11/10/2020
Summary
- This manual release extends excluding temporary income earned from Census employment through October 31, 2020 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Income earned from the 2020 Census is exempt for Cash and Non-MAGI Medical without a date restriction. Federal regulations do not allow a disregard of temporary census income from MAGI medical cases. See MR #20.02: 2020 Census Short Term Employment dated 01/14/2020.
- 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.
- Under the demonstration project, income earned from the 2020 Census was only allowed to be excluded for SNAP from January 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020 for SNAP. However, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has granted an extension to exclude temporary income earned from the 2020 Census through October 31, 2020.
Cash and Medical Programs
Income earned from the 2020 Census is exempt for all Cash and Non-MAGI Medical Programs without a date restriction. Federal regulations do not allow a disregard of temporary census income from MAGI medical cases. Although the 2020 Census income is exempt for TANF, this type of work can be used to stop the customer's clock for the TANF 60-month limit. See MR #20.02: 2020 Census Short Term Employment dated 01/14/2020.
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.
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
|
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 and the worker must view the associated pdf and enter 2020 Census employment information.
Manual Revisions
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Theresa Eagleson
Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Forms referenced:
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