Overview
The Department has been working with MassHealth and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to better-support clients with wraparound services they are eligible for and streamline the processes for accessing those programs. The primary goal of these efforts is to reduce the number of MassHealth clients who are likely eligible for SNAP based on financial and nonfinancial circumstances but are not actively receiving it.
In March 2020 the Department, in collaboration with MassHealth, implemented the SNAP Application Supplement in an attempt to close the SNAP Gap. The SNAP Gap is a term used to describe the variance between client participation in Medicaid health insurance provided by MassHealth and client participation in SNAP.
The Department then expanded the collaboration with MassHealth to include adding a checkbox to both the MassHealth paper application and renewal forms, allowing MassHealth applicants to simultaneously apply for SNAP benefits.
Most recently MassHealth clients who apply for or renew their MassHealth benefits online will be able to check the SNAP box and have their basic demographic data electronically transferred to DTA. The information will appear similar to a SNAP Web Application Data Sheet, and an RFA will automatically be completed. Since the MassHealth application/renewal will only transfer basic demographic data, staff are reminded that interviews must be completed for any type of MassHealth SNAP application.
Processing Paper MassHealth Combo Applications for SNAP
In BEACON, paper applications received from MassHealth are named MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP. This indexing option will be used for all paper SNAP applications that originate from MassHealth, including MassHealth renewal types.
Note |
Applications previously received and indexed as SNAP Application – MH Senior in the clients Scanned Document History will now have Document type of MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP. |
The MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP will capture basic client demographics so DTA can establish a SNAP application. Applicants must only provide name, address (if any) and signature to establish a SNAP application. Information about additional household members and case circumstances must be explored with the primary applicant at the point of interview.
FAWs will receive an Action to Process Scanned SNAP Application. An interview is required for all MassHealth Combo Applications for SNAP to collect missing information as part of the application process. When you receive an application for SNAP from MassHealth, you must:
review the MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP for minimal requirements (name, address – if any - and signature)
select Request for Assistance in the Workflow field of the My Office page
complete the pages in the RFA workflow
attempt 3 cold calls to conduct an interview
If the call is answered, and the client is available, the worker must conduct an interview
If the client does not answer, or answers and reports that they are unable to conduct an interview, you must schedule an interview within 7 days of receipt of the application
Staff must conduct interviews for MassHealth Combo Applications for SNAP using the same procedures outlined in Processing a SNAP Application in BEACON.
Dispositioning MassHealth Combo Applications for SNAP
SNAP applications received from MassHealth are not indexed by DTA-DPC staff. These applications are indexed through a MassHealth process that does not include DTA APID information. The action that is subsequently created will provide the client’s name and SSN, but it will not include an APID. These documents will be filed under “Unidentified Documents” if the Client information in the field Details are not updated manually by the case manager.
When a worker receives an action to process a “MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP” the worker must re-index the document to the client. Staff must follow the steps outlined on the OLG page Document Indexing and Dispositioning under the subtopic “How are documents re-indexed if they belong to another unit or another client?”
Note |
Once the document is re-indexed under the client’s assigned APID, the Document will be in a “Pending” status. Staff must ensure to appropriately disposition the document in the Scanned Document Details page following re-indexing to prevent an action from populating. |
Processing Online MassHealth Combo Applications for SNAP
When a client applies for or renews their MassHealth benefits online, the client will have the option to apply for SNAP just like they do on paper MassHealth applications and renewals. The client’s basic demographic information will be electronically transferred to DTA on a SNAP Application Data Sheet, similar to the existing SNAP Web Application Data Sheet, and an RFA will automatically be created. The Source will indicate that the SNAP Application Datasheet is from MassHealth. Additionally, there will be an automatic batch narrative once the data sheet is transferred indicating the client applied for SNAP via MassHealth.
The action name to process these online MassHealth Combo applications is called Start MassHealth SNAP Application.
Staff must process these online MassHealth Combo applications the same way regular SNAP web applications are processed. For more information on processing web applications, see The Web Application Workflow.