UPSTATE MESSAGE   

DSS-4357EL                                                                
WGIUPD                  GENERAL INFORMATION SYSTEM               		01/18/01 
                   DIVISION:  Temporary Assistance 

GIS 01 TA/DC002                                                            

                                                                             

TO:  		Commissioners; IM Directors; ABEL Liaisons; WMS Coordinators          
                                                                           
FROM:	Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance                                                          
SUBJECT:  Date Specific Proration of Room and Board Personal Needs Allowance (PNA)                                                  
                                                                           
EFFECTIVE DATE:  Immediately                                               
CONTACT PERSON:  Temporary Assistance policy: Central Region Team (518) 474-9344                                       

This is to notify upstate districts that WMS-ABEL staff was erroneously advised to modify ABEL logic to subject the PNA, associated with shelter type "04-Room & Board", to date specific proration budgeting.  Districts were advised of this change in ABEL Transmittal 00-3.  It has been a long standing Office policy that PNAs are not subject to proration.  ABEL logic will be modified to reflect this policy.  ABEL modifications, which will apply date specific proration budgeting logic only to the shelter portion of room and board budgeting and not to the PNA, are scheduled to be available January 22, 2001.  Until the time that ABEL supports this policy, districts are advised to calculate a bottom-line budget applying date specific eligibility rules to the shelter portion and a full PNA for the room and board budget of the initial month of eligibility.  We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience associated with these actions.