Interview Wrapup Authorization Page

You will use this page to authorize benefits and services for an eligible case.   This page provides a detailed summary of the benefits and/or services for which a case is entitled. If programProgram (also called "program type") is the assistance program (i.e., TAFDC, SNAP, EAEDC and EA) associated with an account.-specific verification criteria is met, you can authorize each benefit and/or service.

Warning:: “All Eligibility Benefit CalculationEligibility and Benefit Calculation (EBC) is the process used to view/calculate the results of the requested EBC for the household. (EBC) requests containing a Dual Participation Override reason require a Supervisor’s authorization.” (see Updates Tab for more information on Dual Participation Override.)

On the Authorization page, you must check either approved or rejected in the Authorization field. Your role (AU manager, TAO supervisor or TAO manager), disposition of case (status of approved or rejected) and your name will automatically populate next to the authorization. You must click the save button to save the authorization information. Click on the Clear button to remove an authorization.

When a supervisor enters the authorization page to approve or reject an authorization, the case manager box will display as unchecked. To authorize the request the supervisor must check the case manager box.

New benefit amounts will not go to FMCS and notices will not be released until the Authorization process is complete.

For all pending or denied cases that needs approval all outstanding verifications and requires reedits must be completed before the authorization can take place. You will be unable to open the Authorization Page if verifications or requires reedits are needed.

If a supervisor or TAO manager rejects the authorization the rejected reason must be entered into the rejected reason field to inform you as to what actions must be taken to process the approval.

If an override was used to create the request, a reason must also be entered in the Override Reason box on this page.

Authorization Button

Selecting the Authorization button will open the Interview Wrapup Authorization page. This button will be enabled until the pending authorization is either approved or rejected at any required level. The page would then be view only.

Interview Wrapup Authorization for approvals or rejections in is based on Benefit Authorization (security role) Levels. The different authorization levels are:

  • AU Manager- Benefit Authorization Level 1
  • AU Manager- Benefit Authorization Level 2
  • AU Manager- Benefit Authorization Level 2B
  • AU Manager- Benefit Authorization Level 3
  • Equivalent to TAO Supervisor
  • TAO Supervisor
  • TAO Director/Designee
  • Commissioner/Designee

Authorization Rules:

  • The approval level of authorization will require an approval or rejection.
  • Authorization levels will be defined by the individual data elements and/or by other items selected within the request.
  • The highest authorization level listed on the page is the final level of authorization.
  • Any person with the same security role or higher can authorize a request at the same or lower level.

ExampleExample

If a case manager is out of the office, another case manager at the same or higher Benefit Authorization Level can authorize a transaction on the case.  A level 3 can authorize for another level 3, 2B, 2 or 1. However a level 1 case manager cannot authorize a request for a case manager level 2, 2B or 3.

See Interview Wrapup Request Type Priority Benefit Authorization Level and/or Benefit Authorization and Segregation of Duties

When a case is pending authorization it will be listed under Daily Priority Actions in the Interview Wrapup-Pending

Authorization View.

Note : If all levels of authorization do not occur on the same day and there are less than ten days left before the release date the authorization must be run again. If this occurs an edit will display stating:

 “There is an adverse action attached to this request and there are no longer ten days prior to the release date.”

This is the only time the original authorization must be recalculated. On the night the request is released to FMCS, all other requests are recalculated in batch processing to process any data that may have changed.

BEACON Edits

  • The edit An edit is an automated function that serves either as a warning or prevents the user from performing a task on a page. that prevented the authorization of the approval of pending cases, Annual Reporting, or Interim Reporting Interim Reporting (IR) is the reporting of information for any period that is shorter than a year. For financial reporting specifically, interim reporting is the reporting of financial results for any period that is shorter than a fiscal year. recertifications  was modified to allow processing  when there are missing “optional” verifications for SNAP.
  • An edit was added to ensure that the complete interview information was entered for an approved application or a completed reevaluation where the case remains active.
  • A warning edit displays when an eligibility request is authorized by you with a 10 day pending period, and the Benefit Effective Date changes to an immediate release Benefit Effective Date when accessed by a supervisor. The edit reads:

“The Release date of this request has changed from xx/xx/xxxx to today’s date. If this is NOT correct then Cancel from Interview Wrapup, exit the case and try again.” 

An edit was added to prevent the selection of EBC Request: Reevaluation: <Program> if you are also closing the case for any of the following ineligibility reasons:

  • <Program> -Failed to keep appointment for review or the case.
  • <Program> Failed to submit required verifications.

The edit reads:

“You cannot select Reevaluation when the case is being closed for missing a reevaluation appointment or for failure to provide required verifications.”

BEACON Modifications

The Authorization page was modified to allow a request for SNAP to be authorized when the closing reason is Failed to keep appointment for review and the reevaluation date is within the next 60 days, and there are less than 10 days before the associated BEACON Release Date.

Approved Authorizations

If an authorization is approved, the status of the request will be Pending Release. You can view all approved pending releases under Daily Priority Actions in the Interview Wrapup-Pending Release view. BEACON will release this information to FMCS and benefits will be issued. See Release Date Rules.
Approve an Interview Wrapup Request

Rejected Authorizations

If an authorization is rejected at any level, you must use the yellow Notes for Tagged Section to record the reason for the rejection. Once a rejection is entered it cannot be changed. You can view rejected authorizations under Daily Priority Actions in the Interview Wrapup-Rejected Authorizations view. BEACON will not release the information to FMCS and no benefits or notices will be issued until the rejected authorization is corrected.

Reject an Interview Wrapup Request

If the request is rejected you must:

  • review the rejected authorization and the reason for the rejection recorded on the yellow Note for Tagged Section
  • make the necessary changes
  1. delete the rejected authorization by:
  2. selecting the rejected request from the Select list on the Request tab
  3. click the Delete button, A pop-up box will display an edit with the question:
  4. “Are you sure you want to delete this data?”
  5. click the Yes button, and
  6. if necessary initiate a new request.
  7. The status on the request tab will be set to Canceled and you can begin to process the request again.

Optional Verification for SNAP Cases/Case Members

On the ECF Verification tab, the following regular or user-entered verifications will be categorized as Optional for SNAP cases/case members.

  • Dependent Care Expenses
  • Medical Expenses
  • Child Support Paid to a Non-household Member
  • Shelter Expenses
  • Utility Expenses, and
  • Identify certain verifications as optional for SNAP verification purposes.

Optional means that the case can be processed in the Interview Wrapup if these optional verifications are missing, but the unverified information will not be used in the eligibility calculation.

Edits prevent denying or closing a case/case member when the only missing verifications are Optional.

Last Update October 20, 2014