WAG 19-02-06: Mid-Point Reporting (MPR) Process (Cash and Medical)

PM 19-02-06

1. (System) Produces SNAP and TANF Mid-Point Report (Form 2890) each month at the close of Schedule 00 for cases with Supplied By Code (I) in Item 80 code 656.
2. (System) Enters on Form 2890 the due date (5th calendar day in month 6 of the approval period)
3. (System) Mails Form 2890 in the 5th month of the approval period.
4. (System) Produces monthly:

Mid-Point Report (MPR) (Form 2890) Returned

1. (Customer) Completes and returns Form 2890 by the 5th day in month 6 of their 12-month approval period, with pay verification, if applicable, including hours worked for TANF.
2. (FCRC) Date stamps Form 2890 when received in the local office. The date the form is date stamped is the date of receipt.
3. (FCRC) Reviews for signature and completion of all questions. If Question #4 is answered "Yes" pay verification is provided, including hours worked for TANF.
4. (FCRC) Sends Form 1721, Instructions to Customer when Form 2890 is incomplete or pay verification is missing, including hours worked for TANF. 

No Changes Reported on Form 2890

If Form 2890 is returned with no reported changes the FCRC takes the following action: 

1. For SNAP, review Form 2890 for any reported changes.
2. Document in case file that no changes were reported.
3. No further action is needed.

Example: Mr.B receives SNAP only. Mr. B's SNAP approval period is December 2015 through November 2016. In April Mr. B receives Form 2890 to complete and return to the FCRC by May 5. Mr. B completes Form 2890 with no reported changes and mails it back to the FCRC by the due date. The HSC documents in the case file that the customer returned Form 2890 and no changes were reported on the form. Form 2890 is filed in the case record and no further action is needed by the HSC.

1. For TANF (with or without SNAP), verify the number of hours worked, even if no change is reported on Form 2890.
2. Use the Work Number to verify hours worked, if pay verification was not returned with Form 2890 or the hours worked cannot be determined from the verification.
3. If any change is reported, follow up as appropriate.

Example: Ms. P was approved to receive TANF and SNAP January 2016 through December 2016. She is currently employed. In May Ms. P receives Form 2890 to complete and return to the FCRC by June 5. Ms. P completes Form 2890 with no reported changes and mails it back to the FCRC. Verification of weekly hours worked were not included. The HSC sends Form 1721, Instructions to Customer, requesting proof of weekly hours.  Allow 10 calendar days for the customer to return verifications. The Work Number may also be used to verify hours worked.

Customer Reports a Change

1. (FCRC) Reviews Form 2890 for any reported changes and updates the case to reflect the change.
   • For SNAP, verify an income reported change to Question #4, "Has the income from work changed for any member of your household?" and the response is answered "Yes." No other reported changes are verified.
   • For TANF, verify the number of hours worked and any other reported change as appropriate. Check the Work Number first to verify hours worked, if verification is not provided with Form 2890.
2. (FCRC) Sends Form 1721, Instructions to Customer, if verification of income is not provided or the information on Form 2890 is unclear. Allow 10 calendar days for the customer to provide. If the 10th day falls after schedule cut-off and the customer does not provide verifications by the due date void SNAP and/or TANF benefits for the payment month, if a timely Notice of Change, Form 157 can be sent to the customer at least 10 days before the date of change. Cancel SNAP and swap TANF cash to medical only for the following effective month.Refer to PM 23-02-01 for Cash Overpayment and PM 23-02-02 for SNAP Overpayment to determine when to consider benefits as an overpayment.
3. (FCRC) Sends a timely Notice of Change (Form 157) when SNAP and/or TANF benefits are voided for the payment month if the 10th day falls after schedule-cut and the customer does not provide verification by the due date of Form 1721. Cancels SNAP and swaps TANF cash to medical only for the following effective month. Reviews the case for any overpayment and takes the appropriate action.  

Example: Ms. J's Receives TANF and SNAP. Ms. J's approval period is December 2015 through November 2016. In April, Ms. J receives her Mid-Point Report form due May 5. Ms. J completes Form 2890 and mails it back to the FCRC by the due date. She has reported a change in income and has provided paystubs. For TANF, the paystubs verifies hours worked. Because Ms. J has reported a change the HSC must make the appropriate changes to the case. After the appropriate changes have been made document the action taken and file Form 2890 in the case record.

Form 2890 Not Returned by Due Date

If Form 2890 is not returned by the due date (5th day in month 6 of the approval period) the household is ineligible for TANF cash and SNAP. The FCRC swaps TANF to medical only and cancels SNAP benefits. Unless suppressed, Form Notice of Change (Form 157c) is centrally sent with the message "You failed to return your Mid-Point Report by (date centrally entered) PM 19-07-00.

SNAP Only Case

Cancel SNAP using TA 22/TAR R1. Enter a (P) in the first field of Item 44.

AABD or Refugee Cash and or Medical Case with SNAP, FHP cases with SNAP 

Cancel SNAP using TA 31/TAR R1. Enter a dash in Item 15. Enter a (P) in the first field in Item 44. Enter spaces in Item 36. Do not cancel medical or AABD/Refugee cash benefits. 

Example: Ms. L and her child are approved to receive FHP medical with SNAP benefits January 2016 through December 2016. The household is in Mid-Point Reporting. Ms. L receives Form 2890 in May to complete and return by June 5. Ms. L does not return Form 2890. The HSC removes Ms. L's SNAP benefits from the case by using TA 31/TAR R1 and entering a dash in Item 15.  Enter a (P) in the first field of Item 44.  Enter spaces in Item 36. Ms. L and her child will continue to receive medical benefits without interruption. Form 157, Notice of Change is centrally mailed to the customer notifying them of the SNAP cancellation.

TANF Case has Earnings With or Without SNAP

Swap TANF cash to FHP medical using TA 81 or TA 82 with TAR R1. SNAP is centrally removed when TAR R1 is used and the case is put in Group 00. Do not canceled medical benefits.

Example: Ms.K and her two children are approved to receive TANF and SNAP December 2015 through November 2016. Ms. K is employed part-time and the case meets the criteria to be enrolled in Mid-Point Reporting. In April Ms. K is mailed Form 2890 due back on May 5. Ms. K does not return the form. The HSC takes action to swap Ms. K 's TANF benefits to medical only using TA 81/TAR R1. Ms. K will continue to receive medical benefits without interruption. SNAP benefits are removed. Form 157, Notice of Change is centrally sent.

• (System) Unless suppressed, Notice of Change (Form 157c) is centrally sent with the message "You failed to return your Mid-Point Report by (date centrally entered) PM 19-07-00.

Form 2890 Returned After Due Date But Before the 7th Month in the Approval Period

Returned before the end of month 6.

1. (Customer) Returns Form 2890 before end of month 6 in their approval period.
2. (FCRC) Reinstates benefits without proration when Form 2890 is received after the due date but before the end of month 6 in the approval period.

Returned after month 6.

1. (Customer) Returns Form 2890 after month 6th in their approval period
2. (FCRC) Prorates benefits from the date of receipt, if Form 2890 is received after month 6 in the approval period.

For example: The approval period is December 2015 through November 2016 Form 2890 is mailed in April 2016 and is due back to the FCRC May 5, 2016. Form 2690 is received June 1, 2016. If eligible, reinstate benefits using the date of June 1, 2016.

A manual Form 157, Notice of Change, must be sent to the customer.

Note: The household must file a new application if Form 2890 is received after the 7th month in their approval period.

Reinstatement of a TANF Cash Swap and Canceled SNAP

1. (FCRC) When a TANF cash case with SNAP is swapped to medical only, reinstate benefits if the household provides a completed Form 2890 and provides proof of income and the hours worked for TANF. Proof of hours worked is not a requirement for SNAP.
2. (FCRC) Use TA 81 or TA 82 with TAR R2 and a 6-digit date (30 days prior to the first day you want to issue TANF benefits) to complete the swap action.
3. (FCRC) Authorize SNAP under the TANF case number.

Example 1: Ms. K and her two children were approved to receive TANF and SNAP December 2015 through November 2016.  The case is in Mid-Point Reporting because Ms. K is employed. In April, Ms. K was mailed Form 2890 due back to the FCRC on May 5. Ms. K did not return Form 2890 by the due date. The HSC takes action to swap Ms. K's  TANF cash to medical only and cancels SNAP benefits. On May 18, Ms. K mails Form 2890 with pay stubs back to the FCRC with no reported changes. Ms. K's paystubs provides the number of hours worked.  The HSC takes action to swap the medical case to TANF cash using a registration date of 04/18/16.  Use TA 82/TAR R2 and the 6-digit date (05/18/16) to approve the TANF case using the income verification provided. Issue June benefits by adding Item 80 code 100 IPE with 06/16 benefit amount. Register and approve SNAP on the TANF case using the date of cooperation. Since Form 2890 was returned before the end of month 6 benefits are not prorated. Send a manual Notice of Change (Form 157).

Example 2: Ms. G and her child were approved to receive TANF cash only in December 2015. Due to Ms. G's earnings the case is enrolled in Mid-Point Reporting. Ms. G did not return Form 2890 due back to the FCRC on May 5 until June 23rd (7th month). Ms. G's paystubs verify her hours worked. The HSC swaps the medical only case to TANF cash. Register the swap using the date that is 30 days prior to the date of cooperation . Approve the swap using the 6 digit date (06/23/16) with TA 81 and TAR R2.  Benefits are prorated.  Send a manual Notice of Change (Form 157).

Canceled SNAP Benefits

Example: Ms. T and her child were approved to receive FHP medical and SNAP December 2015 through November 2016. Ms. T did not return Form 2890 by May 5. The HSC canceled Ms. T's SNAP benefits at scheduled cut-off. Ms. T hand delivers Form 2890 to the FCRC on June 3 with her verification of income changes. The HSC reviews the income verification and makes the appropriate case changes. SNAP benefits are authorized under the medical case number from the date of receipt (06/03/16) of Form 2890 and SNAP benefits are prorated. The HSC documents the change and files Form 2890 in the case record. Unless suppressed, a central Form 157, Notice of Change is sent.