1. Expedited Food Assistance
Revised 10/14/2012
Revised 10/11/2012

2. Introduction FAP Expedited Service policy is found in BAM 117.
In this training you will be completing a group activities which includes client scenarios.
You will also look at the application process for FAP Expedited Service.
Lastly, you will see how to screen & rescreen in Bridges for FAP Expedited Service.

3. FAP Expedited Service Policy
Importance of Expedited Service
Common questions / comparison to regular service
Eligibility criteria
Standard allowances

4. Why is the Expedited Food Assistance Program important?
It is designed to help the neediest of clients as quickly as possible.
Revised 10/11/2012

5. Common Questions What is FAP Expedited Service?
It has a shorter SOP and fewer verification requirements to determine FAP eligibility than are normally required. (Pg.1)
What cases must be screened for expedited?
All FAP applications must be screened for Expedited Service. (excerpt from pg.2)

6. Important Definitions
Expedited FAP
Shorter standard of promptness.
Fewer verification requirements.
Liquid Assets
Cash on hand.
Checking or saving account.
Savings bonds.

7. Standard of Promptness
Expedited groups MUST have a Bridge Card and access to their benefits no later than the 7th calendar day following the date of application.

8. Eligibility factors are the same for expedited as regular FAP.
There are 3 main areas to be looked at when determining if a group is entitled to expedited service.
Expedited Food Assistance Criteria
Gross Monthly Income:
Earned Income
Social Security
Child Support
Alimony
Liquid Assets:
Cash on Hand
Checking/Savings Acct.
Savings Certificates
Shelter Expenses:
Mortgage/Rent
2nd Mortgage
Home Equity Loan
Lot Rent
Utility Expenses

9. If one of the following situations exists, an applicant group is entitled to expedited FAP.
Less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets.
Destitute migrant or seasonal farmworkers and have $100 or less in liquid assets.
Combined gross income and liquid assets are less than monthly shelter obligation (This includes: Rent, Mortgage, Taxes, Insurance, Heat and Utility Standard or Non-Heat Electric, Water, Sewer, Telephone, Cooking Fuel or Trash Removal Standards.)

10. Shelter Deductions (as of 10/1/13)
Standard
Deduction Amount
Heat and utility
$553.00
Non-heat electric
$124.00
Water and/or sewer
$77.00
Telephone
$34.00
Cooking fuel
$47.00
Trash/garbage removal
$21.00
Standards change October 1st, each year.
RFT 255 – Food Assistance Standards

11. Group Activity, client scenarios
Determining Expedited Food Assistance Eligibility

12. SCENARIO #1 Robert Smith works at McDonald’s with a
gross income of $ per month.
Mr. Smith has a checking account at
Fifth Third bank with an available balance
of $10.00, and he is currently living in
an apartment with a monthly rental
cost of $ per month,
all utilities are included.
Mr. Smith has a cell phone.

13. Is Mr. Smith eligible for Expedited FAP service?
McDonald’s income = $750/mn.
Checking acct. = $10.00
Rent = $550/month
Telephone Expense = $34.00

14. Mr. Smith’s shelter obligation is less than his monthly income
Gross income $750 +
Checking acct. $10
= $760
Monthly rent $550 +
Telephone Expense $34
= $584
Mr. Smith’s shelter obligation
is less than his monthly income
and assets.
Mr. Smith’s case is NOT Expedited FAP.

15. SCENARIO #2
Susan Jones receives $850 per month in disability benefits from Social Security.
Ms. Jones has a checking account at
Huntington Bank with an available balance of $ She has a monthly lot rent obligation of $350 and a monthly
mortgage obligation of $300.
Ms. Jones is required to pay for all utilities, including her heat.

16. Is Ms. Jones eligible for Expedited FAP service?
Social Security income
= $850
Checking account
= $5
Mortgage and Lot Rent
= $650
Heat and Utility Expense
= $553

17. Monthly rent/mortgage $650 + Heat and Utility Expense $553 = $1203
Gross income $850 +
Checking acct. $5
= $855
Monthly rent/mortgage $650 +
Heat and Utility Expense $553
= $1203
Ms. Jones’ shelter obligation
is more than her monthly income
and assets.
Ms. Jones’ case IS Expedited FAP.

18. SCENARIO #3
Jennifer Davis is currently unemployed. Ms. Davis does not have a checking or savings account, but she does have $40.00 cash on hand. She is currently living in a friend’s house and is not required to pay rent or help with any utilities. Ms. Davis does not have a cell phone.

19. Is Ms. Davis eligible for Expedited FAP service?
Income = $0
Assets = $40
Rent and utilities = $0

20. Ms. Davis has less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less
Checking acct. $0
Cash on hand $40.00
Monthly rent $0+
Telephone Expense $0
= $0
Ms. Davis has less than $150 in
monthly gross income and $100 or less
in liquid assets.
Ms. Davis’ case IS Expedited FAP.

21. Barbara Roberts earns $1200/month
SCENARIO #4
Barbara Roberts earns $1200/month
working at Shape Corporation. Mrs. Roberts has 2 children, Jonathan and Elizabeth. Each child receives $200/month in child support. Mrs. Roberts has a savings account at Macatawa Bank with an available balance of $400. She has a monthly mortgage of $780 with property taxes and homeowners insurance included in the monthly mortgage. Due to Mrs. Roberts owning her home, she is required to pay for all utilities, including her heat.

22. Is Mrs. Roberts and her children eligible for Expedited FAP service?
Mrs. Roberts earned income =$1200
Jonathan’s Child Support = $200
Elizabeth’s Child Support = $200
Macatawa Savings Acct. = $400
Mortgage = $780
Heat and Utility Expense = $553

23. Mrs. Roberts’ case is NOT Expedited FAP.
Gross income $1200 +
Child support $400 +
Savings acct. $400
= $2000
Monthly mortgage $780 +
Heat and Utility Expense $553
= $1333
Mrs. Roberts shelter obligation
is less than her monthly income
and assets.
Mrs. Roberts’ case is NOT Expedited FAP.

24. Application process Interview Minimum Required Verifications
Subsequent months
Subsequent expedited determinations
Expedited service denials

25. Expedited FAP groups must participate in an interview
Expedited FAP groups must participate in an interview. A telephone interview is acceptable.

26. Minimum Required Verification
for Expedited Groups
In all cases, identity MUST be verified.
Reasonable efforts must be made to verify:
Residency
Income or lack of income
Assets, and
All other eligibility factors.

27. IDENTITY The grantee must verify his/her identity.
If an authorized representative (AR) applies on behalf of a group, the AR must verify his own and the client’s identity.

28. Allowable verifications for identity:
Drivers license
State-issued identification
School-issued identification
Document indicating a client’s receipt of benefits under a program which requires verification of identity (ex. SSI, RSDI)
The data match with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is sufficient to verify identity and should be completed prior to requesting verification from a recipient; see BAM 130.

29. Subsequent Benefits
Groups that did NOT provide all verifications that are required must NOT be issued benefits for subsequent months until all necessary verifications are received.

30. EXAMPLE: Application = December 4 SOP = December 10
Expedited Opened = December 6
Months Authorized = December only
Benefit Period = December – November next year.
Client must return
verifications in order
to receive benefits
beyond December.

31. Groups that apply after the 15th of the month receive a minimum benefit period of two months (month of application and following month).

32. EXAMPLE: Application = January 17 SOP = January 23
Expedited Opened = January 19
Months Authorized = January & February
Benefit Period = January – December next year
Client must return verifications in order to receive benefits beyond February.

33. Limits on Expedited Service
There is NO limit on the number of times a group can be approved under expedited procedures.
However, prior to the next expedited approval, the FAP group must either:
1)Complete the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited approval, or,
2)Be processed under normal application processing standards. 1 2 3

34. Denial of Expedited Service
Verbally notify the client of the
expedited service denial if
expedited service was registered.
You must re-screen ALL FAP applications in Bridges to determine whether the FAP is Expedited. If the FAP is not Expedited, Bridges will reset the SOP due date to 30 days from the original application date.

35. Registration Support Staff (RSS) –
Expedited Screening
RSS can obtain information from Section B of the DHS-1711 to make entries on to the Expedited Screening Page in Bridges during the registration process.

36. Registration Support Staff (RSS) –
Expedited Screening
For MiBridges Applications, Expedited Screening information is completed by the applicant and populated in Bridges for RSS staff.

37. Eligibility Specialist (ES) must Re-Screen EVERY pending FAP application for Expedited Service, either based on the information obtained through the MiBridges Application, the DHS-1171, or verifications.

38. ES can obtain information from Section H of the DHS-1711 to make entries for Assets on to the Expedited Screening page in Bridges.

39. Alternately, ES obtain information from the MiBridges application in the Assets Section to make entries for in Bridges for re-screening purposes.

40. ES can obtain information from Section L for self-employment income.

41. Section M for employment income.

42. Section N for unearned income

43. From the MiBridges application, ES can obtain information regarding income from the Other Income Information section.

44. Job Income section from MiBridges for employment income.

45. To conduct a FAP Expedited (Re)screening during your data collection session, make sure you stop at the Program Request LUW.

46. At the Program Request – Summary screen select the Pencil Icon for FAP.

47. utility obligation information here.
On the Program Request screen, select “Next” twice to get to the Expedited Screening tab.
Enter
asset,
income
and
utility obligation information here.

48. Your result will appear here.
Answer the questions regarding prior FAP benefits and prior Expedited determinations.
Select Screen button
Your result will appear here.

49. Questions?