Department of Social Services

 

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Food and Nutrition Services Emergency Allotment Waiver Ending 

On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law. As a result, emergency allotments will be ending effective March 2023. February 2023 will be the final month for emergency allotments. General notices will be issued to households that have active FNS cases. A press release regarding the ending of Emergency Allotments will be posted to the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) website on January 12, 2023. Emergency allotments benefits will no longer be issued, benefits will go back to regular monthly benefit amounts prior to the pandemic, starting March 2023. In addition, if updates were made retroactively to a household's case for February 2023 or prior, the FNS emergency allotment will be adjusted along with the normal monthly allotment, as appropriate. NC FAST will continue to run monthly catch-up batches for households to receive the correct emergency allotment amounts.

HEARINGS

Households do not have the right to request a fair hearing solely to dispute the end of FNS emergency allotments, as states were instructed by the federal government to end emergency allotments. Disputes that are solely regarding the end of the emergency allotment will be denied and the State is not obligated to continue benefits at the previous level per federal regulation 7 CFR 271.1(f). However, households may request a fair hearing only if the issue being contested is that FNS eligibility or benefits were improperly computed or that Federal law or regulation is being misapplied or misinterpreted by the State agency (federal regulation 7 CFR 273.15(k)(1). Households have the right to request a fair hearing 90 calendar days from March 1, 2023, to ask for a hearing. If the household does not ask for a hearing by May 30, 2022, the household cannot have one. Households can request a fair hearing by letting their local county department of social services know of the request. Hearings may be requested in person, by telephone, or in writing. The hearing may be requested by any member of the Food and Nutrition Services unit or by a representative, including an attorney obtained at the household's own expense.

 RESOURCES:

North Carolina State Nutrition Action Coalition, www.ncdhhs.gov/foodresources

If you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more about WIC at www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic and complete a WIC referral online www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Visit www.nc211.org or dial 211 to be connected to community resources. List of the local Food Banks, Helping Agencies, etc.

FNS recipients can check their FNS/emergency allotment balance and transaction history three ways:

  • Visit website www.ebtedge.com
  • Download and use the EBT Edge mobile app (can be downloaded on Google Play or Apple Store).
  • Contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 and follow the prompts.

For the full notice of emergency benefits ending click here

 Troy/Montgomery Senior Center - Senior Help Line

The Troy/Montgomery Senior Center strives to help older adults in Montgomery County stay independent, healthy, active, and engaged in the community. You can call the Senior Help Line at 910-572-4464 or email them at seniorcenterinfo@troy.nc.us. The Senior Center provides a variety of services and referalls including: 

  • Health Screenings, Fitness, and Health Promotion
  • Legal Services and Tax Preparation
  • General and Medical Transportation
  • Support Groups and Caregiver Classes
  • Housing Assistance
  • Home Health and In-Home Aide 
  • Medicaid and Medicare Counseling
  • Job Training and Placement
  • Congregate nutrition or home-delivered meals
  • Adult Day Care
  • Hospice Care
  • Long-Term Care
  • Respite
  • Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation
  • Telephone Reassurance. 

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 5-11 Now Available

The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to keep our children safe. The long-term effects of a pediatric COVID case can be serious and last months. The most common side-effect of the COVID vaccine, which provides lasting protection, is a sore arm. The best way to protect children against COVID-19, including the Delta variant, is to get them vaccinated. Like other pediatric vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine was thoroughly tested on children before being recommended.

Parents with questions should talk to a pediatrician, school nurse, or another trusted healthcare provider about their child and the COVID-19 vaccine. Answers can also be found at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines/kids. 

Finding a vaccine is easy and getting vaccinated is free: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines/kids/locations 

Vaccination At-Home Program Launches

Do you know someone has limited mobility or can't leave their home? Piedmont Triad Council on Aging and NCDHHS have teamed up to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to people who are homebound. For anyone in North Carolina who finds it hard to get out and needs the free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccine, please call 866-303-0026 or complete the form here: 

COVID-19 Vaccine for Home Visit Form

Emergency Broadband Benefit

We're spreading the word about the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit, which provides discounts for broadband internet service to familes struggling to stay connected during the pandemic. The benefit provides up to a $50 month discount on broadband service each month and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider.

You are eligible if at least one member of your household receives FNS (food stamps), Medicaid, receives free or reduced school lunch, or has income below a certain level. 

Applications are open now at https://getemergencybroadband.org.

Beware of Phone Scams

Social Security and the IRS want you to know about widespread phone scams where scammers pretend to be government employees. They may tell you about a Social Security or tax return problem to gain you trust and steal your money. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and report the scam oig.ssa.gov. 

Social Security and other government agencies may contact you, but will never: threaten to arrest you unless you pay a fine; "suspend" your Social Security number; require an immediate payment by cash, gift card, or wire transfer, or demand secrecy from you.  

Montgomery County DSS:  Office Hours 8am - 5pm

We are open to the public. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 we are taking the following precautions:

  • You will required to wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.
  • Our employees are wearing face masks and have Plexisglass dividers on caseworkers' desks.
  • You will be asked some brief screening questions when you check in. 
  • You may only have one adult guest or authorized representative. 
  • During busy times we may limit the number of people in our lobby. In this event you will be contacted by phone when it is your turn to be seen. 

Before you visit - Here's how we can help you from your home

You can complete your application for benefits from home in most cases. Check out the options below to contact us or submit paperwork without visiting the office. 

  • Call 910-576-6531
  • Paper applications for Food and Nutrition Services, Medicaid, CIP (Energy Assistance), and Child Care are available outside the DSS entrance. 
  • Apply for Child Support online
  • Apply for FNS, Medicaid, Energy Assistance, and Child Care 
  • Submit documents electronically using our secure, online drop box: https://tinyurl.com/mocodropbox
  • Email documentation to your caseworker. If you have a smart phone, you can take a picture of any requested verifications and email the photo to your caseworker.
  • Call your caseworker instead of coming into the office. We will do our best to return all voicemails within 24 hours.
  • Drop off any documentation at the drop box at the Administration Building entrance. This is around the corner from DSS, directly across from the Courthouse. 

 

Become a Volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Montgomery County

Montgomery County Meals on Wheels needs your help. We are looking for volunteers for delivery routes County wide. 

Meals on Wheels are more than just a meal. To many seniors the friendly volunteers who deliver meals in Montgomery County are the highlight of the day. Volunteers also help keep on eye on recipients' well-being and safety. Delivery time is typically between 10:30am and 1:00pm. Even one day a month makes a difference.

To find out how you can help, please call (910) 576-6531 x1124 and leave your name and number. We'll call you back and provide more information. Or you can email Hannah.kimbrell for more information. 

ATTENTION MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES: NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHTS UNDER HAWKINS v. COHEN 

Para aviso en español haga click aquí.

Hawkins v. Cohen (5:17-CV-581 E.D.N.C.) is a federal lawsuit filed in 2017 on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries in North Carolina. The case concerns improper terminations of Medicaid benefits.

 The Court hearing the case has certified it as a class action. This means that the case is to help not just the people who filed the case but other Medicaid beneficiaries whose Medicaid has been or will be terminated improperly. 

The Court has ordered the N.C. Medicaid agency to stop terminations or reductions of Medicaid benefits until eligibility under all Medicaid categories has been considered and advance notice of the right to a hearing has been mailed to you.   For example, if you get Medicaid based on having a minor child who is turning eighteen years old, your county Department of Social Services must consider whether you are disabled before they stop your Medicaid.

If you have any questions about this lawsuit or about your rights, you may contact the attorneys who filed the case, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. You can reach these lawyers by calling this toll free number: 1-800-936-4971. You can also send the lawyers an email at Hawkinsinfo@charlottelegaladvocacy.org.

You also may contact these lawyers if you want to report that you lost your Medicaid without a decision that you were no longer eligible for Medicaid under any category or without receiving advance written notice that your Medicaid would stop. There is no cost to you for any help that these lawyers provide to you.

Click here for the full notice. 

Civil Rights and Accessibility  

Montgomery County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex. MCDSS does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex. For more information, click here.