Issue Alert - 08-10-01
Document Actions
| Date: | 10/07/2008 | |
| Program Area: | Food Assistance Program (FAP) |
|
| Issue Summary: |
Beginning October 1st, food assistance standards and deductions have changed, as have food assistance income limits and allotment amounts. |
|
| Persons Affected: | Food assistance recipients and applicants. |
|
| For More Information: |
Center for Civil Justice 320 S. Washington, 2nd Floor Saginaw, MI 48607 (989) 755-3120, (800)724-7441 Fax: (989) 755-3558 E-mail: info@ccj-mi.org
|
|
|
|
||
|
Background
|
||
|
As a result of the 2008 reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the
formula for calculating FAP benefits has changed. These changes will allow more people to
receive FAP for the first time. It will
also increase the benefits for current recipients. |
||
| What's Happening? | ||
|
The FAP monthly allotment amounts, standard deductions, shelter
deductions, and dependent care deductions have changed for FAP recipients and
applicants beginning October 1st.
MONTHLY ALLOTMENT
AMOUNTS The maximum monthly FAP allotments have increased by a few dollars. The amount depends on the household size and
the household’s FAP income. For example,
a single person’s maximum allotment changed from $162 to $176 per month. MINIMUM MONTHLY
ALLOTMENT The minimum allotment has also increased. After October 1st a
person that was receiving a minimum allotment of $10 per month will now receive
$14. This change will especially benefit those who have a fixed income and low
shelter expenses, which typically are seniors or small households of 1 or 2
persons. DHS automatically updates eligibility information electronically. FAP recipients should notice a change in
their October allotment amount. This
increase is now indexed for inflation. So the minimum benefit should increase
with inflation every October. The deductions are now as follows: STANDARD DEDUCTION Group Size/Deduction Amount 1-3 = $135 4 = $138 5 = $163 6 or more = $188 Shelter Deductions Shelter deductions were increased to reflect the increased costs of
shelter and utilities. The following are
the maximum caps allowed in the FAP formula. Shelter Maximum = $446 (non-senior and non-disabled households only) Heat and Utility = $550 Non-Heat Electric = $93 Water and/or Sewer = $54 Telephone = $33 Cooking Fuel = $59 Trash/Garbage Removal = $14 DEPENDENT CARE
DEDUCTION The FAP formula allows child care expenses to be considered as part of
the eligibility calculation. The formula
is based on the fact that money a family spends on child care is not available
to buy food. In the past, these deductions where capped at $175 and $200 per
month, depending on the age of the child.
Congress removed the caps as part of the Farm Bill reauthorization, as a
recognition that many households spend more of their income of child care. DHS will allow the full amount of unreimbursed child care expenses. This is the amount the FAP group actually
pays out of pocket. However, FAP
recipients must provide verification of child care expenses to DHS in order for
the full amount to be counted. |
||
|
What Should Advocates Do?
|
||
|
Advocates should ensure that their FAP clients receive the correct
adjustments in their allotments for October. They should also make clients with high child
care expenses aware of the changes and encourage them to report all their child
care expenses. They should also inform
seniors and those who had low allotments amounts in the past of the
increases. Advocates can use the on-line
calculator at www.foodstamphelp.org
should encourage clients to contact the Food and Nutrition Helpline at (800)
481-4989 to see if they are eligible or to verify that their allotments are
correct.
|
||
|
What Should Clients Do?
|
||
|
Clients should contact the Food and Nutrition Helpline at (800) 481-4989
to see if they might be eligible for changes under the new guideline or to
verify their allotments are correct.
They can also check their benefits with the on-line calculator at www.foodstamphelp.org.
|
||
|
Finding Help
|
||
|
Most legal aid and legal services offices handle these types of cases, and they do not charge a fee.
|
||
CORT Legal Work Supervision – Dublin, Ohio
