Section 183.104a. Additions to or deletions from a budget group—statement of policy

(a) Cash assistance.

(1) Section 183.104 (relating to deletions from the budget group) provides for removal of a person from a budget group effective with the first payment that can be reached after proper notice as specified in § 133.4 (relating to procedures). However, persons under a sanction will continue to be removed effective with the first payment month.

(2) In most cases, Advance Notice (PA/FS 162-A) is the proper notice. However, Advance Notice is waived and Confirming Notice (PA/FS 162-C) is used in the following two instances:

(i) A client requests the change and consents to the decrease in writing (See § 133.4(b)(2)(ii)(A)).

(ii) A budget group enrolled in the Monthly Reporting system reports a change on the Monthly Reporting Form (MRF) or Late/Incomplete Notice (LIN).

(3) In addition to removing persons promptly in accordance with established deadlines, the CAO shall ensure that persons are authorized initially or added to existing budget groups as quickly as possible. Consistent with the requirements of Chapters 125 and 133 (relating to the application process; and redetermining eligibility), a person shall receive eligibility determinations no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of a completed, signed Common Application Form (CAF). The procedures to be followed when an applicant requests removal from an existing budget group and authorization of assistance in his own name; or from a person who wishes to add someone to his budget group are as follows:

(i) A CAF is mailed or provided on the same day that assistance is requested. Requests are documented on a PA 601 Notes page. The applicant is informed that the CAF may be mailed or brought to the office at any time and that the sooner it is filed, the sooner assistance can begin.

(ii) An interview is scheduled with the applicant as soon as possible after the request for assistance, but no later than 13 days from the date of the request.

(iii) At the interview, the CAF is accepted and date stamped if it has not already been received in the mail. The worker shall assist the applicant with completion of the CAF as necessary.

(iv) Applicants moving from one budget group to another, if determined eligible, shall be added to the new budget group no earlier than the effective date of removal from the other budget group.

(4) The following are case examples of the proper application of the policy:

Example I.
Mrs. Smith receives assistance for herself and five children.

Payment Dates	Benefit Hold Deadline
7/7	7/1
7/21	7/16
8/5	7/31
8/19	8/14

A. 7/17—Mrs. Smith’s son James, moves in with his grandmother, Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Jones calls the CAO to report that James is in her household. The worker sends a CAF that day and schedules an application interview for 7/22.

7/22—Mrs. Smith reports the change in household composition. A PA/FS 162-A is sent.

8/1—Appeal period expires after PA/FS 162-A sent.

8/19—James is removed from his mother’s grant. (First check that can be reached after proper notice.)

B. 7/22—Mrs. Jones, James’ grandmother, comes into the CAO for her interview. Her CAF is filed and date-stamped. Therefore, an eligibility determination shall be made no later than August 5. Mrs. Jones is interviewed and eligibility is established.

Payment Dates	Benefit Hold Deadline
7/9	7/6
7/23	7/20
8/7	8/4
8/21	8/18

8/1—James is added to Mrs. Jones’ grant effective with the 8/21 check. A supplemental check is issued to cover 8/19 through 8/20.

Example II.
Mr. Clark receives assistance for himself, his wife and their three children.

Payment Dates	Benefit Hold Deadline
7/16	7/13
7/30	7/27
8/14	8/11
8/28	8/25

6/30—Mrs. Clark and children leave the household due to physical abuse.

7/1—Mrs. Clark visits the CAO, confirms her change of address and requests assistance for herself and the children. A PA/FS 162-A is sent to Mr. Clark to confirm decrease and category change effective 7/16. A CAF is given to Mrs. Clark and an interview is scheduled for 7/8.

7/8—Mrs. Clark is interviewed and eligibility is established. AFDC is authorized effective 7/16.

7/11—Appeal period expires for Mr. Clark and Mrs. Clark and children removed from Mr. Clark’s grant effective 7/16.

(b) Medical Assistance. In cases involving a split in the budget group, with one family member retaining control of the Medical Assistance Identification (MAID) Card, the CAO should issue a duplicate MAID Card to the remaining family members using the Interim MAID Card process. The family is not required to verify a need for a medical service. This will ensure that MA is available to the remaining family members until the new budget/budget change is authorized/initiated.

(c) Food stamps. Policy regarding timing the effect of additions and deletions to budget groups has changed for cash assistance purposes as outlined in this section. There are no concurrent changes in food stamp policy regarding additions to and deletions from food stamp budgets.

The provisions of this § 183.104a adopted January 12, 1990, effective January 13, 1990 and apply retroactively to November 1, 1988, 20 Pa.B. 225; amended July 28, 2000, the provisions under Act 35 effective retroactive to June 17, 1996, 30 Pa.B. 3779. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (214407) to (214409).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 183.104a amended under sections 201(2) and 403(a) of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. § § 201(2) and 403(a)).