WAG 25-07-05-a: TANF Case

When a case is determined ineligible, cancel it using the current Form 552 (IPACS) or process it through Automated Case Management (ACM).

  1. For IPACS processing complete Form 552 as follows:
    • Item 2 - Enter the effective month and year (4 digits).
    • Item 3 - Enter TA 22.
    • Item 4 - Enter 1.
    • Item 6 - Complete.
    • Item 33 - Enter the TAR that describes the reason for the cancellation (see WAG 27-33-01-n).
    • Item 39 - Enter the client notice code for the case situation (see WAG 27-39-02).
    • Item 42 - Complete if the cancellation is due to the only eligible child, or for RRA the only eligible person, having resided in a DHS facility for more than 3 months. Enter the date of admission or readmission in Item 42, and TAR 77 in Item 33.
    • Item 44 - Complete.
    • Items 50-52 - Complete when it applies. 

For Cash, other Form 552 Items can be added, changed, or deleted when processing the cancellation.
For Medical, additions, changes, or deletions to Item 80 or 90 codes can be made with the cancellation action, but are not used in processing, or show on the turnaround Form 552. The turnaround Form 552 shows the action taken in Item 3 and other entries as they existed before the month of cancellation.

  1. Send the case to closed files.

    Before sending a NERF case record to closed files:

    • remove the entire contents, forms and section dividers, from the pocket file; and
    • bind the contents with a rubber band and place in a manila folder.

Client Notices

For TANF, RRA Cash or Medical, and All Kids Assist/Moms and Babies cases, when a cancellation is processed, Form 157C or Form 157NC is centrally generated unless suppressed in Item 39.

If a client files an appeal on or before the date of change, or within 10 days of the date of notice, whichever is later, restore benefits to the previous level pending the appeal decision, unless the client requests that benefits not be continued at the previous level (see WAG 01-07-04.)

In the City of Chicago, if the cash cancellation is for one of the following reasons, Form 157C advises the client to apply for General Assistance.

TAR Cancellation Reason
43 Income of Spouse sufficient to meet needs.
66 Did not verify income of spouse.
67 The parent is participating in a strike.
76 No longer an eligible child in the home.

Actions on Food Stamps when a Cash or MEDICAL Case is Canceled

When cancelling Cash or Medical and Food Stamps for the same reason, enter code 00 in Item 39. The system centrally mails the cancellation notice, using the same cancellation reason message for both programs.

When cancelling Cash or Medical and Food Stamps for different reasons, enter the TAR and client notice code that fits the case situation (see WAG 27-33-01-n and WAG 27-39-02).

When a Cash or Medical case is ineligible, and the FS case is not ineligible, determine ongoing eligibility for food stamps before you cancel the Cash or Medical case (see PM 18-04-11).

  • If a one-month extension is required, send Notice of Expiration (Form 1979) to the client. When processing the Cash or Medical cancellation, enter code 91 in Item 39 to suppress the food stamp cancellation notice.
  • If a Category 08 case is opened and food stamps are reduced, enter code 91 in Item 39 for the Cash or Medical cancellation action, which suppresses the food stamp notice. The caseworker sends the food stamp notice.

Cancellation through Central Budgeting

When central budgeting determines a case ineligible, it is canceled. The cancellation can be processed through ACM or IPACS.

For IPACS, if Form 552 and Form 2943 are coded with all the necessary data, the system determines eligibility, and if ineligible, centrally cancels the case. For ACM, if the data input screens are coded with all the necessary data, the system determines eligibility, and if ineligible, centrally cancels the case.

For both IPACS and ACM, the notices and calculation sheets are sent centrally.

System Determines Cash Case Income Ineligible

  1. (System) If a TANF Cash case has food stamps on the same Form 552, and the system determines the cash case income ineligible, the system recomputes food stamp income.
    • If food stamps are income ineligible, the case is canceled. Form 157C is centrally sent for both cash and food stamps.
    • If food stamps are income eligible, the system places the cash case in zero grant status, entering zero grant reason 7 in Item 34 (see WAG 25-07-06-a). The system computes the food stamps, issues the medical card, and sends Form 157C for the cash case.

If the food stamp amount changes, the system enters the new amount on:

  • Form 157C (if decrease), and
  • the food stamp calculation sheet.
  1. (System)The TANF case immediately appears on a batch exception list.
  2. (FCRC)Cancel the TANF zero grant case (see WAG 25-07-06-a), and take the needed action on the food stamp case (see PM 18-04-12).

    When canceling the zero grant case, enter the correct cancellation TAR in Item 33, and enter 90 in Item 39 to suppress the central notice. 

System Determines Cash Case Ineligible for Other Reasons

  1. (System) Places a TANF case in zero grant status automatically if food stamps remain income eligible and one of the following situations occurs:
    • When the only child in a TANF case turns age 18 and is coded 9 in Item 73 (uses TAR 76); or
    • When the only child in a TANF case turns age 19 (uses TAR 76); or
    • When the TANF case is determined asset ineligible by the system (uses TAR 41).

    Enters zero grant reason 7 in Item 34.

  2. (System) The TANF case immediately appears on a batch exception list.
  3. (FCRC) Cancel the TANF zero grant case (see WAG 25-07-06-a), and take the needed action on the food stamp case (see PM 18-04-12).

    When canceling the zero grant case, enter the correct cancellation TAR in Item 33, and enter 90 in Item 39 to suppress the central notice. 

System Determines Ineligibility on Case with Child Support or Earned Income

  1. (System) For ACM and IPACS, places a TANF case in zero grant status if all of the following criteria apply:
    • Form 552 is coded for earned income, child support, or food stamps; and
    • the Family Community Resource Center determines the case to be income eligible and submits Form 552 with a change action; and
    • the system determines the case income ineligible. 

Enters zero grant reason 7 in Item 34.

  1. (System) The TANF case immediately appears on a batch exception list because the system cannot determine if the client is eligible for the medical extension or ongoing food stamps.
  2. (FCRC) Review the case record and Form 552 to determine if the income codes or amounts are correct. 
    1. If the case remains eligible for cash, process a TA 31 to correct the income codes and amounts.
    2. If the case is ineligible for cash, cancel the zero grant case, entering the correct TAR. If the client is eligible for a medical extension, see WAG 18-05-06.

If the case remains eligible for food stamps, open a Category 08 case.