Appendix E Glossary | SNAP

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
SNAP Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Glossary

Effective Date:

October 2024

Chapter:

Appendix E

Policy Number:

Appendix E

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT-78

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-79

TERM OR ACRONYM	DEFINITION
ABAWD	Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents – is an individual who is a work registrant, not pregnant, not physically or mentally unfit for employment, not included in the AU with a child under age 18, and effective September 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023 is age 18 to 50, effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 is age 18 to 52, effective October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2030, is age 18 to 54.
ABD MEDICAID	Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid – Medical assistance for aged, blind or disabled individuals who are not eligible for SSI. These individuals receive Medicaid only.
ACF	Administration for Children and Families – The federal agency that provides oversight for the TANF program.
ADA	Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 – Federal legislation giving civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities. These protections are similar to those provided to individuals based on race, color, gender, age and religion.
ADEQUATE NOTICE	Adequate Notice – It is a notification to the A/R of initial approval or a change in eligibility or benefit levels.
ADH	Administrative Disqualification Hearing – A hearing initiated by the Office of Program Integrity and Compliance (OPIC) when it has been determined that an Intentional Program Violation has occurred.
AE	Agency Error – A claim that is established against an AU due to agency failure to take appropriate case actions.
AFB	Application for Benefits – the Gateway generated application for assistance.
AFDC	Aid to Families with Dependent Children – state administered cash assistance program for low-income families with dependent children under age 18. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 eliminated the open-ended entitlement of AFDC. The PRWORA created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant. However, some AFDC policies and procedures continue to be used in Medicaid classes of assistance for Children in Placement.
ALJ	Administrative Law Judge – Conducts fair hearings for the Office of State Administrative Hearings.
ALLOTMENT	Allotment – The total value of benefits an AU is authorized to receive each month.
AP	Absent Parent – A parent who does not have custody of the child.
APPLICATION	Application – The action by which an AU indicates a desire to receive assistance. Refer to Section 3105, Application Processing and Section 3710, Recertifications (Renewals).
APS	Adult Protective Services – A section within DFCS that provides services to adults who are abused or neglected.
A/R	Applicant/Recipient – An applicant or recipient of SNAP benefits.
AU	Assistance Unit – A group or individual(s) applying for or receiving benefits.
BEERS	SSA Beneficiary Earnings Exchange Record System – A computer match is performed between Gateway and BEERS to obtain income information on A/R’s.
BENDEX	Beneficiary Data Exchange System – A file that contains RSDI benefit information on individuals who are current or past recipients of public assistance.
BCIS	Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services – An agency of the United States Department of Justice. It is responsible for enforcing the laws regulating immigration.
CAA	Community Action Agency – A nonprofit organization, which can be either private or public, that is part of the network of entities established under the Economic Opportunity Action of 1964. Offices are located through the state and offer such services as emergency food assistance, assistance with utility bills and rent, home weatherization and employment services.
CAPS	Childcare and Parent Services – A program under the GA Department of Early Care and Learning: Bright from the Start (DECAL) that assists low-income families by subsidizing the cost of childcare.
CASE NOTES	Case Notes – A function in Gateway used to record comprehensive notation about the client and their case throughout the intake, eligibility determination, and case maintenance process.
CCSP	Community Care Services Program – The monthly cost share paid by an individual for medical services received through CCSP. The amount may be used as a medical expense. Refer to Section 3614, Excess Medical Deduction.
CHILDREN UNDER 19	Children Under 19 – Provides Medicaid to eligible children from birth through the last day of the month in which the child turns nineteen (19) years of age.
CLAIM	Claim – An overpayment of benefits that has been scheduled for recovery.
CLEARINGHOUSE	Clearinghouse – An automatic on-line computer system through which wages and benefit information are matched with state and federal agencies.
CLIENT ID	Client ID – A randomly assigned number identifying an A/R or other household members in Gateway.
COLA	Cost of Living Adjustment – An increase in RSDI, SSI, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Benefits based on a rise in the cost of living, usually received every January.
COMMERCIAL BOARDING HOUSE	Commercial Boarding House – An establishment licensed to offer meals and lodging for compensation with the intent of making a profit.
COMPLIANCE	Compliance – The act of successfully completing an Employment and Training (E&T) requirement before establishing the first three penalty months that an ABAWD has previously failed to fulfill.
CERTIFICATION PERIOD	Certification Period - This is the length an Applicant/Recipient can receive SNAP benefits. This term is used interchangeably with Period of Eligibility.
CPS	Child Protective Services – Refer to Section 3020, Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect.
DBHDD	Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - provides treatment and support services to people with behavioral health challenges and addictive diseases.
DCH	Georgia Department of Community Health – The agency responsible for Georgia’s health care resources, planning health coverage for uninsured Georgians, coordinating health planning for state agencies and insure individuals under the State Health Benefit Plan and various Medicaid program and DCH initiatives.
DEEMING	Deeming – A budgeting procedure which takes into account the resources and income of an alien’s sponsor to determine eligibility and benefit amount for the alien AU.
DFCS	Division (Department) of Family and Children Services – State/local agency under the Department of Human Services responsible for various social, economic and community programs that offer benefits and services to the citizens of Georgia.
DHS	Department of Human Services – The Georgia state agency responsible for the delivery of health and human services. It serves Georgia through regulatory inspection, direct service and financial assistance programs.
DISABLED	Disabled – Disabled individuals for SNAP purposes are defined as qualifying under one of the following categories: 1) receiving disability benefits under Titles I, II, X, XIV or XVI of the Social Security Act or, 2) receiving VA disability benefits for a service-connected or non-service-connected disability and the disability is rated as total or paid at the total rate by the VA (includes veterans, surviving spouse or surviving child of a veteran who is considered by the VA to be entitled to compensation and has a disability considered permanent under the SSA Act) or, 3) receiving Railroad Retirement disability annuity and has been determined to qualify for Medicare or, 4) receiving or certified for SSI or interim assistance pending receipt of SSI or, 5) receiving disability-related Medicaid assistance under Title XIX of the SSA (known as State Medical Eligibility Unit (SMEU), or 6) receiving disability retirement benefits from a governmental agency because of a disability considered permanent under Section 221(i) of the Social Security Act. “Receiving” is defined as receipt of or approval for benefits or services. If benefits are not being paid due to overpayments, the individual is still considered a recipient.
DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION	Discretionary Exemption – Employment and Training (E&T) work participation exemption that allows certain ABAWDs to be exempted from having to participate in work activities. The number of discretionary exemptions that a state is allowed is set by FNS annually.
DISQUALIFICATION	Disqualification – The consequence of an action taken to remove the needs of an individual from the assistance unit for an adjudicated intentional program violation or adjudicated misrepresentation of residency.
DOB	Date of Birth – The date an individual is born.
DOL	Department of Labor – Georgia agency responsible for employment services, unemployment compensation and other employment programs.
DRS	Disqualified Recipient System – The nationwide system matching social security numbers of individuals disqualified in the SNAP Program. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service manages the system.
DMA	Division of Medical Assistance – The division under DCH responsible for administering the Medicaid program in Georgia.
DSNAP PLAN	Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Plan - A written plan for the State of Georgia that provides policy and procedures for issuing SNAP benefits during times of declared state and federal disasters.
DV	Domestic Violence – Section within DHS that provides services to battered women and children.
ECONOMIC SUPPORT SPECIALIST	Economic Support Specialist – DFCS employee responsible for determining an A/R’s eligibility for TANF, SNAP and Medicaid.
E&T PROGRAM	Employment and Training Program – The employment program related to the SNAP Program. Certain recipients are required to register for work and participate in educational, training and work activities.
EBT Card Cloning	Electronic Benefit Transfer Card Cloning – Card Cloning is the illegal act of obtaining EBT card information for the purpose of making an unauthorized copy of the card and the data housed on it or to use the card information in unauthorized transactions. Card cloning can occur through the use of artificial intelligence or skimming devices.
EBT Card Skimming	Electronic Benefit Transfer Card Skimming - Card skimming is the process of electronically stealing EBT data through skimmers attached to legitimate card readers at authorized EBT retailers. The data obtained by skimmers can be used to create fake EBT card, this is known as card cloning.
EBTAS	Electronic Benefit Transfer Application System – The state’s online system that is used to transmit data between the Gateway system and the EBT Service Provider System (EBTSPS). EBTAS allows for online entries for account setup, card replacements, and numerous demographic updates.
EBTSPS	Electronic Benefit Transfer Service Provider System – The Service Provider System that is used to transmit data between EBTAS and the Gateway system. EBTSPS allows for online address updates, review of customer transactions (such as card requests, benefit deposits, benefit redemptions and account activities).
EITC/EIC	Earned Income Tax Credit – A refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.
ELE	Express Lane Eligibility - is an automatic process to enroll or renew eligible children under the age of 19 who are receiving SNAP, TANF, Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) into the Medical Assistance program.
EMA	Emergency Medical Assistance – Provides medical coverage to individuals who meet all requirements for a Medicaid COA except for citizenship/alienage and enumeration requirements and who require or have received an emergency medical service.
EV	Equity Value – FMV less indebtedness. Generally used as the countable value of a non-excluded resource.
EXPUNGED BENEFITS	Expunged Benefits – Benefits that have not been accessed by the AU are eventually deleted from the AU EBT account. For SNAP benefits, expungement occurs 274 days from the last debit.
FC	Foster Care – A federal/state program that provides financial support to a person, family or institution that is raising a child or children who are in foster care. Refer to Section 3420 for how to treat Foster Care Payments.
FFCC	Former Foster Care Children - Individuals who age out of foster care, or age out of the Chafee Independence Program, and were receiving Medicaid until the last day of the month they turn 26 years of age.
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency – An independent federal agency that reports to the President of the United States. It often works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation’s emergency management system.
FH	Fair Hearing – A request by an AU to have an opportunity to dispute a case action taken by the agency.
FMV	Fair Market Value – The amount of money for which an item can sell for on the open market.
FNS	Food and Nutrition Service – The federal agency that provides oversight for the SNAP program and administers the nutrition programs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The programs include the SNAP Program, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the child and Adult care Food program, and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
FPL	Federal Poverty Level – The federal government official income level for establishing poverty. The FPL is updated in February of each year.
GATEWAY	Gateway – The State of Georgia’s Integrated Eligibility System that records information and generates benefits to AUs.
GEMA	Georgia Emergency Management Agency – The state agency that provides coordination of services for victims of declared state and federal disasters.
GIC	Gross Income Ceiling – A number based on a percentage of the federal poverty level for a particular AU size, which if exceeded by an AU’s gross income causes the AU to be ineligible for assistance.
GIC TEST	Gross Income Ceiling Test – A budget procedure by which an AU’s gross countable income is compared to a percentage of the federal poverty level to determine eligibility.
HHS	Health and Human Services – The federal agency that provides oversight for the TANF Program.
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – HIPAA consists of regulations designed to protect health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. HIPAA is also intended to ensure patient confidentiality for all health care related information, the act’s requirements applying to storing and/or transmitting patient identifiable information on electronic media. A failure to comply with HIPAA mandates can result in civil and criminal penalties.
IBON	Income Based on Need – Payments based on financial need and which are made from partial or total federal funds, or from private charitable organizations, such as TANF, VA pensions and Salvation Army grants.
IEP	Individual Employment Plan - A plan developed for each ABAWD that is required to participate in the Employment and Training Program, formerly known as a Work Plan.
IEVS	Income Eligibility Verification System – Periodic federally mandated system matches with other state and federal agencies, such as the Department of Labor and Social Security Administration.
IRS	Internal Revenue Service – An interface system that provides data on leads for investigating possible unreported/unearned income and undisclosed resources. Information is given to the state via a tape match with the IRS files. This is a mandated IEVS match.
LIHEAP	Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - A federally funded program that helps low-income households with payment on their home energy bills, provides energy crisis assistance, and provides long-term, low-cost residential weatherization.
MAO	Medical Assistance Only – Medical assistance for individuals who receive Medicaid through an ABD or Family Medicaid COA.
MEDICAID	Medicaid – Title XIX of the Social Security Act that provides grants to states for the establishment of medical assistance programs for low-income individuals and families.
MEDICAID MEMBER ID NUMBER	Medicaid Member ID Number – A number assigned to each Medicaid recipient that must be presented to Medicaid providers for the submission of claims. Each number has a unique identifier at the end that confirms the type of Medicaid coverage and whether the number was generated by Gateway or DMA.
MEDICARE	Medicare – A federal health insurance program administered by the SSA for people 65 or older and certain disabled people. PART A – Hospital insurance. There is no premium for this coverage for persons who have adequate credits for work under Social Security. PART B – Supplemental medical insurance. Eligible persons must pay a monthly premium.
MNIL	Medically Needy Income Level – The income level used to determine the spenddown under Medically Needy. Based on 133% of the TANF Family Maximum.
NCP	Non-Custodial Parent – A parent who does not have custody of the child, also known as the absent parent.
OFI	Office of Family Independence – The section in DFCS that is responsible for administering the SNAP Program, TANF, Medicaid, Claims, Children and Parent Services and RSM Programs. Formerly known as Economic Support Services.
OIG	Office of Inspector General – A unit within the Department of Human Services that investigates fraud in public assistance programs.
PAN	Personal Account Number – The number printed on the AU’s EBT card.
PARENT/CARETAKER	Parent/Caretaker – Provides Medicaid benefits for eligible children under the age of 19, and the eligible adult(s), who meet the tax filer or non-tax filer status for the child(ren).
PATHWAYS	Georgia Pathways - is a MAGI class of assistance that provides coverage to adults ages 19 to 64 who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. To qualify, the A/R must engage in at least 80 hours per month in a qualifying activity or activities.
PIN	Personal Identification Number – Randomly select number, provided to FS recipients, to use to access their EBT accounts.
PL	Public Law – A congressional law.
POE	Period of Eligibility - This is the length an Applicant/Recipient can receive SNAP benefits. This term is used interchangeably with Certification Period.
PPR	Performance Planning and Reporting – A section in OFI that provides statistical data for the SNAP Program.
PREGNANT WOMEN	Pregnant Women – Provides Medicaid to eligible pregnant women who meet all eligibility criteria.
PRWORA	The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) (Public Law 104-193) – Eliminated the open-ended entitlement for AFDC and changed various SNAP regulations including eligibility for certain non-citizens.
QMB	Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – A "non-Medicaid" COA under which recipients are entitled to limited Medicaid services, such as payment by Medicaid of their Medicare Premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance.
RTW	Ready-To-Work – A program that is intended to put hard-to-place TANF recipients to work. These individuals reside in drug and alcohol residential treatment facilities and may receive SNAP as a one-person AU.
RR	Railroad Retirement – A benefit paid to disabled or retired employees of the railroad. Widow(er)s of former RR employees may also qualify for RR.
RSDI	Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance – The program of cash benefits administered by SSA. Entitlement is based upon the individual’s employment history. Also known as OASDI.
SAVE	Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements – It is an automatic verification system that serves to establish legitimacy of an alien’s documents and alien status.
SDX	State Data Exchange – SSA interface system that provides information about SSI transactions. Information is provided through Federal SDX tapes and is available through Gateway inquiry.
SLMB	Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries – A "non-Medicaid" COA that provides only for payment of the recipient’s monthly Part B Medicare premium.
SMEU	State Medical Eligibility Unit – The unit responsible for making disability decisions for ABD Medicaid A/R’s under age 65.
SNAP	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – The program that provides benefits to purchase food to low-income individuals and families, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
SOP	Standard of Promptness – The maximum number of days allowed to dispose of an application or a review.
SSA	Social Security Administration – The federal agency responsible for administering and providing RSDI, SSI, and Medicare to eligible individuals.
SSI	Supplemental Security Insurance - SSI is a monthly income provided to aged (age 65 or older), blind, or disabled individuals who are in financial need, which is administered by the Social Security Administration and funded entirely by the Federal government.
SSN	Social Security Number – The furnishing of a SSN is an eligibility requirement for SNAP. Social security numbers are used to match client level data in Gateway with data in other federal and state agencies such as SSA and DOL.
TANF	Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – An employment and cash assistance program for needy families. Formerly known as AFDC.
TIMELY NOTICE	Timely Notice – A 14-day advance notification to advise recipients that benefits will be decreased or terminated unless they appeal before the expiration of the notice. Timely notice must include all information required for an adequate notice. Refer to Adequate Notice.
TWSP	TANF-to-Work Support Payment – Payments provided to TANF recipients who have become ineligible for monthly cash assistance due to employment. These recipients remain categorically eligible for SNAP benefits.
UCB	Unemployment Compensation Benefit – Benefits administered by the Department of Labor to eligible unemployed individuals.
USDA	United States Department of Agriculture – The federal agency that administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
VA	Veterans Administration – The federal agency that provides VA benefits to some military veterans and their dependents and/or survivors.

TERM OR ACRONYM

DEFINITION

ABAWD

Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents – is an individual who is a work registrant, not pregnant, not physically or mentally unfit for employment, not included in the AU with a child under age 18, and

effective September 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023 is age 18 to 50,

effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 is age 18 to 52,

effective October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2030, is age 18 to 54.

ABD MEDICAID

Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid – Medical assistance for aged, blind or disabled individuals who are not eligible for SSI. These individuals receive Medicaid only.

ACF

Administration for Children and Families – The federal agency that provides oversight for the TANF program.

ADA

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 – Federal legislation giving civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities. These protections are similar to those provided to individuals based on race, color, gender, age and religion.

ADEQUATE NOTICE

Adequate Notice – It is a notification to the A/R of initial approval or a change in eligibility or benefit levels.

ADH

Administrative Disqualification Hearing – A hearing initiated by the Office of Program Integrity and Compliance (OPIC) when it has been determined that an Intentional Program Violation has occurred.

Agency Error – A claim that is established against an AU due to agency failure to take appropriate case actions.

AFB

Application for Benefits – the Gateway generated application for assistance.

AFDC

Aid to Families with Dependent Children – state administered cash assistance program for low-income families with dependent children under age 18. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 eliminated the open-ended entitlement of AFDC. The PRWORA created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant.

However, some AFDC policies and procedures continue to be used in Medicaid classes of assistance for Children in Placement.

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge – Conducts fair hearings for the Office of State Administrative Hearings.

ALLOTMENT

Allotment – The total value of benefits an AU is authorized to receive each month.

Absent Parent – A parent who does not have custody of the child.

APPLICATION

Application – The action by which an AU indicates a desire to receive assistance. Refer to Section 3105, Application Processing and Section 3710, Recertifications (Renewals).

APS

Adult Protective Services – A section within DFCS that provides services to adults who are abused or neglected.

A/R

Applicant/Recipient – An applicant or recipient of SNAP benefits.

Assistance Unit – A group or individual(s) applying for or receiving benefits.

BEERS

SSA Beneficiary Earnings Exchange Record System – A computer match is performed between Gateway and BEERS to obtain income information on A/R’s.

BENDEX

Beneficiary Data Exchange System – A file that contains RSDI benefit information on individuals who are current or past recipients of public assistance.

BCIS

Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services – An agency of the United States Department of Justice. It is responsible for enforcing the laws regulating immigration.

CAA

Community Action Agency – A nonprofit organization, which can be either private or public, that is part of the network of entities established under the Economic Opportunity Action of 1964. Offices are located through the state and offer such services as emergency food assistance, assistance with utility bills and rent, home weatherization and employment services.

CAPS

Childcare and Parent Services – A program under the GA Department of Early Care and Learning: Bright from the Start (DECAL) that assists low-income families by subsidizing the cost of childcare.

CASE NOTES

Case Notes – A function in Gateway used to record comprehensive notation about the client and their case throughout the intake, eligibility determination, and case maintenance process.

CCSP

Community Care Services Program – The monthly cost share paid by an individual for medical services received through CCSP. The amount may be used as a medical expense. Refer to Section 3614, Excess Medical Deduction.

CHILDREN UNDER 19

Children Under 19 – Provides Medicaid to eligible children from birth through the last day of the month in which the child turns nineteen (19) years of age.

CLAIM

Claim – An overpayment of benefits that has been scheduled for recovery.

CLEARINGHOUSE

Clearinghouse – An automatic on-line computer system through which wages and benefit information are matched with state and federal agencies.

CLIENT ID

Client ID – A randomly assigned number identifying an A/R or other household members in Gateway.

COLA

Cost of Living Adjustment – An increase in RSDI, SSI, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Benefits based on a rise in the cost of living, usually received every January.

COMMERCIAL BOARDING HOUSE

Commercial Boarding House – An establishment licensed to offer meals and lodging for compensation with the intent of making a profit.

COMPLIANCE

Compliance – The act of successfully completing an Employment and Training (E&T) requirement before establishing the first three penalty months that an ABAWD has previously failed to fulfill.

CERTIFICATION PERIOD

Certification Period - This is the length an Applicant/Recipient can receive SNAP benefits. This term is used interchangeably with Period of Eligibility.

CPS

Child Protective Services – Refer to Section 3020, Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect.

DBHDD

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - provides treatment and support services to people with behavioral health challenges and addictive diseases.

DCH

Georgia Department of Community Health – The agency responsible for Georgia’s health care resources, planning health coverage for uninsured Georgians, coordinating health planning for state agencies and insure individuals under the State Health Benefit Plan and various Medicaid program and DCH initiatives.

DEEMING

Deeming – A budgeting procedure which takes into account the resources and income of an alien’s sponsor to determine eligibility and benefit amount for the alien AU.

DFCS

Division (Department) of Family and Children Services – State/local agency under the Department of Human Services responsible for various social, economic and community programs that offer benefits and services to the citizens of Georgia.

DHS

Department of Human Services – The Georgia state agency responsible for the delivery of health and human services. It serves Georgia through regulatory inspection, direct service and financial assistance programs.

DISABLED

Disabled – Disabled individuals for SNAP purposes are defined as qualifying under one of the following categories: 1) receiving disability benefits under Titles I, II, X, XIV or XVI of the Social Security Act or, 2) receiving VA disability benefits for a service-connected or non-service-connected disability and the disability is rated as total or paid at the total rate by the VA (includes veterans, surviving spouse or surviving child of a veteran who is considered by the VA to be entitled to compensation and has a disability considered permanent under the SSA Act) or, 3) receiving Railroad Retirement disability annuity and has been determined to qualify for Medicare or, 4) receiving or certified for SSI or interim assistance pending receipt of SSI or, 5) receiving disability-related Medicaid assistance under Title XIX of the SSA (known as State Medical Eligibility Unit (SMEU), or 6) receiving disability retirement benefits from a governmental agency because of a disability considered permanent under Section 221(i) of the Social Security Act. “Receiving” is defined as receipt of or approval for benefits or services. If benefits are not being paid due to overpayments, the individual is still considered a recipient.

DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION

Discretionary Exemption – Employment and Training (E&T) work participation exemption that allows certain ABAWDs to be exempted from having to participate in work activities. The number of discretionary exemptions that a state is allowed is set by FNS annually.

DISQUALIFICATION

Disqualification – The consequence of an action taken to remove the needs of an individual from the assistance unit for an adjudicated intentional program violation or adjudicated misrepresentation of residency.

DOB

Date of Birth – The date an individual is born.

DOL

Department of Labor – Georgia agency responsible for employment services, unemployment compensation and other employment programs.

DRS

Disqualified Recipient System – The nationwide system matching social security numbers of individuals disqualified in the SNAP Program. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service manages the system.

DMA

Division of Medical Assistance – The division under DCH responsible for administering the Medicaid program in Georgia.

DSNAP PLAN

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Plan - A written plan for the State of Georgia that provides policy and procedures for issuing SNAP benefits during times of declared state and federal disasters.

Domestic Violence – Section within DHS that provides services to battered women and children.

ECONOMIC SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Economic Support Specialist – DFCS employee responsible for determining an A/R’s eligibility for TANF, SNAP and Medicaid.

E&T PROGRAM

Employment and Training Program – The employment program related to the SNAP Program. Certain recipients are required to register for work and participate in educational, training and work activities.

EBT Card Cloning

Electronic Benefit Transfer Card Cloning – Card Cloning is the illegal act of obtaining EBT card information for the purpose of making an unauthorized copy of the card and the data housed on it or to use the card information in unauthorized transactions. Card cloning can occur through the use of artificial intelligence or skimming devices.

EBT Card Skimming

Electronic Benefit Transfer Card Skimming - Card skimming is the process of electronically stealing EBT data through skimmers attached to legitimate card readers at authorized EBT retailers. The data obtained by skimmers can be used to create fake EBT card, this is known as card cloning.

EBTAS

Electronic Benefit Transfer Application System – The state’s online system that is used to transmit data between the Gateway system and the EBT Service Provider System (EBTSPS). EBTAS allows for online entries for account setup, card replacements, and numerous demographic updates.

EBTSPS

Electronic Benefit Transfer Service Provider System – The Service Provider System that is used to transmit data between EBTAS and the Gateway system. EBTSPS allows for online address updates, review of customer transactions (such as card requests, benefit deposits, benefit redemptions and account activities).

EITC/EIC

Earned Income Tax Credit – A refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families.

ELE

Express Lane Eligibility - is an automatic process to enroll or renew eligible children under the age of 19 who are receiving SNAP, TANF, Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) into the Medical Assistance program.

EMA

Emergency Medical Assistance – Provides medical coverage to individuals who meet all requirements for a Medicaid COA except for citizenship/alienage and enumeration requirements and who require or have received an emergency medical service.

Equity Value – FMV less indebtedness. Generally used as the countable value of a non-excluded resource.

EXPUNGED BENEFITS

Expunged Benefits – Benefits that have not been accessed by the AU are eventually deleted from the AU EBT account. For SNAP benefits, expungement occurs 274 days from the last debit.

Foster Care – A federal/state program that provides financial support to a person, family or institution that is raising a child or children who are in foster care. Refer to Section 3420 for how to treat Foster Care Payments.

FFCC

Former Foster Care Children - Individuals who age out of foster care, or age out of the Chafee Independence Program, and were receiving Medicaid until the last day of the month they turn 26 years of age.

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency – An independent federal agency that reports to the President of the United States. It often works in partnership with other organizations that are part of the nation’s emergency management system.

Fair Hearing – A request by an AU to have an opportunity to dispute a case action taken by the agency.

FMV

Fair Market Value – The amount of money for which an item can sell for on the open market.

FNS

Food and Nutrition Service – The federal agency that provides oversight for the SNAP program and administers the nutrition programs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The programs include the SNAP Program, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the child and Adult care Food program, and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

FPL

Federal Poverty Level – The federal government official income level for establishing poverty. The FPL is updated in February of each year.

GATEWAY

Gateway – The State of Georgia’s Integrated Eligibility System that records information and generates benefits to AUs.

GEMA

Georgia Emergency Management Agency – The state agency that provides coordination of services for victims of declared state and federal disasters.

GIC

Gross Income Ceiling – A number based on a percentage of the federal poverty level for a particular AU size, which if exceeded by an AU’s gross income causes the AU to be ineligible for assistance.

GIC TEST

Gross Income Ceiling Test – A budget procedure by which an AU’s gross countable income is compared to a percentage of the federal poverty level to determine eligibility.

HHS

Health and Human Services – The federal agency that provides oversight for the TANF Program.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – HIPAA consists of regulations designed to protect health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. HIPAA is also intended to ensure patient confidentiality for all health care related information, the act’s requirements applying to storing and/or transmitting patient identifiable information on electronic media. A failure to comply with HIPAA mandates can result in civil and criminal penalties.

IBON

Income Based on Need – Payments based on financial need and which are made from partial or total federal funds, or from private charitable organizations, such as TANF, VA pensions and Salvation Army grants.

IEP

Individual Employment Plan - A plan developed for each ABAWD that is required to participate in the Employment and Training Program, formerly known as a Work Plan.

IEVS

Income Eligibility Verification System – Periodic federally mandated system matches with other state and federal agencies, such as the Department of Labor and Social Security Administration.

IRS

Internal Revenue Service – An interface system that provides data on leads for investigating possible unreported/unearned income and undisclosed resources. Information is given to the state via a tape match with the IRS files. This is a mandated IEVS match.

LIHEAP

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - A federally funded program that helps low-income households with payment on their home energy bills, provides energy crisis assistance, and provides long-term, low-cost residential weatherization.

MAO

Medical Assistance Only – Medical assistance for individuals who receive Medicaid through an ABD or Family Medicaid COA.

MEDICAID

Medicaid – Title XIX of the Social Security Act that provides grants to states for the establishment of medical assistance programs for low-income individuals and families.

MEDICAID MEMBER ID NUMBER

Medicaid Member ID Number – A number assigned to each Medicaid recipient that must be presented to Medicaid providers for the submission of claims. Each number has a unique identifier at the end that confirms the type of Medicaid coverage and whether the number was generated by Gateway or DMA.

MEDICARE

Medicare – A federal health insurance program administered by the SSA for people 65 or older and certain disabled people.

PART A – Hospital insurance. There is no premium for this coverage for persons who have adequate credits for work under Social Security.

PART B – Supplemental medical insurance. Eligible persons must pay a monthly premium.

MNIL

Medically Needy Income Level – The income level used to determine the spenddown under Medically Needy. Based on 133% of the TANF Family Maximum.

NCP

Non-Custodial Parent – A parent who does not have custody of the child, also known as the absent parent.

OFI

Office of Family Independence – The section in DFCS that is responsible for administering the SNAP Program, TANF, Medicaid, Claims, Children and Parent Services and RSM Programs. Formerly known as Economic Support Services.

OIG

Office of Inspector General – A unit within the Department of Human Services that investigates fraud in public assistance programs.

PAN

Personal Account Number – The number printed on the AU’s EBT card.

PARENT/CARETAKER

Parent/Caretaker – Provides Medicaid benefits for eligible children under the age of 19, and the eligible adult(s), who meet the tax filer or non-tax filer status for the child(ren).

PATHWAYS

Georgia Pathways - is a MAGI class of assistance that provides coverage to adults ages 19 to 64 who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. To qualify, the A/R must engage in at least 80 hours per month in a qualifying activity or activities.

Personal Identification Number – Randomly select number, provided to FS recipients, to use to access their EBT accounts.

Public Law – A congressional law.

POE

Period of Eligibility - This is the length an Applicant/Recipient can receive SNAP benefits. This term is used interchangeably with Certification Period.

PPR

Performance Planning and Reporting – A section in OFI that provides statistical data for the SNAP Program.

PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnant Women – Provides Medicaid to eligible pregnant women who meet all eligibility criteria.

PRWORA

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) (Public Law 104-193) – Eliminated the open-ended entitlement for AFDC and changed various SNAP regulations including eligibility for certain non-citizens.

QMB

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries – A "non-Medicaid" COA under which recipients are entitled to limited Medicaid services, such as payment by Medicaid of their Medicare Premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance.

RTW

Ready-To-Work – A program that is intended to put hard-to-place TANF recipients to work. These individuals reside in drug and alcohol residential treatment facilities and may receive SNAP as a one-person AU.

Railroad Retirement – A benefit paid to disabled or retired employees of the railroad. Widow(er)s of former RR employees may also qualify for RR.

RSDI

Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance – The program of cash benefits administered by SSA. Entitlement is based upon the individual’s employment history. Also known as OASDI.

SAVE

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements – It is an automatic verification system that serves to establish legitimacy of an alien’s documents and alien status.

SDX

State Data Exchange – SSA interface system that provides information about SSI transactions. Information is provided through Federal SDX tapes and is available through Gateway inquiry.

SLMB

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries – A "non-Medicaid" COA that provides only for payment of the recipient’s monthly Part B Medicare premium.

SMEU

State Medical Eligibility Unit – The unit responsible for making disability decisions for ABD Medicaid A/R’s under age 65.

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – The program that provides benefits to purchase food to low-income individuals and families, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

SOP

Standard of Promptness – The maximum number of days allowed to dispose of an application or a review.

SSA

Social Security Administration – The federal agency responsible for administering and providing RSDI, SSI, and Medicare to eligible individuals.

SSI

Supplemental Security Insurance - SSI is a monthly income provided to aged (age 65 or older), blind, or disabled individuals who are in financial need, which is administered by the Social Security Administration and funded entirely by the Federal government.

SSN

Social Security Number – The furnishing of a SSN is an eligibility requirement for SNAP. Social security numbers are used to match client level data in Gateway with data in other federal and state agencies such as SSA and DOL.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – An employment and cash assistance program for needy families. Formerly known as AFDC.

TIMELY NOTICE

Timely Notice – A 14-day advance notification to advise recipients that benefits will be decreased or terminated unless they appeal before the expiration of the notice. Timely notice must include all information required for an adequate notice. Refer to Adequate Notice.

TWSP

TANF-to-Work Support Payment – Payments provided to TANF recipients who have become ineligible for monthly cash assistance due to employment. These recipients remain categorically eligible for SNAP benefits.

UCB

Unemployment Compensation Benefit – Benefits administered by the Department of Labor to eligible unemployed individuals.

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture – The federal agency that administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

Veterans Administration – The federal agency that provides VA benefits to some military veterans and their dependents and/or survivors.