A couple may want to apply for SSP and SNAP benefits. For the SSP, an eligible couple’s countable income has to be evenly split (no more than $1 difference) between the two cases. Companion coding is a way to code the cases so that the correct income is counted for both the SSP and SNAP. Companion coding also allows you to enter each spouse’s information into FACS once, rather than having to enter it all into both cases.

If both spouses are listed on a previous SNAP case, the spouse who is not the payee should be removed from all benefits.
Companion coding has Primary and Secondary cases.

• Primary is the case that issues the SNAP benefit for the household. This case is processed last.
• Secondary is the case(s) that do not issue the SNAP benefit. If there is more than one secondary case, they must all be completed.
• While processing you will sometimes get an edit stating that the primary case must be updated. Once you certify the primary case, the edit should drop off.

Bart and Sadie Apple, both considered disabled, applied for SSP, Medical, and SNAP on 08/18/2023. Bart, age 63, receives $801 RSDI and Medicare. Sadie, age 60, and receives $324 SSI and is not on Medicare. They have a common bank account and one vehicle in Bart’s name that they use for transportation to medical appointments. They are given a shelter deduction of $400 a month and SUA for utilities.

Countable income: $801 + $324 = $1125. They meet income eligibility guidelines as they are both related to ABD. They also meet income eligibility guidelines for SNAP for two people considered disabled.

As the income for SSP is split evenly, $1125 / 2 = $562.50, so one case should show $563 and the other one will show $562.

The SNAP benefit will be issued on Sadie’s case so it’s the primary case. The secondary case, Bart’s, will be processed first.

On the Secondary case, enter information into the following tabs:

Case Info Tab

This is where companion case information will be entered.

• Enter the case number of the spouse (primary case) that will receive income information from his case.
• Indicator – Both Financial Assistance and SNAP Companion Cases

Household Tab

• Remember to code the Marital Status as Married/Living with Spouse
• Code the following (Benefit – Status – Effective Date)
  

  Benefit	Status	Effect Date
  Aged-State Supplement	Added to Benefit	08/01/2023
  Medical Assistance	Added to Benefit	08/01/2023
  Food Benefit	Received Food Benefits in Companion Case	08/18/2023
  QMB – Qualified Medicare Beneficiary	Added to Benefit	09/01/2023

Income Tab

• Do you or anyone living with you have income? Click YES
• Diverted Income $238

Bart’s case should count $563 towards the SSP/Medical. SNAP needs to count the full income. SNAP ignores this block.

• RSDI Declared Monthly Amt $801
• How Often Paid Monthly
• Receiving YES
• Countable Amt (PS2) $801

Be sure to enter the SSN Claim Number with RSDI income.

Enter information in the following tabs:

Resource Tab

The bank account is listed on the cases of both spouses so that anyone who views the case will be clear that both names appear as owners of the asset.

• ABAWD Tab
• TPL Tab

Click YES for any individual who receives Medicare

• Medical

Click YES for any individual if they are requesting medical services.

Fin Assistance Tab

• Type Action Taken Certified
• Reason Any reason code is acceptable for certifications
• Application Source Select Appropriate Choice
• Application Date
• Certification Date
• Effective Number of Months 99
• Date of Last Determination (must match cert date)

After saving case, check GB and GF screens to make sure income, resources and benefits are correct. Benefits should show A/A, M/A, Q/A, S/H.

Block 59 (Total Net) in the GB screen should show $563 in this example.

If everything appears to be correct, Save Case and Save Case completely through.

On the Secondary case, enter information into the following tabs:

Case Info Tab

This is where companion case information will be entered.

• Enter the case number of the spouse (secondary case) that will receive income information from her case.
• Indicator – Both Financial Assistance and SNAP Companion Cases

Household Tab

• Remember to code the Marital Status as Married/Living with Spouse
• Code the following (Benefit – Status – Effective Date)

Income Tab

SSI

• Do you or anyone living with you have income? Click YES
• SSI Declared Monthly Amt $324
• How Often Paid Monthly
• Receiving YES
• Countable Amt (PS2) $324

The $238 diverted from Bart’s case should be added to this case for the SSP/Medical. SNAP needs to count only her $324 of SSI.

Other 1

• Declared Monthly Amt (FSS-1) $238
• Indicator (PS2) Income Received From Other HH Member

This indicator must be used or too much income will be considered for the SNAP benefit.

• How Often Paid Monthly
• Receiving YES
• Countable (PS2) $238

Enter information in the following tabs:

• EXP Services

The Exp Services tab will be completed on the Primary case.

• Resource Tab
• SNAP Tab

The SNAP tab will be completed on the Primary case.

• Medical
• Shelter Tab

The Shelter tab will be completed on the Primary case.

• ABAWD Tab
• Fin Assistance Tab
  • Type Action Taken Certified
  • Reason Any reason code is acceptable for certifications
  • Application Source Select Appropriate Choice
  • Application Date
  • Certification Date
  • Effective Number of Months 99
  • Date of Last Determination (must match cert date)

SNAP TAB

• Type Action Taken Certified
• Reason SNAP Certification
• Application Source Select Appropriate Choice
• App Date
• Cert Date
• Effective Mos 99
• Cert Period 03
• Adv Notice Req NO
• Total Countable Resources $58
• Elderly/Disabled Indicator A – All Household Members
• No. of Companion Cases 01

Save Case

Occasionally the primary case may give an edit stating to enter information into the ‘Medical Indicator” block. If this occurs; click the Medical Gen tab. Then, select ‘Eligible’ for the Medical Indicator block.

Note: If this edit continues, submit Remedy ticket to correct the coding.

Review the GB and GC screens in IMS to make sure the income reads correctly on each page.

• On the GC screen, make sure the number of household members is correct.

When the primary case is fully processed, an edit is sometimes triggered on the secondary case. The edit can be cleared by going to the secondary case and making a change in the Finance section.