When the client reports an absence from the county of residence, the CAO must take action depending on the type of absence. The CAO must determine the following: 55 Pa. Code § 147.24(a)
The type of absence (out-of-county, out-of-commonwealth or out-of-US);
The purpose of the absence;
The length of the absence;
The person's temporary address.
A recipient is eligible during a temporary absence from his or her county of residence if he or she: 55 Pa. Code § 147.23(d)(1)
Is staying in another Pennsylvania county;
Plans to return within three months or after finishing an Act 152 Drug and Alcohol Service Program; and
Continues to meet other eligibility requirements.
When a client reports a temporary change of address to another Pennsylvania county and meets all eligibility requirements, the former county of residence continues benefits at the new address.
Except for Act 152 placements, if the recipient has not returned to the residence county after the sixth semimonthly (twice-a-month) benefit payment date following the move, the absence is considered permanent. See Section 123.72.
The original county or district continues benefits at the client’s new address for the length of any treatment stay in an Act 152 Drug and Alcohol Service Program facility outside the county where the person lived originally.
Act 152 residential treatment facility placement is considered a temporary absence. The CAO must never make a county or district of origin residence change only because the recipient is temporarily absent from the county or district of origin for an Act 152 Drug and Alcohol Service Program treatment. Some treatment stays may go on for up to three, six, or nine months.
During a temporary absence, the CAO must use normal procedures to renew eligibility. See Chapter 176. The client may give information for the renewal by mail or by personal interview with the CAO in the temporary county of residence.
A recipient’s move to another Pennsylvania county is considered permanent if he or she: 55 Pa. Code § 147.22
Is not expected to return within three months; or
Remains more than three months in the county of temporary residence.
If a recipient moves permanently to another county in Pennsylvania and continues to meet all eligibility requirements, benefits must continue from the old county at the new address for two semimonthly payments. 55 Pa. Code § 147.23(d)(2)
The CAO in the original county must do the following: 55 Pa. Code § 147.24(a)(4)(i)
Make the address change and, if necessary, adjust the monthly assistance payment to show change in income or household composition.
Base the payment on the family size allowance (FSA) in the county of origin.
Discontinue benefits effective the day before the third semimonthly benefit after the move is reported. Use reason code 099. See "Using CIS," Chapter 25 for instructions on data entry for an intercounty transfer.
Review the record for action needed for Medical Assistance or SNAP.
Update the record so that the last narrative entry gives the reason for the transfer.
Provide a Confirming Notice that includes the following:
Confirmation of the change of address;
Amount of any change in the monthly payment;
Date assistance will be discontinued;
The address and phone number of the new CAO;
A statement advising the client to contact the CAO in the new county of residence within three work days to establish eligibility in that county.
NOTE: Any appeal must be heard in the new county of residence.
Transfer the case record to the new CAO within five days after the move is reported. Send the record by first class mail with a Standard Transmittal (PW 361-S) for return by the new CAO.
If the record will not be ready for transfer within five days, send a copy of the Confirming Notice to the new CAO immediately.
Process any required changes before the effective date of closure. This includes the replacement of benefits authorized by the CAO of origin but not received. See Chapter 180.
The new CAO must do the following: 55 Pa. Code § 147.24(a)(4)(ii)
If the client contacts the new CAO before the effective date of closure, schedule a renewal interview immediately. The client does not need to complete a new application. The appointment should be at least 15 days before the closure date to allow for an Advance Notice, if one is needed.
Complete a determination of eligibility and give appropriate notice of any changes in eligibility or payment amount.
NOTE: The client must receive an Advance Notice for any adverse actions, even if this requires opening the budget to meet the required ten-day time frame.
If the client is found eligible, authorize an opening effective the day after the closure date.
If the client has not contacted the CAO, send an Advance Notice advising that assistance will not be continued in the new county.
If the client contacts the new CAO after the effective date of closing, provide a PA 600, and process it as a new application.
A recipient who continues to meet the eligibility requirements stays eligible during a period of temporary absence from Pennsylvania. The CAO must consider any of the following to be a temporary absence: 55 Pa. Code § 147.23(c)
An absence of less than 30 days;
An absence of 30 days or more if the recipient verifies that he or she is prevented by illness or other good cause from returning and that he or she has not acted to establish residence elsewhere;
An absence of 30 days or more if the recipient provides proof that he or she intends to remain a resident of Pennsylvania and will return to Pennsylvania when the purpose of the absence is accomplished.
When a recipient notifies the CAO of a plan to reside temporarily out of Pennsylvania, the CAO must send a Confirming Notice to confirm the address change. The notice reminds the client that an absence of 30 days or more will be considered permanent unless he or she can verify that the absence is temporary.
On the 30th day, if the client has not returned or has not verified continued Pennsylvania residence, the CAO must send an Advance Notice to stop benefits on the first payment date after expiration of the notice.
If the client reports that the temporary absence will continue beyond 29 days and provides proof of continued Pennsylvania residence, the CAO must do the following:
Review the case at least once every 30 days to make sure the client continues to meet the temporary absence requirements.
If the client does not meet the requirements for temporary absence, send an Advance Notice and end benefits. Benefits end on the first payment date following advance notice.
The recipient must report a permanent move from Pennsylvania by the tenth of the month that follows the month the permanent move was made. When the recipient reports the move, the CAO must send an Advance Notice advising the client that his or her case will be closed. Assistance ends as follows:
If the Advance Notice expires before the benefit hold deadline, discontinue benefits effective as of the first payment date after the move.
If the Advance Notice expires after the benefit hold deadline, make the address change and discontinue benefits with the second payment date after the move.
NOTE: If the client has reported the move on a timely basis, there is no overpayment.
If the recipient does not report the move by the tenth of the month following the month of the move, the CAO must decide whether there was an overpayment and complete an overpayment referral, if necessary.
If a recipient is absent from the United States (the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or Guam), the CAO must follow the procedures in Section 123.73 or Section 123.74. 55 Pa. Code § 147.24(a)(5)
The CAO must do the following:
Continue benefits for no more than two semimonthly payments following the move, unless need can be determined.
If need cannot be determined, suspend assistance effective the third semimonthly payment date until the recipient returns to Pennsylvania and reestablishes need.
After an absence of 60 days, close the case.
Reissued September 21, 2012; replacing January 31, 2012