10-144 C.M.R. ch. 301, § 600-FS 666-5 - Transitional Food Assistance (TFA)

Transitional Food Assistance (TFA)

Transitional Food Assistance (TFA) benefits are a fixed monthly amount of Food Supplement benefits that are provided for up to five months to certain families whose TANF cash assistance has ended. TFA eligibility is based on the TANF closure so the household must have received TANF or TANF/PaS cash assistance within the past 30 days and Food Supplement Program benefits within the past 60 days to be considered for TFA eligibility. The household does not have to lose eligibility for regular Food Supplement benefits to become eligible for TFA, however, the household cannot receive TFA and regular Food Supplement benefits at the same time.

Eligibility for Transitional Food Assistance (TFA)

All included members in an open Food Supplement household, that includes at least one member from a TANF financial assistance group at the time the TANF closes, are eligible for TFA.

Approved TANF closure reasons are:

1. Gross or net income over limits; or

2. Increase in work hours, transitional services.

Households eligible for TFA will receive a TFA Start Letter, which contains information about who is eligible for TFA, the amount of the benefit, how the benefit was determined, and the length of the TFA period. The letter will also explain the process for reporting household changes for those receiving TFA. Households will be notified that they are not required to report any changes in circumstances until the time that they must apply for recertification. Finally, the letter will notify families that their benefit allotment can be changed if the household experiences a decrease in income, an increase in expenses or an increase in household size that could lead to a higher Food Supplement allotment.

Households are not eligible for TFA if TANF cash assistance closed in part or solely due to any of the following:

1. a sanction, being a fugitive felon, or Intentional Program Violation;

2. a transfer of assets or property to qualify for assistance;

3. failure to cooperate with quality control or child support;

4. failure to provide verification required to determine eligibility;

5. not residing in Maine;

6. a case head has left the household.

Households in which all members are ineligible for the Food Supplement Program are also ineligible for TFA.

Individuals ineligible or excluded from the Food Supplement Program at the time that TFA is initially determined will remain ineligible for the duration of the TFA period.

Determining the Transitional Food Assistance (TFA) Benefit Allotment

The TFA benefit amount is based on information already known at the time the TANF ends. No further contact is required with the household until the end of the TFA period.

The TFA benefit amount is determined by using the Food Supplement Program budget for the last month that TANF cash was issued and deducting the TANF grant that the household is no longer receiving.

The resulting net income is used to calculate the TFA benefit amount.

The TFA benefit amount is frozen for the duration of the TFA period regardless of any changes to the household's circumstances. See Transitional Food Assistance Requirements and Changes During the Transitional Food Assistance (TFA) Period below.

EXCEPTIONS: Only under the following circumstances are TFA benefits recalculated during the TFA period:

1. federally mandated updates to Food Supplement Program allotments and deductions in October;

2. recoupment; and

3. if a member of an TFA household moves out and either reapplies on their own or is reported as a new member in another Food Supplement household.

Transitional Food Assistance (TFA) Period

The TFA benefit period begins the first month following the last month TANF financial assistance was received and continues for five consecutive months, unless during the TFA period the household:

1. opens for TANF cash;

2. reapplies for regular Food Supplement Benefits; or

3. requests that TFA close.

The recertification period for Food Supplement Program will be reset to match the last month of TFA at the time the household is found eligible for TFA. See FS 666-8, Shortening a Certification Period.

Households will be mailed a special review form the end of month four of the TFA period. Households must recertify for regular Food Supplement benefits by completing the review form during TFA month five to have eligibility for regular Food Supplement benefits redetermined. During the recertification, all changes that were reported during the TFA period, and any new information, will be used to determine ongoing Food Supplement Program eligibility. If the household fails to complete and submit the review form or reapply, TFA automatically terminates on the last day of month five.

Transitional Food Assistance (TFA) Work Requirements

There are no work registration requirements or ABAWD work requirements during the TFA period.

Notes

10-144 C.M.R. ch. 301, § 600-FS 666-5