The Department of Human Services has agreed to participate in a federal demonstration project under which income from compensation received from the Bureau of Census for temporary employment in the 2000 decennial census will be excluded as income in the Food Stamp Program. This exclusion will apply at initial application, at recertification, when a quarterly report is processed or when a reported change is processed during the period beginning February 1, 2000, and ending December 31, 2000.
The exclusion is effective immediately and will apply retroactively to any earnings from temporary employment in the 2000 census received on or after February 1, 2000. The household must provide verification of his or her status as a temporary census worker. The notation "Census 2000" will appear on the pay statement of temporary employees hired by the Bureau of Census. Once a household has established the status of a household member as a temporary census worker, it will not be necessary to verify monthly earnings from the Bureau of Census. However, the household should be asked to report when such employment ends.
Bureau of Census Offices have opened at Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Pine Bluff.
* In Fort Smith, the main telephone number is (501) 648-3824 and the recruitment number is (501)648-1567.
* In Jonesboro, the main telephone number is (870) 268-4150 and the recruitment number is (870)268-4130.
* In Little Rock, the main telephone number is (501) 219-8016 and the recruitment number is (501)219-8023.
* In Pine Bluff, the main telephone number is (870) 536-3425 and the recruitment number is (870) 536-2137.
Temporary employment with the Bureau of Census will:
* Exempt the household from the work registration requirements of FSC 3110 if the employment is for 30 hours or more per week;
* Satisfy the Food Stamp Program requirement to work (FSC 3500) if the employment is for 20 hours or more per week; and
* Allow a student to meet the criteria in FSC 1622.2 if the employment is for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
If temporary earnings were included in a food stamp budget after February 1, 2000, but prior to the receipt of this directive, the earnings will be removed from the budget. Food stamp benefits lost by the household as a result of counting the earnings will be restored to the household. See FSC 13300 - 13320 for instructions on restoring benefits.
This income exclusion will also apply in the TEA Program. Separate instructions are being developed for handling TEA cases.
Inquiries to: Betty Helmbeck, Food Stamp Section, (501) 682-8284
Limit for Arkansas State Operated Teaching Hospitais
016.20.00 Ark. Code R. 010