- Has anyone received benefits in another county or state?
- The Georgia Food Stamp/Medicaid/TANF database is accessible to all Georgia case managers across all 159 counties and will be able to access all of your benefit history in Georgia.
- Technically, you could possibly receive benefits in more than one state for a period of time. However, state databases do interface and you will get caught. You will be responsible for paying back those benefits and could face jail time.
- Has anyone been convicted of giving false information about where they live and who they are to get multiple Food Stamp benefits in more than one area after 08/22/1996?
- You can be convicted for giving false information. If choose not to be honest about who you are, where you live, the people in your household, or how much income you have coming into the home, then you are responsible for repaying benefits you received under false pretenses.
- Did anyone in your household voluntarily quit a job or voluntarily reduce his/her work hours below 30 hours per week within 30 days of this application?
- The 1996 Welfare Reform Act requires certain Food Stamp recipients to participate in work activities such as training, job search, or employment.
- If the agency determined you voluntarily quit a job or reduced your work hours to under 30 hours a week, you can possibly be sanctioned.
- Is anyone pregnant?
- This question is specifically for Medicaid. If the pregnant woman does not have Medicaid, then they can potentially apply for Medicaid.
- TANF applicants must provide the unborn baby’s father’s name and address so that DFCS may refer to the father to Child Support Enforcement. If you apply for TANF for a child, the non-custodial parent is automatically referred to Child Support Enforcement.
- For Medicaid applicants, does anyone have any unpaid medical bills for the past 3 months?
- Medicaid applicants may potentially qualify to have unpaid medical bills for the past 3 months covered by Medicaid. Any bills that you have already paid cannot be reimbursed.
- Is anyone disqualified from the Food Stamp or TANF program? A person may be disqualified if they:
- are a fleeing felon
- are not in compliance with probation or parole
- has committed an intentional program violation including
- trading, selling, or intending to sell Food Stamp benefits
- improperly using, possesing, or obtaining Food Stamp EBT cards or benefits
- Using benefits to buy ineligible items such as alchohol or cigarettes
- Committing any acts that constitute a violation of the Food Stamp and Nutriton Act of 2008
- Is anyone fleeing to avoid prosecution or jail for a felony?
- If anyone in the household is considered a fleeing felon, they are not eligible for Food Stamp benefits.
- Is anyone violating conditions of probation or parole?
- If anyone is violating conditions of probation or parole, they are ineligible for Food Stamps
- Does anyone have a felony conviction because of behavior related to possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance (i.e., drug felon) after 08/22/1996 or a violent felony?
- Georgia lifted the permanent disqualification for people with drug felonies on July 1, 2016.
- As long as the person convicted of the felony is not in prison and is compliant with all conditions of their probation or parole, they remain eligible for Food Stamps.
- If a convicted person violates the terms of their probation or parole as determined by a court order or by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, they become inelible for Food Stamps. If these individuals complete the original sentence imposed on them, they will remain eligible for Food Stamp benefits.
- Have you or a household member been convicted of trading Food Stamps for drugs after 08/22/1996?
- Trading Food Stamps for drugs is an intentional program violation (IPV) and the person may be ineligible for Food Stamps
- Have you or any household member been convicted of buying or selling Food Stamp benefits over $500 after 08/22/1996?
- Buying or selling Food Stamps is an intentional program violation (IPV) and the person may be ineligible for Food Stamps
- Have you or any household member been convicted of trading Food Stamp benefits for guns, ammunition, or explosive after 08/22/1996?
- Trading Food Stamp benefits for guns, ammunitions, or explosives is an intentional program violation (IPV) and the person may be ineligible for benefits.
- Have you or any member of your household been convicted as an adult of aggravated sexual abuse, murder, sexual exploitation, and other abuse of children, a Federal or State offense involving sexual assault, or an offense under State law determined by the Attorney General to be substantially similar to such an offense, after 02/07/2014?
- The Agricultural Act of 2014 states if a household member has been convicted of any of these crimes and is not in compliance with the terms of their sentence or they are a fleeing felon, then they are prohibited from receiving Food Stamp benefits.
- Any conviction prior to 2014 do not apply.
- Applicants must attest to whether they or any member of the household has been convicted of such a crime. (Basically, this means you should answer the questions in this section honestly or you may have to repay benefits and be face potential legal consequences if you don’t.)
- Have you or any household member received lottery or gambling winnings?
- If a household member has one more than $4500 from the lottery, gambling, prizes, awards, or any other type of windfall then you are required to report the money received.
- However, unless it is the Georgia lottery, then it is doubtful your case manager will have access to that information.
- REMEMBER: if you choose not report any winnings or windfalls, remember that you may potentially have to pay back any benefits you received and can face legal consequences.
- Has anyone used TANF funds or the EPPIC Card at the following establishments: liquor stores, casinos, poker rooms, adult entertainment business, bail bonds, night clubs, salons/taverns, bingo halls, racetracks, guns/ammunition stores, cruise ships, psychic readers, smoking shops, tattoo/piercing shops, and spa/massage salons?
- Using TANF funds at any of these establishments constitutes an intentional program violation (IPV.)
- Is anyone who is applying for benefits currently receiving alimony?
- Alimony is considered income and should be reported. Also, there is no way a case manager can know about alimony unless your report it or someone you personally know reports you to fraud for failing to disclose you receive alimony.
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