MR #08.23: Ending Stale EBT Accounts and Off-line Benefit Procedures

Summary:

Starting 09/08/08, Illinois Link accounts are no longer identified as stale. Stale accounts are active cases that have not had a cash or food stamp transaction for 90 days.
Central actions that zero grant cash cases, remove food stamps from cash and medical cases, and cancel cash and food stamp cases due to stale accounts are obsolete.
Starting 09/08/08, cash and food stamp benefits do not go off-line. For those cases identified as stale and who have off-line benefits prior to 09/08/08, policy in PM 22-01-01-m still applies until the benefits are expunged. Customers may continue to complete Form 3663 to request benefits that went off-line prior to 09/08/08.
Due to a change included in The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 we are revising our procedures for when a customer requests Off-line benefits. Issue off-line benefits within 48 hours of the request.
The customer's use of Illinois Link benefits is still tracked centrally. Food stamp use and cash use are tracked separately for those who have both. Balance inquiries and deposits do not count as use of benefits.
Starting 09/08/08, Cash and food stamp benefits remain available in the Illinois Link account for 365 days.
A customer with an active case that hasn't used cash or food stamps for 335 days, is centrally mailed Form 3665 telling them they have benefits they have not used.
When a customer with an active case doesn't use cash or food stamp benefits for 365 days those benefits are taken from their account (Expunged) on day 366.
Expunged benefits are no longer available to the customer.
Forms 3663 and 4593 are used only for those benefits that went off-line before 09/08/08.