New Jersey is establishing a food bank benefit consisting of a three day supply of groceries with TANF funds for families whose income is below 250% of the State's poverty level. Their concerns are that the benefit not be considered assistance, and that monitoring of usage to preclude recurrent use will present an administrative burden that will discourage contractors from joining the program. The non-recurrent, short-term benefit exclusion to the definition of assistance requires that the benefit is not intended to meet recurrent needs. This implies that a State should monitor usage. We are advising the State that they could develop guidelines recommending notification to the appropriate State agency if the contractor notices that the family is using the food bank on an on-going basis. The State has requested to know what practices other states have developed to define, monitor and resolve recurrent usage of food bank benefits that are classified as non-assistance. Please provide the names of states with such food bank programs, a State contact person, and a brief description of how recurrent usage is defined, monitored and resolved. Results of survey will be provided.

In what ways are State using volunteers to serve clients?

What States have an easy to use on-line Policy and Procedures Manual? Is it a main frame system, internet or other?

What is the average (target) caseload size for staff overseeing the work activities? Please also describe the rationale for determining the caseload size.

A family is comprised of a mother, who is the head of household (but is not eligible for TANF assistance because she is receiving SSI), her live-in boyfriend (to whom she is not married), and their child in common. Do the months for which this family receives assistance count towards the time limit?