[Nfbmo] Fw: Blind Pension update

[Gary Wunder]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Eugene Coulter 
To: Gary Wunder 
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6:58 PM
Subject: Blind Pension update


(Gary please distribute)
Beginning within the next month or so the Family Support Division will  fully computerize Blind Pension, Supplemental Aid to the Blind, and Adult Medicaid cases. This process will take  about nine to twelve months as they will convert  a few counties at a time. Food Stamps were automated several years ago.
There should be no interruption in the receipt of the benefits and the policies are unchanged. However, when the change is completed  the computer will automatically take over many functions and after the worker puts in the information the computer determines eligibility.
What does it mean for people receiving these programs? First, you may receive letters asking about things you didn't think you needed to worry about. This is because the system checks to make sure all relevant data is entered. So, for the first year you may be asked to verify items you didn't know that you had to provide or thought were taken care of. The best solution is to give the frazzled bureaucrat  what the system is  demanding. For example, if you haven't been asked for your birth certificate in the last three years and were born outside of Missouri you may well be asked for it.
It is even more important to report right away when you move as the computer will be sending out more correspondence than you are used to receiving. It is policy if a letter is returned to FSD  without a new address the case  can be closed the day they get it back.
Also, annual review forms will be automatically generated and if the review is not received by the agency a warning letter is sent and the case closed ten days later. The caseworker cannot stop this process. With Family Medicaid some where between 25 and 50 percent of cases are closed each year for not sending back the annual review form. You will be given between two and three weeks to complete the review if the same process is followed for these programs as the others.
The normal caseworker will not need to know as much about the blind programs with the computer system in place; at least, everyone will be asked the same questions.
I thought I'd share this information in advance so you'll understand when your  case is put into the wonderful and perfect FAMIS system. There has  been talk that the computer may be programmed to automatically refer all blind applicants to RSB but I am unsure if the decision has been made on that yet.
Everyone take care and stay cool
Gene


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2270 - Release Date: 07/29/09 06:12:00