The following are FAQs concerning Transitional Food Benefits (TFB):

1. Can a client receive TFB if they have a pending SNAP application, but have open TANF cash assistance?No. The SNAP benefit must be open and ongoing to receive TFB.
2. IF TFB for both S-SNAP (formerly known as SAP) and NON-PA households?No. TFB is only for qualifying S-SNAP (SAP) households who have an ongoing SNAP benefit case.
3. Can TANF households whose TANF cash assistance is closing due to excess income, still qualify for Transitional Food Stamp Benefits?Yes. Households leaving TANF due to excess income for qualify for TFB, even if the household exceeds standard income limits for SNAP.
4. The TANF cash assistance case is being closed due to resources. Client received $6,000 in a cash award. Does the SNAP benefit case need to also be closed or does the client qualify for TFB?The client would be eligible to receive TFB. However, the worker must manually place the food benefit section in “T” status on TANF closures of client requests. This will prompt the system to issue three months of TFB.
5. Can a household qualify for TFB if they request to have their TANF cash assistance be closed?Yes, unless the household also requests their SNAP case be closed. FACS case notes should be documented to clearly explain that client has requested SNAP case be closed.
6. Are households that are determined ineligible for TANF after their initial month of eligibility entitled to receive TFB? What if the last SNAP benefits were issued under expedited processing?Yes, as long as the household was determined eligible for the TANF program (the case is open) and then closes. Pended items of SNAP verification would also have to have been submitted and SNAP case certified as S-SNAP prior to TANF closure action.
7. Are households limited to how many times they can receive TFB?
   No.
8. Suppose a TANF household calls and requests to have their case closed because they have new earnings. The household is unable or fails to provide sufficient information about their income. Does this household qualify for TFB? How will the transitional benefit amount be determined?Yes. This household qualifies for TFB and the verification is postponed until the end of the 3-month transition period. The TFB benefit would be calculated by removing the TANF cash assistance from the Pre-TANF budget.
9. After TANF closure, if household contacts worker to cure sanction, what action should be taken on the closed SNAP case?If client wishes to re-apply for SNAP, the worker should process a new SNAP application and depending on the household’s circumstances, certify for expedited benefits pending TANF certification. Re-opening is not built into this process.
10. When a TANF section is closed and the client starts receiving their child support, is this child support income considered for the TFB period?No. Only the income being considered on the case prior to the TANF closure is to be considered during the TFB period.
11. If a household’s TANF eligibility ends because it no longer contains an eligible child, would the remaining adult(s) be designated as an ABAWD and would the TFB period be considered as their first three countable ABAWD months?Same household, except the only adult is a part-time college student. The client was considered an eligible student when the child remained in the home. Since the child left the home, would the adult now be subject to meet the student eligibility requirement?No. Regulations do not require an analysis of the client’s ABAWD status.No. Regulations do not require an analysis of the client’s student status during the TFB period.
12. The household is already receiving Transitional Food Benefits. The household moves in with another household (which may or may not be receiving SNAP benefits). Under the definition of household, both groups of people must be considered one household (i.e. client gets married, child under age 22 moves in). What should the state agency do?It is the transitional household’s choice after worker has discussed options with the household. The transitional household can either:Let the transitional period end normally or Terminate its own certification period and be re-certified by taking a new application. New household members cannot apply for food stamp benefits on their own during the TFB period. When the transitional benefits end, the state agency would combine the two households into one.
13. How is the TFB benefit amount calculated before freezing the income?The TFB benefit is calculated by removing the TANF cash assistance from the SNAP income. The income remains frozen at this set level until the household recertifies.
14. If new or increased income causes the loss of TANF eligibility, is the income counted in determining the transitional benefit?New or increased income that causes the loss of TANF eligibility would not be counted in calculating TFB. Existing income minus the TANF cash assistance would remain budgeted.
15. Will the TFB benefit calculation always result in an increased benefit amount?No. The TFB amount will either remain the same or increase. In many instances, the TFB household will receive the maximum SNAP allotment.
16. Will households that qualify for the TFB always receive 5 months of transitional food benefits?Yes, unless the client wishes to be re-certified for food benefits or is re-certified for TANF. If the client is re-certified for TANF, the TFB would end.
17. Suppose during the TFB period, the household calls in and reports changes. Should the worker take action on these changes even though benefits are to remain the same?While income is frozen at ‘T’ action, benefits could be increased with changes to the case. Therefore it is crucial that the worker determine if the change would increase benefits and discuss this with the client. The only action that should be taken on the food stamps would be closure at client’s request if they choose to re-apply or removal of a household member who has applied for benefits elsewhere.
18. Are TFB households required to report changes during the transitional period? What if the change would result in an increase in SNAP benefits?No. Transitional households are not required to report changes during the transition period. Households experiencing changes that would result in benefit increases may request to be re-certified before the expiration of the five month transition period, thereby ending their transition period early. If the TFB household completes an early re-certification that results in a decrease in food benefits, the worker must advise the household that it may withdraw the re-certification application and continue the TFB until the end of the transition period. Workers must also document FACS case notes regarding any changes reported.
19. Do SNAP recoupments continue to be calculated and balances updated when determining a household’s TFB?Yes. Ongoing recoupments can continue during the transitional period.
20. Are TFB cases with federal benefits affected by the January COLA?No. TFB cases are excluded from the January COLA.
21. When a client reports to he/she have moved out of state, what happens to the TFB status?Unless the client is reporting they are applying for benefits in that state or request the food benefit be closed, TFB will continue in Oklahoma until the TFB period expires at the end of five months.
22. Suppose the only eligible child has moved out of the client’s TFB household. What action should be taken on the case?There is no action to take on the case unless the child’s new household applies for benefits and wants to include the child. If the child is to be included in another case, the child should be removed from the TFB household. Remember the only actions to be taken on the TFB section would be a closure at the request of the client if they choose to re-apply for SNAP benefits or just simply want the case closed or the removal of a household member has applied for benefits elsewhere.
23. When the TFB period expires, what will be the reason code shown in field C.4?Field C.4. will show a 36A, automatic expiration of the certification period.
24. If the TANF case is closed for failing to cooperate with an OIG investigation, can the SNAP household receive TFB?Failing to cooperate with an OIG investigation is not a valid closure reason for TANF. However, TANF could close for failure to cooperate and in this instance the SNAP household is eligible for TFB.
25. On 01/28/16 client request closure of TFB since a new household member has moved in and would increase SNAP benefits. Worker takes action to close SNAP benefits effective 03/01/16. Is household eligible for a supplement for the month of February?No. Supplements should not be issued during the TFB period.