Bay State CAP -- More Food Stamps for SSI recipients (updated 10/05 to include Phase II information)

In February 2005, DTA unrolled its new pilot, Bay State CAP - which will enable many SSI recipients to apply for food stamps through the Social Security Administration. There is NO interview at DTA, no extra verifications required. This pilot is for SSI applicants and recipients who live alone, or live with othersbut purchase and prepare food separately, and who do not have regular earnings.

At the SSI app or RD, SSA District Offices will ask three questions:  Do you want to apply for food stamps?  Do you purchase andprepare separate from others?  Do you pay shelter costs of $450 or more/less?  After answering these questions, the individual will get an automatic FS amount  - ranging from $39 on the low end up to $149 on the high end - (the amount depends on the amount of SSI and his/her shelter expenses).

SSI applicants who are not likely to have their SSI applications approved within 30 days (e.g. disabled applicants) should  have a regular (ONE page) FS application taken. 

SSI applicants and recipients not eligible for CAP (e.g. due to earnings) can also have a regular FS application taken. In addition, any SSI applicants or recipients who would get more on regular FS (e.g. higher shelter or medical expenses) can also apply separately and not go on CAP.   

The amount of the monthly food benefit - depending on income and shelter costs - will be no less than $38/month (up to $149/month max). Only SSI recipients NOT currently getting food stamps will get these mailings. 

The SSI recipient has 45 days to access these EBT benefits!!  All they have to do is buy some food - any amount - even $1 of food. If the card is used, they will be automatically enrolled in the Bay State CAP program for another 34 months!!!  PHASE II:DTA is about to ship out another 33,000 EBT Food Stamp cards the end of October as part of "Phase II Outreach" in the Bay State CAP program.

An introductory letter will be mailed to SSI recipients on October 21st.  An EBT card and PIN mailed a week later and the EBT account will be activated for November 1st!. SSI recipients who get the EBT card simply have to go food shopping at least once, or purchase a meal at a homeless shelter/elder food program, and their Bay State CAP benefit will be certified for 36 months!  

By making a food purchase these individuals who live with others are declaring that they purchase and prepare most of their meals separately.As long as the SSI recipients purchase and prepare the majority of meals separately (e.g. more than half their meals), they are Bay State CAP eligible and encouraged to use the EBT cards they receive in the mail. 

They will have 30 days to access their EBT benefits by making one or more food purchases. Once they use the card, the SSI recipeint get Bay State CAP for 36 months unless they chose to opt out of Bay StateCAP for regular food stamps!

Homeless SSI recipients living in shelters are ALSO eligible, even if they share meals with others in the shelter. (SSI recipients who purchase and prepare most of their meals with others- and chose to continue doing so - should be advised to not use the EBT cards and apply for regular food stamps instead with the rest of their household.)

Most the 33,000 are in "shared living" Group B arrangements, some live in DMH and DMR group homes.  A typical benefit for an SSI recipient living getting the "Shared Living" benefit ($609/mo SSI) will be $84 inBay State CAP, and higher if the rent exceeds $450.  Individuals who get at least $1.00 of SSI and meet the other criteria are eligible.

This Phase II Outreach mailing also includes about 5,000 SSI recipients in Living Arraignment A who are not currently on food stamps but had an SSI redetermination since February (and 1,500 in Living Arrangement B who also had SSI redeterminations).  For some reason these cases were coded by SSA as saying "NO" to Bay State CAP.  DTA has agreed to send letters to these SSI individuals even though they had an SSA casered etermination, to see if in fact they DO want Bay State CAP.  We are worried that SSA is mis-coding the cases or not promoting Bay State CAP.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH SSI RECIPIENTS ARE IN "SHARED LIVING"ARRANGEMENTS?   Attached is a chart with the current monthly benefit amounts for SSI recipients.  The amounts are based on both the living arrangement and whether the individual is Elderly, Blind or Disabled. You can use this chart to advise your clients if they should receive the Bay State CAP letter and EBT card.  IF your client also receives RSDI (Social Security) or other unearned income, subtract $20 from their RSDI amount and then add the RSDI and SSI together to figure out the total according to the chart.  As long as your client receives ANY amount of SSI and is in the correct living arrangement, they are likely Bay StateCAP eligible.  (SSI recipients who have earnings, are married and living with the spouse, or are under age 18 are not Bay State CAP eligible - but can still apply for regular food stamps). 

HOW MUCH DO SSI RECIPIENTS RECEIVE UNDER BAY STATE CAP?   Attached is a chart with examples of how regular food stamps are calculated, and how the Bay State CAP benefits are calculated for elder and disabled households, with high and low shelter costs.  As you can see, many disabled SSI recipients who might get only $10 under the old food stamp program will now get at least $43, and possibly up to $106. Elders will get minimally $37, and possibly up to $106.  Those living alone and receiving only SSI for income will receive a minimum of $84/month in Food Stamps

.Also attached to this email is DTA's Field Operations Memo explaining BayState CAP, the CAP conversion schedule, the benefit amounts and the one-page application;  DTA's client flier about this program; a Field Operations Memo containing detailed information on the Bay State CAP outreach efforts, plus copies of the notices sent out Friday, the EBT outreach materials - and a form that clients can use to report higher shelter costs (to get increased Bay State CAP food stamp benefits.)  Also, an article from the Globe and DTA's Field Ops Memo on Phase II.

HOW DO YOU INCREASE THE FOOD STAMPS IF SHELTER COSTS ARE HIGH? Once the SSI recipient accesses the benefit, her or she will be sent another congratulatory letter with a self-declaration form that can be used to INCREASE the food stamps if their rent or mortgage costs exceed$450/month.  Attached is a copy of the DTA shelter reporting form.  If you know of any SSI recipients who got food stamps in July and they have shelter costs above $450/month, you can use send in this form at ANY time!  The Bay State CAP benefits increase substantially with this form!!!  Additionally, all Bay State CAP participants have the right to opt out of the CAP program and receive regular Food Stamps at any time(for example, if they have out of pocket medical expenses or would benefit from the regular calculation)

NOTE ON FOOD STAMP CALCULATOR

The revised Food Stamp calculator will now give TWO calculations for SSI recipients who are households of 1 and don't have earned income.  You do NOT need to answer any additional questions - it is programmed to take the information on the existing questions and give you both answers so you can advise your clients which benefit is better.  Click on the bottom tab for comparison summary calcs!  SSI recipients who wouldotherwise get just $10 - $38 are always better off getting Bay State CAP.  But SSI recipients who have high shelter expenses or out-of-pocket medicals may infact be better on Bay State CAP! Check it out.  Clients can opt out of Bay State CAP at any time.

MLRI MONITORING PROBLEM AREAS

MLRI is monitoring Bay State CAP and access of elders and people withdisabilities to Food Stamps:

*  Do you have clients who should have gotten Bay State CAP benefits during Phase I but did not?  We want to figure out why 6,500 SSI recipients who went through regular SSI redeterminations were coded by SSA as NOT wanting Bay State CAP. Remember that over 75% of the 30,000 SSI recipients sent cards in June (Phase 1) said YES!  Are the SSA District Offices discouraging folks from applying or not promoting BayState CAP?

*  Are the SSA District Offices taking regular food stamp applications for SSI applicants and recipients not Bay State CAP eligible (for example SSI recipients with earnings or living with spouses)

* For regular food stamp applications, is DTA is maximizing medical expense deductions for elders and persons with disabilities, and alerting them to ways to claim higher shelter deductions?.

MLRI's Congressional Hunger Fellow, David Pope, is tracking Bay State CAP access barriers.  David is also available to help individual clients negotiate the CAP process, and to conduct workshops on Bay State CAP and food stamp eligibility for senors and persons with disabilities.  Please contact David at dpope@mlri.org or call him at 617/357-0700 x 310 or VM x 501

The end of October an additional 28,000 SSI recipients not currently receiving food stamps will get letters and Bay State CAP cards in the mail!  Most are in the SSI "Shared Living" or Living Arrangment B category (which also includes homeless individuals in shelters).  The minimum benefit for a disabled person who receives only SSI (not RSDI) is $84/month; slightly lower if she also gets RSD with her SSI. In generaly, an SSI recipient who gets at least ONE dollar of SSI should be eligible for Bay State CAP unless they have earnings or are living with a spouse. Many SSI recipients get Social Security in addition to SSI - these folks are still Bay State CAP eligible.