TO:	Commissioners, TA Directors, FS Directors, TOP Coordinators, CAP Coordinators, Staff Development Coordinators, Employment Coordinators

FROM:	Russell Sykes, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Employment and Transitional Supports

SUBJECT:	TA and/or FS Authorization Periods Limited to Six Months

EFFECTIVE DATE:	Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	Temporary Assistance Bureau @ 1-800-343-8859; extension 4-9344 or Food Stamp Bureau @ extension 3-1469

A “Dear WMS/CNS Coordinator” letter dated July 5, 2005, informed districts of a new upstate WMS edit that prohibits TA and/or FS authorization periods of greater than six (6) months for TANF-funded cases (FA, case type 11 and SNA-FP, case type 12) that have reached a State sixty-month time limit count of 48 or more months.  This edit has been expanded effective August 15, 2005 to include SNA case types 16 and 17.  The WMS application of this edit is solely based on the case’s State sixty-month time limit count, without regard to other case characteristics (e.g. employability code, individual disposition status code, time limit exemption indicator, etc.).  As such, all TA and/or FS cases with a State sixty-month time limit count of 48 or more months are subject to this edit.

Note:	Non-Public Assistance Food Stamps (NPA-FS, case type 31) and Public Assistance/Non-Public Assistance Mixed Household (FS-MIX, case type 32) are not subject to this edit.

This edit is in anticipation of the January 1, 2006 termination of face-to-face recertification waivers and “group” recertifications for TA cases with a State sixty-month time limit count of 48 months or more.  Six-month authorization periods and the termination of “mail-in” and “group” recertifications provides the district the opportunity to reassess and monitor the recipient’s efforts to become self-sufficient.  “Mail-in” and “group” recertifications can continue until January 1, 2006, however, the recertification authorization period is subject to the new edit.