MR #21.04: 2020 Census Income to be Exempt Beginning 02/01/2021 through 10/31/2021

Illinois Department of Human Services Logo

02/18/2021

Summary

  • This manual release is to provide an extension to exclude temporary income earned from Census employment beginning February 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has allowed Illinois to participate in a demonstration project to align SNAP policy with Cash and Medicaid policy to exclude earned income from the 2020 Census. Excluding the earned income of temporary census employees assists the U.S. Census Bureau with staff recruitment while allowing individuals to gain valuable work experience without a reduction in SNAP benefits. IDHS began participating in the demonstration project January 1, 2020.
  • The demonstration project was scheduled to end last year, however, FNS has made the decision to extend the project to align with the Census Bureau's Post Enumeration Survey (PES) operations.
  • Under the demonstration project, income earned from the 2020 Census was only allowed to be excluded for SNAP from January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020 for SNAP. However, FNS has granted an additional extension to exclude temporary income earned from the 2020 Census beginning February 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021.

Census Income Reporting for SNAP

  • In order to exempt the temporary 2020 Census income for SNAP, FNS requires the Department to report the number of households, the number of months, and the total SNAP benefits received in those households that work temporarily in the 2020 Census. Income received from the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census must be recorded in IES correctly so that the Department can gather this information.

ABE Gatepost Question

When a customer applies for benefits, reports new income, or an employment change in ABE Manage My Case, a message will display. "If you are employed with the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census, please list the name of your employer as Census." The gatepost question for employment will be triggered in IES, then worker must view the associated PDF and enter 2020 Census employment information.

Recording the 2020 Census Income in IES

  • Income received from the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census must be recorded in IES correctly so that the Department can gather this information. Workers need to properly enter the 2020 Census income in IES for the below screens.
IES Screens Worker Action

Employment-Employer

Screen

Enter Employer Name as

2020 Census

Employment-Employee

Screen

Employment Type select:

Census Income

Manual Revisions

PM 08-04-01-k

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms referenced: