08/13/2020
Policy Memo
Summary
- Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has granted approval to allow the Department of Human Services (IDHS) to extend approval periods an additional 6 months for SNAP households whose benefits are due to expire July 2020 and August 2020.
- The waiver approval allows IDHS to extend certification periods for both Change Reporting households and Simplified Reporting households with an adjustment to the Mid-Point Reporting requirement. Mid-Point Reporting households will remain in Mid-Point Reporting status during the 6-month extension period.
- During the period of the extension, staff will not have to process REDEs or Mid-Point Reports for the affected cases. This will allow staff to focus on the timely processing of initial SNAP applications ensuring that applicants receive the help they need with food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. SNAP applications must be approved and if eligible SNAP applicants must have their SNAP benefits by the 30th day from the date of application. If ineligible, SNAP applications must be denied by the 30th day from the date of application.
- Redetermination Application (Form 1893) and Mid-Point Report (Form 2890) that have previously been issued, received and processed require no additional action by the HSC under the waiver. IES will suppress any future mailing of Form 1893 and Form 2890 during the 6-month extension period.
- SNAP households whose certification period expires at the end July and August due to not returning a REDE application will have their case reinstated with a 6-month extension. This will be done centrally and will not require any action by the FCRC.
- SNAP households who do not return a Mid-Point Report in July and August will be reinstated and benefits will continue for 6-months. This will be done centrally and will not require any action by the FCRC.
- IES will systematically extend the certification periods of the applicable cases. This action is being handled by Central Office staff. FCRC staff should not leave cases in Change Mode as this will prevent the extension from occurring. No action is required by the FCRC staff for this extension process.
- A client notice will be mailed to the applicable SNAP households to notify them of the 6-month extension period and their reporting requirements.
- For Mid-Point Reports and REDEs that have already been issued to the client and have been or will be returned by the client in July or August, the FCRC is not required to process those that are pending and have not yet been acted upon. However, for those Mid-Point Reports and REDEs that have already been processed, the processing and any resulting changes remain in effect.
- For those Mid-Point Reports and REDEs received with reported information or attached verifications, the FCRC is not required to process or take any action on the information reported on or provided with a Mid-Point Report and REDE application.
- In a continued effort to provide uninterrupted benefits to SNAP customers and ensure the health and safety of both clients and FCRC staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic, IDHS requested waiver approval to extend the certification periods of SNAP households whose benefits will expire at the end of July 2020 and August 2020 to an additional 6-months.
- Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has granted approval to allow the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to extend SNAP certification periods ending July 2020 and August 2020 for an additional 6 months. In addition, SNAP households with Mid-Point Reports due in July 2020 and August 2020 will continue to receive benefits without interruption.
- This precaution is necessary to protect the health and safety of clients and staff by reducing contact through a local office visit. It also prevents any interruption in SNAP benefits for a household that is due to recertify but may have limited access to completing the application process other than through a local office visit.
Pending Mid-Point Reports and REDES
- For Mid-Point Reports and REDEs that have already been issued to the client and have been or will be returned by the client in July or August, the FCRC is not required to process those that are pending and have not yet been acted upon.
- However, for those Mid-Point Reports and REDEs that have already been processed, the processing and any resulting changes will remain in effect.
- For those Mid-Point Reports and REDEs received with reported information or attached verifications, the FCRC is not required to process or take any action on the information reported on or provided with a Mid-Point Report and REDE application.
Client Notices
Mid-Point Reporting Households
- CN 20.18/CN 20.18S will be mailed to Mid-Point Report households certification period ending in July 2020 and CN 20.20/CN 20.20S will be mailed for certifications ending in August 2020.
- The notice informs the household to report when the:
- total gross monthly income exceeds the gross monthly income standard for the household size;
- household contains an able-bodied adult without dependents who is subject to the time-limits and has work hours that drop below 20 hours per week, averaged monthly.
- The change must be reported by the 10th day of the calendar month after the calendar month that the income exceeds the Gross Monthly Income Standard for the SNAP household size.
- A Mid-Point Report will not be mailed to these households.
Change Reporting Households
- CN 20.17/CN 20.17S will be mailed to Change Reporting households with certification periods ending July 2020 and CN 20.19/CN 20.19S for certifications ending in August. The notice informs the household to report when:
- someone gets, changes, or loses a job, or when hours of work are reduced;
- monthly earned income changes by more than $100;
- the source of unearned income changes, or the amount changes by more than $100;
- someone moves in or out;
- a change of address and new shelter costs;
- the court order to pay child support changes or ends;
- the household contains an able-bodied adult without dependents who is subject to the time-limits and has work hours that drop below 20 hours per week, averaged monthly.
Note: The SNAP Work Requirement policy is suspended temporarily. See Policy Memo, Temporary Suspension of SNAP Work Requirement Policy Due to COVID-19 Starting April 2020, dated 03/26/2020. Changes are still required to be reported according to the household's reporting status.
SNAP Extended Certification Periods
- Change Reporting and Mid-Point Reporting SNAP households that have certification periods due to expire July 2020 and August 2020 will be extended to an additional 6 months. Mid-Point Reporting households will remain in Mid-Point Reporting status during the 6-month extension period,
- SNAP households whose certification period will expire in July or August due to not returning a REDE application will have their case reinstated with a 6-month extension.
- For pending July and August SNAP REDEs, benefits will be systematically continued with a 6-month extension and the task will be removed automatically. No action is required by the FCRC.
- REDEs that have previously been issued, received and processed require no additional action by the FCRC under the waiver.
- IES will produce the central batch action to extend the certification period for each of the following months. The SNAP household will receive the same regular benefit amount for each month, except households that qualify for an emergency supplemental SNAP allotment for July will receive a supplement. See Policy Memorandum, Emergency SNAP Allotments Extended for July 2020 Due to COVID-19, dated 07/07/2020.
SNAP Certification Period Expiring
| SNAP Certification Period Expiring |
Certification Extended Through |
| 07/31/2020 |
01/31/2021 |
| 08/31/2020 |
02/28/2021 |
Mid-Point Reports
Mid-Point Report (Form 2890) from July and August that have previously been issued, received and processed require no additional action by the HSC under the waiver.
For pending July and August Mid-Point Reports, benefits will be systematically continued without interruption. The tasks will be removed automatically. No FCRC action is required.
SNAP households that did not return a Mid-Point Report in July and August will be systematically reinstated and benefits will continue without interruption. No FCRC action is required.
Example 1: Mr. T applied for SNAP on August 01, 2019. He was approved to receive SNAP in the amount of $194 through July 31, 2020 as a Change Reporter. Mr. T did not return his REDE application (Form 1893) and his certification expired at the end of July. Mr. T's SNAP EDG will be systematically reinstated by IES with a 6-month extension from August 2020 through January 2021. His benefit amount will be $194 each month. Mr.T will be sent Form 1893 to reapply for SNAP approximately 60 days prior to end of his certification period January 2021.
Example 2: Ms. J applied for SNAP on January 5, 2020 and was approved in Mid-Point Reporting through December 2020. Ms. J's benefit amount is $35 per month. Ms. J was sent a Mid-Point Report (Form 2890) in June 2020 that was due July 02, 2020. Ms. J did not return the Mid-Point Report and her SNAP benefits were canceled effective August 2020. Under the FNS waiver, Ms. J's SNAP EDG will be systematically reinstated by IES effective August 2020 and benefits will continue for 6-months.
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms referenced:
CN 20.17
CN 20.18
CN 20.19
CN 20.20
Form 1893
Form 2890
