Changes to the Mid-Point Report (IL444-2980) Process

Illinois Department of Human Services logo

08/03/2023

Policy Memo

Summary

  • In an effort to simplify policy and reduce the workload for staff, changes to the SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report (IL444-2890) process have been made. This memo provides guidance on the changes made to policy and the Integrated Eligibility System (IES). A manual release will be provided shortly to update the Cash, SNAP and Medical Policy Manual.
  • Under regular policy, a SNAP and/or TANF household in Mid-Point Reporting status is required to complete, sign and return a Mid-Point Report by the 2nd day in the 6th month of their 12-month approval period. All questions must be answered and any change in circumstances related to the questions asked on the Mid-Point Report must be reported.
  • The requirement to complete a Mid-Point Report was waived throughout the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and will now resume beginning with SNAP and/or TANF households in Mid-Point Reporting status with a certification period of February 2023 through January 2024. These households were mailed a Mid-Point Report on 06/05/2023 with a due date of 07/02/2023, effective for August benefits. Mid-Point Reports will continue to be mailed each month to households that are due for the report.
  • Policy changes have been made to the IL444-2890 process and how IES will handle the receipt of the report when it is returned.
    • A Mid-Point Report is considered complete when it is returned by the customer with a valid signature and all questions on the form have been answered. A worker will no longer return a customer's original Mid-Point Report with an IL444-267 Verification Checklist when it is received incomplete.
    • A Mid-Point Report received by the due date that contains a valid signature and no changes reported will be auto processed in IES. A 2890 SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report task will be created in the MPR queue and will be systematically marked complete. 
    • For TANF cases, a new "Verify Work Hours" task will be created in the Work Verification System (WVS) Dashboard with the date the Mid-Point Report was received.
    • A Mid-Point Report received by the due date but without a valid signature will be routed to the Electronic Case Record (ECR) and labeled "Invalid MPR." A Mid-Point Reminder Action Required (IL444-2891) and a blank Mid-Point Report will be systematically generated to the customer.
    • A Mid-Point Report returned after the due date without a valid signature will be routed in IES to the ECR. No action to return the Mid-Point Report or to contact the customer is required by the caseworker. The Mid-Point Report is considered incomplete. An IL444-2891 has already been systematically sent notifying the customer of the cancellation because a completed Mid-Point Report was not received.
    • IL444-2890 and IL444-2891 have been revised to accommodate the policy and system changes.
  • It will still be necessary for a worker to process certain Mid-Point Reports.  For certain Mid-Point Reports, a task will be created in the MPR queue when the report is received. It will be necessary for a worker to process the task when the Mid-Point Report is received: 
    • by the due date with a valid signature and at least one change is reported; or
    • by the due date with a valid signature and at least one question is unanswered; or  
    • after the 6th month but before the end of the 7th month.
  • In addition to completing a Mid-Point Report, a SNAP household in Mid-Point Reporting status is required to report other changes that occur during the approval period. Report when:
    • Gross monthly income exceeds the Gross Monthly Income Standard for the household size; and
    • A SNAP household member has received a substantial lottery or gambling winning as a cash prize of more than $4,250 in a single game; and 
    • An Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who is subject to the SNAP Work Requirement time-limit has weekly work hours that fall below 20 hours per week.

Mailing of SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report 

  • This policy memo notifies Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) of the mailing of SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report (IL444-2890) on 06/05/2023 with a due date of 07/02/2023, effective for August benefits.  FCRCs will resume processing the receipt of Mid-Point Reports beginning with SNAP and/or TANF households in Mid-Point Reporting status whose approval period is February 2023 through January 2024 and are due for a report in the 6th month (July). Mid-Point Reports will continue to be mailed each month to households that are due for the report.
  • Policy changes have been made to the IL444-2890 process and how IES will handle the receipt of the report when it is returned. These changes will expedite the processing of the Mid-Point Report and reduce the workload for staff.

SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report (IL444-2890) Process:

  • SNAP and/or TANF households in Mid-Point Reporting status are mailed IL444-2890 in the 5th month of the household's 12-month eligibility approval period and are required to complete, sign and return the IL444-2890 by the 2nd day in month 6. All questions must be answered and any change in circumstances related to the questions asked on the Mid-Point Report must be reported.

Policy Changes Made to Processing Mid-Point Reports Received by the Due Date

  • To simplify and expedite processing Mid-Point Reports, the following Datacap changes have been made for reports received by the due date:
    • Mid-Point Reports received with valid signatures and no changes reported will create a 2890 SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report task in the MPR queue and will be systematically marked complete. A case comment will be added in IES stating, "a No Change MPR was auto-processed thru scanning."
    • Mid-Point Reports received that includes an adult receiving TANF that contains valid signatures and no changes reported will also create a new task in the WVS Dashboard, "Verify Work Hours" and will include the date the Mid-Point Report was received.
    • Mid-Point Reports received without valid signatures will be routed to the ECR. A Mid-Point Reminder-Action Required (IL444-2891) and a blank Mid-Point Report will be systematically generated and mailed to the customer. A case comment will be added in IES stating, "2891 returned with no signature".

No Change to Policy and Worker Action Still Required for Certain Reports

The following processes will continue for Mid-Point Reports received by the due date:

  • For Mid-Point Reports received by the due date and contain valid signatures but one or more of the questions is marked "Yes", a 2890 TANF and SNAP Mid-Point Report task will be created in the MPR queue.
  • For Mid-Point Reports received by the due date and contain valid signatures but one or more of the questions are not answered by marking "Yes" or "No," an "Incomplete MPR" task will be created in the MPR queue for a worker to process.
    • The worker should attempt to call the customer to resolve the question(s) unanswered on the Mid-Point Report.
    • If the worker is unable to resolve the incomplete Mid-Point Report, the worker should select "Pend" for the answered question on the Mid-Point Report screen in IES. This will generate a Verification Checklist (IL444-267VCL).

The following processes will continue for Mid-Point Reports received after the due date:

  • When Mid-Point Reports are received after the due date but prior to cut-off in the 6th month:
    •  Tasks will be created in the MPR queue for Mid-Point Reports that contain valid signatures, and all questions are answered; or
    • "Incomplete MPR" tasks will be created in the MPR queue for Mid-Point Reports that do not contain valid signatures and/or at least one question is unanswered.
  • When Mid-Points Reports are submitted late (after cut-off in the 6th month, but before the last day of the 7th month), a Late Mid-Point Report task will be created in the MPR queue.
    • If the SNAP and/or TANF EDGs are closed, workers will need to reinstate the benefits.
    • Benefits reinstated within the 7th month will be prorated from the Mid-Point Report received date.
  • If the Mid-Point Report is received after the 7th month, a new application is required.

Wrong Form Returned for Mid-Point Report

  • If a Mid-Point Reporting household is canceled in the 6th month of the approval period due to not returning the Mid-Point Report, benefits may be restored if the household submits a complete Mid-Point Report before the end of the 7th month.
  • If the household submits an ABE application or a Medical, Cash and SNAP Redetermination Application (IL444-1893) instead of a Mid-Point Report, treat the new information reported on the application like a reported change. If eligible, give the household the same approval period that they had at the time of cancellation. Benefits are still prorated if received in month 7th. After month 7, a new application is required to be filed.

Note: A Mid-Point Report is not an application form and cannot be used if the household is due for a REDE.

Mid-Point Reporting Requirements

  • In addition to completing a Mid-Point Report, a SNAP household in Mid-Point Reporting status is required to report other changes that occur during the 12-month approval period. Report when:
    • Gross monthly income exceeds the SNAP Gross Monthly Income Standards for the household size.
    • A SNAP household member has received lottery/gambling winnings of more than $4,250.
    • An Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who is subject to the SNAP Work Requirement time-limit has weekly work hours that fall below 20 hours per week.  The State is currently operating under an FNS waiver.

Revisions Made to IL444-2890

  • A telephone section has been added to Page 1 to allow:
    • Customers to confirm or correct their telephone numbers currently on file;
    • Customers the choice to receive text alerts and reminders for any telephone numbers listed on the Mid-Point Report;
    • Customers to elect not to receive text alerts and reminders.
  • The "changes to your income" question is revised to reflect the amount of $125; and
  • The lottery/gambling question has been revised to include winnings of more than $4,250.

Revisions Made to IL444-2891

  • IL444-2891 notifies customers when the Mid-Point Report is not received by the due date and also serves as the notice of cancellation. A change was made to IL444-2891 to notify a customer when the Mid-Point Report is received without a valid signature.
  • IL444-2891 is sent systematically by IES to customers on the 2nd workday following the Mid-Point Report due date with a blank Mid-Point Report:
    • When a Mid-Point Report received date is not populated in IES; or
    • When a Mid-Point Report does not contain a valid signature.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms referenced:

IL444-0267

IL444-2890

IL444-2891