Tribal TANF benefits end.

5. Moving between TANF and Tribal TANF:

   If someone leaves TANF or Tribal TANF to apply for the other program, the family may be eligible for TFA while the other benefits are pending. When we approve TANF or we learn Tribal TANF is approved, the system automatically terminates TFA with advance notice.

6. Two or more TANF Assistance Units in a single AU for Basic Food:
   

   EXAMPLE:

   Sally receives Basic Food in a five-person AU with her 20-year old daughter Allie, Allie’s child, and her 19-year old daughter Kate and Kate’s child. Both Allie and Kate receive TANF with their children.

   In January, Allie reports new employment and requests to have her TANF case closed. The Basic Food will not switch to TFA because Kate and her child still receive TANF on an associated AU.

   In April, Kate requests termination of her TANF benefits. TANF ends April 30th, and TFA starts for everyone in the Basic Food AU on May 1st.

   • No person in a TFA AU can receive TANF or Tribal TANF.
   • The system will not allow someone to receive TFA if someone living in the home and in the Basic Food AU receives TANF or Tribal TANF.
7. Two Basic Food AUs associated with a single TANF/ Tribal TANF AU:

   If TANF / Tribal TANF ends, and more than one Basic Food AU is associated with the TANF AU, only the Basic Food AU with the TANF Head of Household changes to TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Pauline and her child Mario receive TANF and Basic Food.

   In the Summer, Mario lives with his dad Luigi. While there, Mario gets Basic Food on Luigi’s Basic Food AU. We keep Mario on the TANF AU as “Temporarily Absent” but remove him from Pauline’s Basic Food.

   If Pauline requests closure of her TANF during this temporary absence, she will get TFA based on a one-person assistance unit. If Mario returns to Pauline’s home before TFA is over, she can reapply for Basic Food to see if leaving TFA would give them more benefits.

8. Ineligible person in a Basic Food AU when TANF ends:

   A person’s status as an ineligible member of a Basic Food AU does not prevent the eligible members of the AU from getting TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Ms. Jones and her two children receive TANF and Basic Food based on no income. Last year, Ms. Jones had committed an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) before applying for TANF. Because of the IPV, she is disqualified from receiving Basic Food for one year beginning in October.

   On January 3rd, Ms. Jones reports a new job. Her TANF case closes at the end of January based on her new income. The Basic Food AU changes to TFA for February through June, calculated based on zero income. Ms. Jones remains as an ineligible member for TFA.

9. Refusing to cooperate with the application process:
   

   EXAMPLE:

   Pam failed to show up for her scheduled interview. Her worker unsuccessfully attempts to contact her for a phone interview to complete her recertification.

   Because Pam simply failed to appear for the interview, we cannot determine that she is refusing to cooperate with the application process. Pam could receive TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Brent is in the office to complete his recertification interview for Basic Food and TANF. In the course of the interview, Brent reports a new job requests termination of his TANF benefits.

   His worker asks Brent to provide information about his income to determine eligibility for Basic Food, or a contact person at work to provide the needed verification. Brent states that he has pay stubs at home, but he does not want to bring in the documents or send us a copy. Additionally, Brent said that he does not want us contacting his work.

   Brent is able to cooperate with the application process but has made it clear that he does not intend to do so.  Because Brent refused to cooperate with the application process for Basic Food, he is not eligible for TFA when TANF closes.

   • Refusing to cooperate with the application process for Basic Food is not the same as failing to provide information necessary to determine eligibility for Basic Food.
   • We consider someone to be refusing to cooperate with the application process, only if the following conditions have been met:

     Clients are not refusing to cooperate with the application process if they simply fail to provide the requested information or verification.

     1. The AU is able to cooperate in taking the required action necessary to determine eligibility; and
     2. They clearly demonstrate that they will not take the required action to complete the application process.
10. Non-recipient members of a TANF/SFA AU and TFA:

    People who are non-recipients of a TANF/SFA Assistance Unit do not impact the household’s eligibility for TFA.

    EXAMPLE:

    Stephanie is the head of household for TANF and Basic Food. Stephanie is an undocumented immigrant and has failed to cooperate with the Division of Child Support (DCS) for TANF. As an undocumented immigrant, she does not receive TANF for herself.

    Because Stephanie is not a TANF recipient, the failure to cooperate with DCS does not impact TFA. When the household leaves TANF, they may receive TFA.

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-489-0005

1. When Basic Food is terminated before TANF:
   • If you try to terminate a TANF AU, or remove Tribal TANF income from an AU that has a Basic Food case that is closed effective the end of the month, ACES provides a hard edit to reinstate Basic Food before terminating TANF.
   • If the system terminates TANF in batch, and Basic Food is already closed effective the end of the month, ACES sets Alert 104 – “TANF closed in batch, review HH for correct TFA elig”.

   Reinstate Basic Food and take action to terminate TANF or remove the Tribal TANF income. The system will automatically open TFA benefits.

2. People moving between TANF and Tribal TANF:

   When people are not eligible for TFA because they are transferring between TANF and Tribal TANF, enter the appropriate code to prevent TFA:

   1. If the family is leaving Tribal TANF to get TANF, approve the TANF benefits before removing the Tribal TANF income.
   2. If the family is leaving TANF to get Tribal TANF, enter the Tribal TANF income before closing the TANF grant.
3. Basic Food issued with postponed verification:

   To improve the process for expedited service and support TFA, the system now accepts future application dates when we have approved expedited service with postponed verification.

   If you issued Basic Food benefits with postponed verification under WAC 388-406-0015 and now have the needed verification, take the following actions:

   1. Re-screen the Basic Food AU with a future application date for the ongoing month. Do not screen in a new AU for Basic Food; and
   2. Finalize the application with the new information.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-489-0010

1. Calculating Transitional Food Assistance benefits:

   To calculate TFA benefits, we use the Basic Food budget from the AU’s last month on TANF/Tribal TANF, minus the TANF/Tribal TANF income. We do not consider any other changes in income, expenses, or household composition to calculate TFA benefits.

   EXAMPLE:

   Rebecca and her two children receive TANF and Basic Food. In the middle of September, Rebecca starts work and also starts to get child support from the non-custodial parent. She requests termination of TANF benefits.

   To calculate TFA benefits, the system uses the Basic Food calculation for September, subtracts the TANF income, and determines the AU’s TFA benefits for October through February.

   We do not use the child support or Rebecca’s earnings in the TFA calculation because we did not use them to calculate Basic Food benefits for September.

   EXAMPLE:

   Ms. Green receives TANF and Basic Food for herself and one child. Her only income is TANF. On September 8th, she reports to her case manager that she got married and her husband is employed. She wants her TANF case closed.

   Her case is closed effective September 30th. She will get TFA from October through February. The benefit is based on a 2-person household with no income.

   EXAMPLE:

   Joann receives Basic Food and TANF for herself and two children. Joann starts a full-time job on December 21st. When she reports her new job, her worker enters the wage info of $1,100 per month and terminates the TANF effective January 31st.

   TFA begins February 1st and continues through June 30th. The system calculates TFA benefits using the income, expenses, and HH size from the Basic Food budget for January and subtracts the TANF grant amount.

   EXAMPLE:

   Lance and his two children receive a TANF grant in the amount of $246. He also receives $300 in social security benefits for the two children.

   On January 27th Lance reported that he got a job and requested closure of his TANF case. TANF closes effective the end of February.

   The system calculates TFA using the social security income of $300 Lance received during the last month of TANF. His new earnings were not used to calculate Basic Food in February and will not count for TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Sandra lives with her 20-year old daughter and her two grandchildren. The daughter receives TANF for herself and the daughter’s two children in the amount of $546. Sandra receives SSI income of $545 monthly. They are all included in the same Basic Food AU.

   In August, Sandra’s daughter got a job. She reported the information to her case manager on September 5th, after receiving her first pay. The daughter is now over income for TANF. TANF case closes effective September 30th.

   The Basic Food AU switches to TFA effective October 1st. Sandra’s SSI is the only income we use to calculate the TFA benefits. Neither the TANF income nor the income from the new job is used to calculate TFA benefits.

   EXAMPLE:

   Gary and his two children receive a Tribal TANF grant in the amount of $146. He also receives $400 in social security benefits for the two children. On January 27th, Gary reported that he got a job and would receive his first monthly check of $800 on February 10th. He requests closure of his Tribal TANF and the Tribal TANF worker informs the CSO that Tribal TANF is ending on February 28th.

   Gary’s Basic Food switches to TFA beginning March 1st with a certification ending July 31st. Since we did not use the earned income to determine Basic Food in February, we do not use the income for TFA. The system calculates the TFA using the $400 Social Security from the February Basic Food budget and removing the Tribal TANF income. The system does not use the income from Gary’s new job to calculate TFA.

2. How mass changes affect TFA benefits:

   The only change to Basic Food standards we use to adjust TFA benefits is the change to the Maximum Allotment under WAC 388-478-0060. The Maximum Allotment is also known as the Thrifty Food Plan.

   EXAMPLE:

   The department increases the maximum allotment, standard deduction, maximum shelter cost, and standard utility allowance for October benefits.

   • If we ended TANF or removed Tribal TANF income before October monthly issuance, the system recalculates benefits with the new maximum allotment, and uses the original standard deduction, max shelter cost, and utility standards.

   • If we ended TANF or removed Tribal TANF income after October monthly issuance, the system calculates benefits with the new maximum allotment, and also uses the updated standard deduction, max shelter cost, and utility standards.

3. When a person on TFA is approved for Basic Food in a different AU:

   If someone in a TFA assistance unit is approved for Basic Food in another AU, the person can no longer be an active member on TFA.

   We reduce the TFA AU size for the person who will get Basic Food in the other AU, but we do not change the income or expenses used to calculate the TFA benefits.  We adjust the TFA benefits based on the new AU size and the removal of income and expenses clearly belonging to the person who left (such as any allowable medical expenses).

   1. A shelter expense is considered to be the expense of the household, not the individual.  Any adjustment to TFA benefits will not include changes in the shelter deduction.

   EXAMPLE:

   Amber, Brent, and Larry receive TFA with a certification period of March through July. Because Larry was working part time before their TANF grant ended, his income is used to calculate the TFA benefits.

   On April 3rd, Larry moves out and is approved for Basic Food with his girlfriend Veronica. Larry is removed from Amber’s TFA effective April 30th. Larry is then added to Veronica’s Basic Food AU beginning May 1st using both of their current income and expenses.

   Amber and Brent continue to receive TFA through July.  Their TFA benefit amount is recalculated based on a two-person household and the removal of Larry's income.

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-489-0010 

TFA member moves and is eligible for Basic Food in another AU:

People cannot be an active member of a TFA assistance unit and get Basic Food on their own or as a member of another assistance unit. If someone in a TFA AU moves out and becomes eligible for Basic Food in another AU, take the following actions:

1. Remove the person leaving TFA from the TFA Assistance Unit using reason code 549. The system removes the person from the AU and displays Reason Code 233 - Change in household size on the FSFI screen.  ACES will issue benefits based on the change in the household size.
2. Add the mandatory freeform text to inform the TFA assistance unit:
   • The name of the person we removed from the AU; and
   • That we removed this person from Transitional Food Assistance to get Basic Food in another AU under WAC 388-489-0010.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-489-0015 

1. When TFA starts based on the end of Tribal TANF:

   Because we do not issue Tribal TANF benefits, the date we start TFA based on the end of Tribal TANF varies:

   • If the Tribal TANF end date is the end of the current month or the end of a prior month, TFA begins with the next monthly issuance after the date we delete Tribal TANF from the system.

   • If the Tribal TANF end date is the end of a future month, TFA begins on the first of the month following the Tribal TANF end date.

     People leaving Tribal TANF are still eligible for up to 5 months of TFA benefits even if we remove the Tribal TANF benefits one or more months after they stopped getting Tribal TANF.

     Example TFA start dates based on end of Tribal TANF and date income is deleted:

     Tribal TANF End Date	Date Tribal TANF Income Deleted	Date of Next Monthly Issuance	TFA Start Date
     06/30/06	07/21/06	07/22/06	08/01/06
     06/30/06	07/25/06	08/26/06	09/01/06¹
     07/31/06	07/21/06	07/22/06	08/01/06
     07/31/06	07/25/06	08/26/06	09/01/06²
     08/31/06	07/21/06	N/A	09/01/06
     08/31/06	07/25/06	N/A	09/01/06

   • The worker will most likely need to issue a supplement for the Basic Food for the benefit month of August. Depending on when we learn about the end of Tribal TANF, the worker may need to supplement the Basic Food benefits for July.
   • The worker will most likely need to issue a supplement for Basic Food for the benefit month of August.

   EXAMPLE:

   Bill and Susan receive Tribal TANF and Basic Food with their daughter. Their Tribal TANF ends on November 30th. On January 16th, their Tribal TANF worker reports that Tribal TANF benefits have ended.

   On January 26th, their worker Stephanie updates the case record to remove Tribal TANF income. Monthly issuance is January 27th.

   Because Stephanie removed the Tribal TANF income by February monthly issuance, the family enters TFA beginning February 1st. The TFA certification period ends June 30th.

   EXAMPLE:

   Pat and Alice receive Tribal TANF and Basic Food benefits with two children. At their request, their Tribal TANF ends effective October 31st. On November 23rd, Laura’s Tribal TANF worker reports that Tribal TANF has ended.

   On November 28th her worker Jack updates the case record to remove Tribal TANF. Monthly issuance is November 23rd.

   Because December monthly issuance already happened by the time Jack took action to remove the Tribal TANF income in November, Pat and Alice’s AU starts to get TFA on January 1st. The TFA certification period ends May 31st.

   EXAMPLE:

   Nick and Jessica receive Tribal TANF and Basic Food benefits with their son Simon. On July 23rd, they come into the local office with a letter informing them that their Tribal TANF benefits are ending on July 31st because their new jobs put them over income for cash benefits.

   That same day, their worker Steve removes Nick and Jessica’s Tribal TANF income and updates the case record for their new jobs. Monthly issuance is July 23rd.

   Because Steve removed the income by close of business on monthly issuance in July, the family will get TFA beginning August 1st. The TFA certification period ends December 31st.

   EXAMPLE:

   Rose and James receive Tribal TANF and Basic Food benefits with their daughter Tiffany. The family stops receiving Tribal TANF on September 30th, but we do not learn of this change until November 25th. December monthly issuance happened on November 23rd.

   Their worker Jason removes the Tribal TANF income on November 25th. Because December monthly issuance has occurred, the family gets TFA beginning January 1st with the TFA certification period ending on May 31st.

   Because Rose reported the end of Tribal TANF before December, Jason makes a historical change to supplement the December Basic Food benefits based on the loss of Tribal TANF.

   EXAMPLE:

   Kathy and her children receive Basic Food and a Tribal TANF grant.

   On February 15th, Kathy’s Tribal TANF worker reports that her Tribal TANF will end on March 31st. Kathy’s worker deletes the Tribal TANF income from the ongoing month and enters the end date of March 31st.

   Kathy’s TFA benefits begin April 1st and run through August 31st.

2. TFA certification periods:
   

   EXAMPLE:

   TANF / Basic Food benefits both terminate effective March 31st. The AU is not in any sanction status. The system opens TFA benefits effective April 1st through August 31st. We base benefits on the information as of the March monthly issuance minus the TANF benefits.

   EXAMPLE:

   Family receives TANF and Basic Food benefits with their next ER / Recertification due in August. In early January, the head of household gets a job and requests termination of TANF.

   TANF closes effective January 31st and the Basic Food converts to TFA in February. The system automatically adjusts the certification end date to June 30th, for when the five months of TFA benefits end.

   EXAMPLE:

   Tom and his child receive Basic Food and TANF based on no income. They are certified for Basic Food from January through June.

   On May 10th, Tom reports a job that puts him over the income limit for TANF. TANF ends on May 31st; and the AU gets TFA from June 1st through October 31st based on zero income. The system extends the certification period beyond the original certification end date to provide 5 months of TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Lenny receives Basic Food for himself, his daughter, his girlfriend Linda, and Linda’s two sons. Basic Food is certified from November through October. Linda receives TANF for herself and her sons.

   On December 4th, Linda requests closure of her TANF because she now receives social security survivor’s benefits. TANF benefits close effective December 31st. The Basic Food AU switches to TFA effective January 1st with a certification period ending May 31st. To receive food benefits after May, the AU must recertify for Basic Food.

 Clarifying Information - WAC 388-489-0020

1. Reporting requirements - TFA and other benefits combined

   If people receive TFA and have an associated case for other benefits, they receive information about the reporting requirements for the other program.

   EXAMPLE:

   A family receives TANF, Basic Food, and SSI-related medical.

   The family leaves TANF and begins to receive five months of TFA benefits. The letters they receive will tell them to report based on the requirements for SSI-related medical.

2. Changes reported when not recertifying to end TFA:

   If someone reports a change in circumstances and they do not reapply for Basic Food benefits, TFA benefits remain the same even if we update the case information. However, the changes may impact other benefits.

   EXAMPLE:

   Ritchie’s family gets TFA and SSI-related medical benefits. TFA certification ends on August 31st. On May 10th, the family reports increased income for SSI-related medical.

   The worker updates the case for the change in income. The system re-determines eligibility for SSI-related medical, and leaves Ritchie’s TFA benefits unchanged.

3. Opting out of TFA based on new circumstances:

   Basic Food AUs who meet TFA eligibility requirements are automatically converted to TFA the month after their last month of TANF / Tribal TANF.

   This includes when we have made changes to the household composition in the ongoing month for Basic Food. – The start of TFA has priority over the change for Basic Food.

   If someone wants to opt out of TFA and get Basic Food, the household must reapply for Basic Food to end TFA.

   EXAMPLE:

   Carole and her daughter receive Basic Food and TANF benefits. Due to Carole’s unemployment benefits, Carole’s TANF grant is $20 monthly. On March 3rd, Carole reports that her unemployment benefits have increased slightly causing -the TANF grant to close effective the end of the month.

   The system triggers TFA to start effective April 1st. We determine TFA using the U.C. benefits budgeted against Basic Food for March, and excluding the TANF grant as well as the increase in unemployment.

   On March 15th, Carole reports that her boyfriend Robert has moved in. Robert has no income, and she wants to add him to her Basic Food.

   TFA benefits are already set to start on April 1st. Robert cannot be added to the TFA AU, but Carole can reapply for Basic Food to include Robert in her benefits.

   EXAMPLE:

   Denise and her son Timmy receive TANF and Basic Food benefits. The TANF grant is $40 monthly based on Denise’s $800 monthly earnings. On June 2nd, Denise requests to add her sister Sally to her Basic Food AU. Sally has no income, so the change results in Denise’s Basic Food increasing effective July 1st.

   On June 23rd, Denise asks us to terminate her TANF benefits and waives adverse action. Her TANF benefits close effective June 30th.

   The system will open TFA effective July 1st based on the budget and household composition for Basic Food in June. Because Sally was not in the Basic Food AU in June, she is not included in the TFA benefits. The benefits for the two-person TFA assistance unit are lower than benefits the AU would have received by adding Sally effective July 1st. The AU does not receive advance notice of the change in this circumstance.

   If Denise wants to end TFA and add Sally to Basic Food again, she can reapply for Basic Food.

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-489-0020 

1. Updating the case record:

   Update the case record to reflect changes in circumstances even if these changes do not result in a change to TFA benefits. This information is necessary to maintain the integrity of the case record.

2. Requests to add a someone to a TFA AU:

   If someone receiving TFA reports that a person has moved into the household and asks to add them to their food benefits, we cannot add the person to TFA. Take the following actions:

   • Send the client letter 10-01 to inform them that the reported change had no impact on their TFA benefits.
   • Inform them that to add the person(s) to their food benefits, they must reapply for Basic Food.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-489-0022 

Basic Food certification period after people opt-out of TFA:

If a TFA AU applies for Basic Food and is eligible for benefits, Basic Food must start the first of the month after the date they applied for Basic Food.  If TFA benefits have already been issued for this month, we must determine the amount of Basic Food benefits the AU was eligible to receive and create a BEG for the difference.

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-489-0022 

When someone chooses to end TFA early:

People in TFA may opt out at any point by reapplying for Basic Food. If someone would lose benefits by leaving TFA, we must tell them of the difference in benefits and encourage them to withdraw the application for Basic Food and continue to get TFA.

If someone applies for Basic Food benefits while getting TFA, take the following actions:

1. Inform the client how many months they have left on TFA.
2. Provide them with the following information about ending TFA:
   1. To reapply for Basic Food, we must verify their income and expenses as we would for any Basic Food recertification.
   2. We use all of the AU's current circumstances to determine their eligibility for Basic Food and their monthly benefits; and
   3. They may have to report more changes. The changes they do report are likely to impact their food benefits.
3. Screen the Basic Food AU.
   1. Do not close the TFA.
   2. If the client fails to follow through with the application process or is denied Basic Food for any other reason, TFA benefits continue.
4. Determine the Basic Food amount:
   1. Start the Interview, navigate to the Eligibility page, and click the Test Eligibility link.
   2. The Eligibility details will display a dual participation message and the benefit amounts for both TFA and the pending Basic Food.
   3. Tell the client the amount of Basic Food the household is eligible to receive.
   4. Click End Test Eligibility to reset the page.
5. If the amount is less than the TFA amount, encourage the client to withdraw the Basic Food application and continue with TFA.
   1. If the client wants to withdraw, deny Basic Food as a voluntary withdrawal.
   2. If the client still wants Basic Food, close TFA and approve Basic Food.
   3. If the client already received TFA for the first month of the Basic Food certification period, process an overpayment for any over-issuance.
6. If the amount is more than the TFA, close the TFA and approve Basic Food.  If the client already received TFA for the first month of the Basic Food certification period, process a supplement for any under-issuance.

 Clarifying information - WAC 388-489-0025

1. When a TFA member returns to TANF:
   

   EXAMPLE:

   Pam receives TANF and Basic Food for her family. On November 12, Pam requests termination of TANF. The Basic Food AU switches to TFA with a certification period of December 1st through April 30th.

   On March 1st, Pam applies for and begins to receive TANF. TFA closes effective March 31st following advance notice requirements. The AU must reapply for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Patti receives Basic Food for herself, her husband, her two minor children, and her 19-year old daughter. Everyone except the 19-year old receives TANF.

   In early December, Patti reports that she has a job and requests to end her TANF benefits. TANF closes effective December 31st. The Basic Food AU switches to TFA with a certification period of January through May.

   In February, Patti’s 19-year old daughter is approved for GA-U. The TFA benefits continue unaffected through the end of May. We consider the daughter’s GA-U benefits, as well as all other current circumstances, when the AU recertifies for Basic Food.

2. Moving into and out of TFA based on short-term TANF/SFA closure:

   When TANF/SFA closes on an AU that is TFA-eligible, the case automatically transforms to TFA.

   Sometimes TANF/SFA may be closed for a short period. Examples of when this may happen include when someone completes their six-month report late, or they fail to provide needed verification within the requested timeframe.

   In the circumstances where we reinstate TANF or SFA, TFA terminates with advance notice when the worker completes the action to reinstate TANF/SFA.

   For the AU to receive food benefits, we must re-open Basic Food benefits after reinstating TANF/SFA by re-screening an old AU or screening a new AU. This allows the AU to resume Basic Food and match the certification period end date to the TANF/SFA review date. Reopening Basic Food benefits in this manner is not considered a new application for Basic Food benefits, and we do not need clients to complete a new application.

   NOTE:

   • If we reinstate the AU, it reinstates TFA, which will close in overnight batch because someone gets TANF benefits.
   • If we initiate a review, the TFA will switch to Basic Food, but receive a new certification period. This action would be treated the same as if we had completed an application or recertification for Basic Food.

   EXAMPLE:

   Julie’s worker Bart requests information to determine her continued eligibility for TANF. Julie does not provide the information within the given timeframe and Bart closes her TANF, which transforms her Basic Food to TFA.

   The following week, Julie submits the requested information and Bart reinstates her TANF, which causes the TFA to close. At this point, Bart must screen in an old Basic Food AU or screen a new AU.

   When Bart processes the approval for Basic Food, the certification period will be set to match the TANF review end date.

3. When some TFA members become ineligible for Basic Food:

   If the TFA AU contains some members who become ineligible under WAC 388-489-0025  (3)(c), and at least one member who remains eligible, they all stay as eligible members of the TFA unit until TFA benefits end.

   We terminate TFA benefits early if:

   1. Someone in the TFA AU begins to receive TANF or Tribal TANF;
   2. We discover that all people in the TFA AU have left the state; or
   3. All TFA members are ineligible for reasons under WAC 388-489-0025  (3).

   EXAMPLE:

   Gayle is certified to get TFA from January 1st through May 31st with her husband Steve, their 19-year old son Tom, and their two-year old daughter Cindy.

   In March, Gayle is disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation. Additionally, her son Tom is now fleeing a felony warrant for his arrest.

   Since at least one person is still an eligible member in the TFA AU, everyone remains eligible for benefits.

    When TFA ends in May, Both Gayle and Tom are ineligible for Basic Food.

4. TFA and EBT Out of State Reports:

   When someone uses TFA benefits outside of the State of Washington, they will appear on the EBT out of state (OOS) report.

   Because we do not consider this notification that all members of the TFA AU have moved out of state, we do not need to work this report for TFA households.

   Normally, we will not close TFA based on moving out of state unless a member of the AU or another state tells us that all AU members have moved out of Washington.

5.  

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-489-0025

When TFA member enters TANF / Tribal TANF:

When someone in a TFA AU is approved for TANF or Tribal TANF income is entered on the person’s UNER screen the system terminates TFA benefits with ACES Reason Code 131 allowing for advance notice.

Complete a reapplication to determine eligibility for Basic Food based on the AU’s current circumstances and re-open food benefits.

ACES Procedures

• See ACES User Manual