TANF Changes: 5 Year Limit

If you or someone you know receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), you should know that DSHS HAS AMENDED THE RULES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON TANF/SFA (State Family Assistance) FOR 60 MONTHS (or 5 years) EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2011.

What does this mean for families that have been on for 60 months?
• Families will lose their TANF benefits if they have been on for 60 months in their lifetime, unless they qualify for an exemption or a hardship exception.

What are the exemptions?
• You are an older adult care taker relative (over 55 years old, are caring for a child, and you are not the child’s parent OR
• You are an adult with a severe and chronic disability OR
• You are required to be in the home to care for a child with special needs OR
• You are required to be in the home to care for another disabled adult

What are the hardship extensions?
• You have an open child welfare case with the state and this is the first time that you have had a child that is a dependent of the state OR
• You are working in unsubsidized employment for 32 hours or more per week OR
• You can document that you are victim of family violence and you are working with domestic violence services.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I QUALIFY FOR AN EXEMPTION OR HARDSHIP EXTENSION?
1. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIAELY CONTACT YOUR DSHS CASE MANAGER OR SOCIAL WORKER
• DSHS case managers and social workers review cases and determine if a person meets one of the exemptions or hardship extensions
2. If you think you qualify for an exemption or hardship extension you have a right to appeal the termination
If your benefits are scheduled to end January 31, 2011 YOU HAVE ONLY UNTIL JANUARY 31ST TO FILE your appeal if you want to keep getting benefits until the hearing decision. You can still file an appeal later, within 90 days of the notice, but you won’t keep your benefits while you wait.

IF YOU LOSE YOUR HEARING
• Any continued benefits will stop, and you may have to repay benefits. You will not have to repay more than 2 months of the continued cash benefits.

HOW TO FILE AN APPEAL
• Best way: Go in person to the local DSHS office. Turn in a written hearing request. Keep a copy. Have DSHS stamp your copy with the date received by DSHS. Keep this as your proof.
• Next best way: Call DSHS Be sure to speak to a person (not just a voicemail box). Get the person’s name. Write down the name, the date and time. Keep this as your proof. Ask for a fair hearing for your benefit termination. Ask the worker to make the written request to the hearings office for you.
• Another way: Fax, and mail the original the same day. Use the fax number and address on the hearing form. Keep a copy. Keep your proof of fax (fax transmittal). This is safer if you can mail it certified mail, return receipt.
• Call Office of Administrative Hearings for King County call the Seattle Office at (206) 389-3400

SEEK LEGAL HELP
• In King County: Call 2-1-1 or Solid Ground at 206-694-6742
• In all other counties: Call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014 (Monday-Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)

Toys for Tots free new toy distribution

If you or someone you know have children under 14 and receive benefits from DSHS such as food stamps, I want to let you know about Toys for Tots, a program which distributes free new toys as holiday gifts to needy children in the community. Toys for Tots is partnering with DSHS Community Service Offices (CSOs) in King County this holiday season to distribute toys for children, birth through age 14. For the next two weeks they will be giving away toys at DSHS offices and some churches throughout King County. DSHS will make a list of clients on public assistance who are active, pending or recently closed and provide that list to Toys for Tots. Families may receive toys once during the holiday season. People who are unsure of their status should call their local CSO for clarification. The Toys for Tots give aways are on the following dates and locations. All events start at 8:30am and end at 3pm, except Belltown, which ends at 2pm.

Thursday December 9, 2010
Lake Samm Foursquare Church
14434 NE 8th Street, Bellevue
King South CSO
1313 W Meeker St, Kent

Monday December 13, 2010
King South CSO
1313 W Meeker St, Kent
Capitol Hill CSO
1700 E Cherry, Seattle

Tuesday December 14, 2010
White Center CSO
9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Federal Way CSO
616 348th St, Federal Way

Wednesday December 15, 2010
White Center CSO
9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Belltown CSO
2106 2nd Ave Seattle

Thursday December 16, 2010
White Center CSO
9650 15th Ave SW, Seattle
Renton CSO
500 SW 7th St, Renton

Monday December 20, 2010
King North CSO
907 NW Ballard Way, Seattle
Federal Way CSO
616 348th St, Federal Way

Tuesday December 21, 2010
Rainier CSO
3600 S Graham St, Seattle
Auburn First United Methodist Church
100 N St SE, Auburn

For more information about Toys for Tots visit toysfortots.org
Happy Holidays!

Major Medicaid Cuts Proposed in 2011

Do you or someone you know receive Medicaid benefits? You should know that DSHS is proposing major cuts to Medicaid benefits next year. Many Medicaid services are scheduled to be cut in 2011. Adult dental services will no longer be covered. If you are working with a dentist now, make sure that the dentist submits all information required by DSHS for pre-approval before December 31st of this year. If your current Medicaid plan covers services such as vision and hearing, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy, these benefits are also scheduled to be cut on January 1st, so if you need any of those services, such as glasses, you might want to get those taken care of now too. DSHS will send notices to clients affected sometime in December, but that may not be enough time to work with your provider. They also plan to cut Medicare Part D Co-Pays, State Alien Medical coverage and School-Based Medical Services by January 1st.

DSHS have also proposed some other major Medicaid cuts to take effect March 1st 2011, including cutting adult pharmacy benefits and GAU medical benefits. They also plan to cut Family Planning/Take Charge, First Steps/Maternity Support Services/Infant Case Management/Childbirth Education, Children Health Program (CHP), and Interpreter Services by March 1st.

Hopefully advocacy can get these benefits reinstated. Call your state legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and tell them not to make the proposed cuts to Medicaid benefits. The legislative hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 430 pm. The state legislature needs to hear from you why they can't make these devastating cuts to Medicaid, call 1-800-562-6000. But be prepared for these proposed cuts by getting your dental and medical work done now.

For More information:
Complete list of proposed Medicaid cuts
Letter from DSHS to Medicaid clients
DSHS Medicaid budget webpage