12/30/2021
Summary
- This manual release provides additional policy guidance on the eligibility of residents in certain Illinois Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The passing of recent federal legislation includes a provision that extends the eligibility for these residents under an existing Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) waiver which was set to expire on December 31, 2021. See manual release, MR #21.21: Change in SNAP Eligibility for Residents of Certain Supportive Living Facilities, dated 09/30/2021.
- Under the H.R. 6119, Further Extending Government Funding Act, Section 158 of Division A - Further Continuing Appropriation Act, 2022, extends the existing FNS waiver approval granted to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) on December 31, 2020 and allows these residents in certain SLFs to continue to receive SNAP benefits through February 18, 2022.
- This policy does not apply to residents in Long Term Care Nursing Homes. A nursing home is not a SLF. Individuals residing in a nursing home do not qualify for SNAP benefits. These individuals are considered residents of an institution that provides meals as part of its normal service (PM 04-05-04). An individual who is residing in a SLF and receiving SNAP no longer qualifies for SNAP benefits if admitted to a nursing home. Only residents in certain approved SLFs qualify for SNAP (PM 05-11-00). The Office of Long Term Care - Medical Field Offices (MFOs) handles all SNAP applications filed by SLF residents.
This manual release provides additional policy guidance that extends the eligibility of residents in certain Illinois Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through February 18, 2022. The Office of Long Term Care - Medical Field Offices (MFOs) handles all SNAP applications filed by SLF residents.
Background
On December 19, 2019, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved a limited waiver to protect the status quo of residents living in already approved Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) in Illinois. The protected status allowed these residents to not be considered residents of an institution for SNAP eligibility purposes.
On December 31, 2020, FNS extended the waiver and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) was permitted to continue to certify these residents for SNAP as long as all other eligibility requirements were met. The waiver was due to expire on December 31, 2021. See manual release, MR #21.21: Change in SNAP Eligibility for Residents of Certain Supportive Living Facilities, dated 09/30/2021.
Extension of SNAP Eligibility
Under the H.R. 6119, Further Extending Government Funding Act, Section 158 of Division A - Further Continuing Appropriation Act, 2022, extends the existing FNS waiver granted to IDHS and allows these residents to continue to qualify for SNAP through February 18, 2022. The extension of the waiver will help these elderly and disabled SNAP households maintain food security during the COVID -19 pandemic.
Customers Residing in Ineligible Facilities
- This policy does not apply to residents in Long Term Care Nursing Homes. A nursing home is not a SLF. Individuals residing in a nursing home do not qualify for SNAP benefits. These individuals are considered residents of an institution that provides meals as part of its normal service (PM 04-05-04). An individual who is residing in a SLF and receiving SNAP no longer qualifies for SNAP benefits if admitted to a nursing home. Only residents in certain approved SLFs qualify for SNAP (PM 05-11-00). The Office of Long Term Care - Medical Field Offices (MFOs) handles all SNAP applications filed by SLF residents.
- The Human Services Caseworker (HSC) should select LTC as the living arrangement for customers residing in a nursing home. The SNAP eligibility determination should result in a denial for benefit with the reason: The applicant is considered a resident of an institution PM 04-05-04.
- Do not select LTC as the living arrangement for a SLF resident just to get IES to deny benefits when the resident is in a SLF that is not approved for SNAP participation. For SLFs that are not on the approved list (WAG 04-05-04), the HSC must "withdraw" the application for SNAP, suppress the central Notice of Decision (Form 360c), and issue a manual denial Form 360c with the denial reason:The applicant is considered a resident of an institution PM 04-05-04.
Manual Revisions
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms referenced:
Form 360c
