MR #25.18 Clarifications for Acting on Reported Changes for Food Assistance (SNAP and State Food)

04/17/2025

Summary

This manual release provides additional guidance on addressing changes reported for Food Assistance households.
Updates are made to PM/WAG 18-04-03, Cooperation in Verifying Unclear Information or Unreported Changes, by providing updated examples.
Adds Food Assistance Program terminology which covers SNAP and State Food.
Updates processing of Undeliverable Mail for Mid-Point Reporting households.
PM 19-07-00 and PM/WAG 19-07-05 are also updated to reflect the correct amount of lottery or gambling winnings.

This manual release provides additional guidance on addressing changes for Food Assistance households and serves as a reminder to all Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) to review reporting requirements during all interviews and customer contacts. Updated examples are provided in PM/WAG 18-04-03, Cooperation in Verifying Unclear Information or Unreported Changes. Food Assistance Program terminology which covers SNAP and State Food is introduced. Updates have been made for processing of Undeliverable Mail for Mid-Point Reporting households. PM 19-07-00 and PM/WAG 19-07-05 are also updated to reflect the correct amount of lottery or gambling winnings.

Reported Changes Which are Clear and Verified Upon Receipt

Changes verified upon receipt do not require any further follow up to determine the effect on the case. The effect of these changes is considered to be clear and should be acted on immediately by following these policies:

PM 18-04-08 for increase in benefits - not due to adding household members;
PM 18-04-10 for changes resulting in decreased benefits; and
PM 18-04-07 for increasing benefits due to adding a new member.

See WAG 18-04-03 for examples.

When to Act on Unclear Information Received During Certification Period

The FCRC must pursue verification of unclear information if:

The information is required to be reported according to the reporting status assigned to the household and is less than 60 days old relative to the current month of participation; or
The unclear information presents significantly conflicting information than what was provided by the customer at the last Food Assistance application, REDE, or MPR.

When to Postpone Actions for Unclear Information Received During Certification Period

If the information is not required to be acted on because it does not meet one of the above conditions, a case comment with the details of the information received should be completed so that it can be followed up on at the next REDE for Change Reporting Households and the next REDE or MPR for Mid-Point Reporting Households, whichever comes first. See WAG 18-04-03 for examples.

Food Assistance

References to SNAP as a program type in the Integrated Eligiblity System (IES) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) policy manual have been updated to reflect Food Assistance. Food Assistance encompasses both the SNAP and State Food Types of Assistance (TOA). When policy covers both SNAP and State Food, Food Assistance will be referenced. When policy only pertains to SNAP, SNAP will be referenced.

When a customer applies, they have the option to request Food Assistance. If all factors of eligibility are met, they would qualify for SNAP benefits. If denied SNAP due to not meeting citizenship requirements, they may potentially qualify for State Food. A State Food EDG will be added in IES and eligibility will be determined.

Processing of Undeliverable Mail for Mid-Point Reporting Households

Mid-Point Reporting households are not required to report an address change, therefore Undeliverable Mail received for Mid-Point Reporting households is not required to be acted on, see WAG 18-04-03.

Note: Procedures for acting on Undeliverable Mail for Change Reporting Households has not changed.

Miscellaneous Update

PM 19-07-00 and PM/WAG 19-07-05 are updated to reflect the correct amount of lottery or gambling winnings won as a cash prize in a single game that must be reported. Winnings of more than $4,500 won in a single game must be reported at REDE, MPR, and during the certification period.