TO:	  Commissioners; Ta Directors; WMS Coordinators

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

SUBJECT:	 WMS Case Processing for Time Limit Cases Requesting Fair Hearings

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately	

CONTACT PERSON:  Central Team @ 1-800-343-8859 extension 4-9344	

It has come to our attention that some districts are uncertain about the correct WMS entries for Family Assistance (FA) cases that reach the State sixty-month time limit and request a fair hearing with aid to continue.

FA cases that request a fair hearing and request aid to continue on a time limit issue (including issues associated with the SNA Application Supplement requirement 01 ADM 17, pages 12-23) cannot be closed or transferred to Safety Net Assistance (SNA). They must remain in FA until the fair hearing decision is rendered. 

Districts must enter “A” Exempt – Aid Continuing” in Time Limit Exempt Indicator (LMT EXM) on WMS screen 3 for all FA cases that request a fair hearing and aid to continue. The “A” indicator identifies why these cases are remaining in FA beyond the State sixty-month time limit. 

Because these cases have received sixty-months of TANF funded assistance, they can no longer be claimed for federal reimbursement. Federal claiming for FA cases beyond the State sixty-month time limit could result in a severe federal fiscal penalty. To prevent this, districts must identify all FA cases at the time limit that have requested a fair hearing and aid to continue with special claiming code “P – FNP Payment” in the Special Claiming Category Code (SPC CLM) on WMS screen 6. These cases also count toward districts’ maintenance of effort (MOE) and must be further identified with State Federal Charge Code (ST/FED “63 or 64 – TANF Individual Exceeding 5-year Limit on WMS) on WMS screen 3).

Districts are reminded that they must reprocess cases in accordance with the fair hearing decision.

Any questions should be directed to above contact person.