Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Division 06 - Medical Services › Rule 016.06.90-067 - FSC 250, Hours of Operation

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
SECTION: GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBJECT: CASEWORKER RESPONSIBILITIES
Training will also be provided to States ,Agency outreach
				workers. Including hotline operators who prescreen provide other food stamp
				services to applicants or the public. this Training need not be as'
				comprehensive as that for certification f[GREATER THAN]ersonnel. It will,
				however. be in sufficient detail and held frequent'ly"'enough to ensure that
				the public has access to accurate information about the Food Stamp Program and
				that any prescreening conducted Is accurate.
Individuals who are not state employees but are
				knowledgeable of program eligibility rules and ' certification procedures and
				are actively involved in work or volunteer activity related to food stamp
				certification rules will also receive appropriate training.
241
Public Attendance at
				Training
Public attendance at formal certification training
				sessions conducted on a statewide or regional basis Is permitted. Public
				attendance at such sessions will be limited to five percent of the total
				attendance or five training slots, whichever number is smaller. Provisions for
				public attendance need not be provided at training sessions for fewer than
				twenty people. The role of publi c partici pants at trai ni ng sessions may be
				limited to observation only.
242
FNS Review
FNS will review the effectiveness of the training program
				based on information from the performance reporting system and other
				sources.
250
Hours of
				Operation
At least annually, the hours of operation of county food
				stamp offices will be reviewed to ensure that the needs of food stamp
				recipients who work are adequately met. Based on the results of the review, it
				may be necessary to change the hours that county food stamp offices are open In
				order to meet the needs of such recipients.
300
Caseworker
				Responsibilities
The Food Stamp Certification Manual Is provided as a
				general guide to the policies governing the Food Stamp Program. Because each
				case situation differs slightly, the case worker is expected to use "good
				judgement" in applying these policies. While "good judgement" is Impossible to
				define exactly, this section wll 1 provide some Information about how this
				Agency expects a caseworker to meet his responsibilities in providing prompt,
				accurate services to all food stamp applicants and recipients on a
				non-discrlmatory basis.
Since most households applying for food stamps have
				limited income and resources, the caseworker Is expected to consider the effect
				of his decisions upon individual households. For example, a caseworker knows
				that a household is in dire circumstances but that household does not meet the
				criteria for expedited services. While FSC 8501 states that household must be
				provided an opportunity to participate no later than 30 days following the date
				of application, a caseworker using "good judgement" would take all the actions
				required to certify that household as quickly as possible. This may mean making
				extra telephone calls to obtain required verification or prioritizing work to
				complete the required paperwork.
The caseworker Is also expected to make a conscious
				effort to base a decision upon his general knowledge as well as his knowledge
				of the Food Stamp Program. For example, a household reports that the economic
				head of the household has quit his most recent employment. FSC 3600 calls for
				sanctions to be applied when the economic head of household quits a job without
				good cause. The caseworker has general knowledge that the job site at which the
				household member was employed is hazardous. The caseworker would base any
				decision about good cause on his general knowledge as well as the statements
				provided by the employer and the household.
When the caseworker cannot reach a decision about a case
				action based upon the policy and his general knowledge, he wi 11 consult his
				supervisor. If the supervisor is not able to reach a decision based upon his
				general knowledge of the program, a policy interpretation will be sought
				through the county's established chain of command.
310
Specific
				Responsibilities
Each caseworker has specific responsibilities while
				working in the Food Stamp Program and is held accountable for carrying out
				these responsibilities In a timely, accurate. courteous, and non-discriminatory
				manner. Each responsibility is discussed below.
311
Maintenance of the Food Stamp
				Certification Manual
Each new caseworker Is Issued a Food Stamp Certification
				Manual. That caseworker is responsible for adding new policy as issued and
				deleting old policy. Instructions for adding and deleting policy Is provided
				with each policy Issuance. A checklist of current manual material is provided
				twice per year,
312
Using the Food Stamp Certification
				Manual
The caseworker will use the Food Stamp Certification
				(FSC) Manual to determine the correct policy, procedures and timeliness
				standards applicable to the case action being completed. Tables of Contents,
				pages headers and a topical index are provided to assist the caseworker In
				finding the correct information.
Information regarding the food stamp automated system,
				FACTS, may be found in the Economic and Medical Services User Manual (EMSUM).
				References to EMSUM will be found throughout the FSC Manual.
When a specific situation Is not addressed in the FSC
				Manual or the EMSUM, the caseworker is responsible for making a reasonable
				decision based upon his general knowledge of the Food Stamp Program or for
				obtaining a policy interpretation through the county's established chain of
				command. All such situations must be documented in accordance with the
				provisions in FSC 314.