MR #21.01: Local Office Administrator's Signature Required on Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150)

01/04/2021

Summary

• Effective with the date of this manual release, the Local Office Administrator's (LOA) signature is required on Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150).
• A completed and signed Form 2150 may be e-mailed, faxed or sent by regular mail to the Bureau of Policy Development (BPD) to request case specific guidance. The Human Services Caseworker (HSC), Human Services Casework Manager (HSCM) and Local Office Administrator (LOA) should review the case circumstances along with the applicable policy to determine the eligibility of the case. A request for case guidance may be sent to BPD if these individuals are not able to come to an agreement on the eligibility of a case. Form 2150 must include the LOA's signature.
• This is an internal agreement between BPD, Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Bureau of Medical Eligibility Policy (BMEP) and the FCRC management staff. This agreement is an effort to reduce the volume of questions received in BPD that are covered in the policy manual and can be answered at the FCRC.
• BPD answers questions for the Cash and SNAP Programs. BPD forwards questions about Medicaid eligibility to BMEP for their response. A Form 2150 with questions regarding Medicaid must also include the LOA's signature.
• BPD will not respond to questions from the FCRC involving a case that is pending at the actual appeal hearing level. All customers have the right to go through the appeal hearing process and have an appeals officer determine if policy was followed appropriately. The FCRC must follow directions of the Final Appeal Decision (PM 01-07-11). An FCRC that is unsure of whether policy was applied appropriately should request case guidance prior to the case reaching the level of an actual appeal hearing.

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Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150)

• Effective with the date of this manual release, the Local Office Administrator's (LOA) signature is required on all Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150). 
• Case-specific questions about policy and procedures should be directed to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Policy Development (BPD) only when the Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) Human Services Caseworker (HSC), Human Services Casework Manager (HSCM) and the Local Office Administrator (LOA) have reviewed the circumstances of the case along with the applicable policy and are still unable to make an eligibility determination..
• Questions can be sent to BPD by e-mail, fax or regular mail. Questions are answered within 8 workdays. A copy of the answer is sent to each person copied on the original question.
• BPD answers questions for the Cash and SNAP Programs. BPD forwards questions about Medicaid eligibility to Healthcare and Family Service's (HFS) Bureau of Medical Eligibility Policy (BMEP) for their response. A Form 2150 with questions regarding Medicaid must also include the Local Office Administrator's (LOA's) signature.

Questions when an Actual Appeal Hearings is Pending

• BPD will not respond to questions involving a case with an actual appeal hearing pending. All customers have the right to go through the appeal hearing process and have an appeals officer determine if policy was applied appropriately (PM 01-07-10). The FCRC must follow the directions of the Final Appeal Decision (PM 01-07-11).
• The FCRC may still send questions to BPD when the case is at or before the pre-appeal hearing level (PM 01-06-07)

How to Get Answers to Policy Questions

Case Specific Questions

• Case specific questions should be sent using Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150).
• Form 2150 should only be sent to BPD when the circumstances of the case cannot be resolved to establish eligibility by the FCRC staff.
• When sending Form 2150 include the signature of the LOA and copy the Regional Administrator and Regional Training Coordinator.
• Form 2150 will be returned unanswered to the FCRC if the LOA signature is omitted.
• The response provided by BPD and/or BMEP on Form 2150 is for the specific case only and cannot be used or cited for other cases.

General Policy Questions

Form 2150 is only used when questions are about a specific case. After obtaining the LOA's approval, general policy questions can be emailed to dhs.policydevelopment@illinois.gov.

Send Form 2150 Questions by Regular Mail, Fax or Email

For help in deciding how a policy affects a specific case:

1. Complete a Request for Specific Case Guidance (Form 2150).
2. Provide all the information on Form 2150 that applies to the case in question (case name and number, office name and location, benefit type, and the policy manual reference number). Include the name of the person completing Form 2150 and copy the LOA, Regional Administrator and the Regional Training Coordinator.
3. Summarize the case details and if needed, attach any supporting documents. This information is necessary in order to provide an accurate response.
4. If the question involves a pending application, or pending pre-hearing conference, include the date.
5. The FCRC may fax a completed and signed Form 2150 to:

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:

Form 2150