TO:	Commissioners; TA Directors; FS Directors; Medicaid Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators

FROM:	Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance

SUBJECT:	Sixty Month Automatic Conversion of Family Assistance Cases to Safety Net Assistance  

EFFECTIVE DATE:	November 24, 2001

CONTACT PERSON:	Central Team (TA) at 1-800-343-8859, extension 4-9344; (FS) at extension 3-1469.  Medicaid contacts: Local District Liaison at (518) 474-8216.

This is a follow-up to GIS 01 TA/DC032, entitled “Safety Net Assistance Application for Able-bodied Family Assistance Recipients at the State Sixty-Month Time Limit”.

This is to inform you that on November 24, 2001 certain upstate cases that have reached the State 60-month time limit as of that date will be automatically converted to the Safety Net Assistance (SNA) Category.  An adequate notice will be generated by the State as a result of this conversion.  This conversion process is being done to ensure that cases that have reached the 60 month time limit will not be claimed as TANF and thus avoid federal penalties.

The following cases will be excluded from this conversion process:
•	Family Assistance (FA) cases where all adults have a Time Limit Exemption Indicator “T” or “A” in the LMT EXM field on the individual’s line on Screen 3.
•	 Cases that are in Pending Status or are clocking down.
•	Cases with invalid Authorization Dates (ending prior to, or starting after, the conversion).

The conversion will result in the following changes:

•	a change in case category from FA  to either cash SNA (case type 16) or non-cash SNA (case type 17), depending upon the Employability Code of the adult.
•	for cases changed to Case Type 16, the System will generate an “S” (Safety Net Cash/24 month exemption) Time Limit Exempt Indicator on Screen 3.  For cases changed to Case Type 17, the System will generate a Safety Net Indicator of “C” (Cash Limit) on Screen 1.
•	A State/Federal Charge Code of 63 or 64 will be added to indicate MOE status for these cases.
•	Budget Case Type, Version Number, Storage Date will be changed and recoupment balances will be recalculated, if present.

Local districts will receive Eligible and Exception Lists.  Eligible Lists will include appropriate warnings, where necessary.  After the case is converted, the worker must take action at the next case contact to restrict the shelter and the fuel/utilities, if they have not already been restricted.  The worker must also require the adults in the case to sign the Repayment Agreement (DSS-4529) and Assignment of Future Earnings (DSS-4530).  Refusal to sign these forms must result in the closing of the SNA case. The worker must also examine household composition and determine if a child (and the child’s parent) must apply, and explore other transition issues addressed in 01 ADM-3. 

The timing of this conversion means that cases reaching the 60-Month Time Limit on November 30 must be scheduled to come in for a Safety Net Application Supplement Interview, interviewed and case action taken prior to the conversion date.  Once the conversion date is reached, a SNA application supplement cannot be required.   Districts can still make an offer of a bonafide job to an FA case after the conversion date and to SNA cases that have been converted.  If the offer is not accepted, the FA or SNA case can be closed for failure to accept the offer as an available resource. 

Districts need to keep the date of the conversion in mind when scheduling able-bodied adults for a SNA application interview.  

Medicaid Implications

These Safety net requirements do not apply to Medicaid. Medicaid must continue whenever an FA case is closed solely for reaching the State 60-month limit.  WMS will generate Medicaid coverage for the month of closing and the next month for the closing codes that address failure to comply with SNA requirements when a case reaches the 60-Month limit.  Districts must act on these cases in a timely manner to assure no lapse in Medicaid coverage.

Food Stamp Implications

Districts are reminded that the requirements to sign a SNA application supplement, Repayment Agreement and Assignment of Future Earnings and to appear for a Safety Net Application Interview do not apply to FS.  Workers must separately determine FS eligibility for FA and SNA households closed for these reasons.

Complete details of the Conversion process will be contained in a forthcoming “Dear WMS Coordinator” Letter.   A schedule of the future month’s conversions will also be included.