When the recipient 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:
The type of absence (out-of-county, out-of-commonwealth or out-of-country);
The purpose of the absence;
The length of the absence;
The recipient's temporary address.
A recipient is eligible during a temporary absence from their county of residence if they:
Are 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 recipient 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, Permanent Move to Another County in Pennsylvania-Intercounty Transfer.
The original county or district continues benefits at the recipient’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 recipient lived originally.
NOTE: An Act 152 residential treatment facility placement is considered a temporary absence. The CAO must never change a county or district of origin residence only because the recipient is temporarily absent from the county or district of origin for an Act 152 Drug and Alcohol Service Program treatment.
During a temporary absence, the CAO must use normal procedures to renew eligibility. See Chapter 176.2 Complete Renewal. The client may give information for the renewal by mail and by personal interview with the CAO in the temporary county of residence or the original county of residence.
A recipient’s move to another Pennsylvania county is considered permanent if they:
Are 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.
The CAO in the original county must do the following:
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 on the Household Summary Screen in the Case Action panel.
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
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.
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:
If the recipient contacts the new CAO before the effective date of closure, schedule a renewal interview immediately. The recipient is not required 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 recipient household is found eligible, authorize an opening effective the day after the closure date.
If the recipient household has not contacted the CAO, send an Advance Notice advising that assistance will not be continued in the new county.
If the individual contacts the new CAO after the effective date of closing, provide a PA 600, and process it as a new application.
NOTE: A new application is not necessarily required if the individual contacts the CAO within 60 days of the closure. See Chapter 179.2 Reconsidering Closed Benefits. See Chapter 179.3, Reconsidering Benefits that were Closed at Renewal if a renewal was due during the reconsideration period. A new application is required if adding a new mandatory or voluntary budget group member to the household.
NOTE: If the gaining CAO discovers an issue with an ICT once it’s been transferred, the gaining CAO should resolve the issue with the ICT before forwarding the issue to the ICT liaison of the losing CAO. (Example: SNAP semi-annual report (SAR) is due and is received prior to ICT being sent. Losing CAO did not run the SAR. SAR form is in imaging (Gaining CAO should run SAR.).
55 Pa. Code § 147.24(a)(4)(ii)
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:
An absence of less than 30 days;
An absence of 30 days or more if the recipient verifies that they are prevented by illness or other good cause from returning and that they have not acted to establish residence elsewhere;
An absence of 30 days or more if the recipient provides proof that they intend 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 recipient that an absence of 30 days or more will be considered permanent unless they can verify that the absence is temporary.
The worker must set an alert for 30 days. On the 30th day, if the recipient has not returned or has not verified continued Pennsylvania residence, the CAO must send an Advance Notice to stop benefits on the next payment date for which advance notice can be met.
If the recipient 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 recipient continues to meet the temporary absence requirements.
If the recipient does not meet the requirements for temporary absence, close the budget and send an Advance Notice and end benefits. Benefits end on the day before first payment date allowing Advance Notice.
The recipient must report a permanent move from Pennsylvania by the tenth day 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 their case will be closed. The CAO closes the budget the day before the first payment date for which advance notice can be given. See Chapter 177.3, Advance Notice.
If the recipient does not report the move by the tenth day of the month following the month of the move, the CAO must review for 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, Temporary Absence from Pennsylvania or Section 123.74, Permanent Move from Pennsylvania.
The CAO must do the following if the recipient is temporarily absent from the United States:
Continue benefits for no more than two semimonthly payments following the move, unless the individual has good cause for not returning within 30 days and states they are returning to Pennsylvania as soon as their good cause situation ends.
Suspend assistance effective the third semimonthly payment date until the recipient returns to Pennsylvania if good cause cannot be verified.
After an absence of 60 days, close the case if good cause cannot be verified.
Updated October 29, 2024; replacing September 21, 2012