Never to miss an opportunity, CDSS has created a new Notice of Action that informs food stamps recipients with overpayments that collection will occur from unused EBT balances, if the recipient has not accessed the EBT account in more than 90 days. [Download]

FNS writes that “It has recently come to our attention that under Public Laws 104-204 and 106-419, benefits paid by the Veterans Administration to the children of Vietnam veterans born with congenital spina bifida and certain other birth defects are excludable as income for food stamp purposes.” The law was passed in 1997, and broadened in 2001. Heh, better late than never.

FNS has extended the period for applications for “Expanded (ES)” food stamp benefits by 15 days, through October 31, 2005. The “relaxed procedures” for EBT transactions (hand entering number instead of using card) is extended to through September 30, 2005. And, just to keep evacuees (and their advocates) on their toes, the numbers for to get the EBT card numbers (for aforesaid manual entry) has changed: the new numbers are 1-888-524-3578 (Louisiana) and 1-866-449-9488 (Mississippi).
[Download]

FNS has put out two notices. AN 05-27 reviews the “expectations” for expedited services for Hurricane evacuees. Of note: 1 day (not 7, not 3) issuance of expedited food stamps, and review of its two new Food Stamp policies: the National Enhanced Policy for the first month of application and the Expanded Disaster Evacuee Policy for additional months. (California has developed a special application, page 5.)

For applications received through October 31, 2005, the National Enhanced Policy allows for a one-month allotment based on household size and evacuee status, no other criteria need be considered. For the Expanded benefits, cases can be certified, with postponed verification, up through December, 2005. The household composition, work registration/program, and ABAWD rules are also suspended through December, 2005.

Though not currently applicable to California (though possibly soon, given the ruling in Lockyer v. City and County of San Francisco finding the ban on same sex marriages unconstitutional), of interest. The Office of General Counsel has concluded that the Defense of Marriage Act, in combination of the Supremacy Clause, dictates that Food Stamps not treat same sex marriages/civil unions as “spouses” for purposes of mandating the persons be treated as one Food Stamps Household.

Time to give some credit to the state. There’s a new form out, advising non-cash aid food stamp (NAFS) recipients about the new “income threshold” rule for food stamps. Basically, if you are NAFS and voluntarily report your income mid-quarter, the county can cut you off if your income is over the FS eligibility threshold. (Normally, you’d be fine for the payment quarter.)