How Do I Know: FAMIS System & Terminology

Why This Is Important: The Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS) is the mainframe used by the Family Support Division (FSD) to document household eligibility for Income Maintenance Programs. FAMIS makes eligibility determinations and recommendations based on information provided by the applicant and verification available to the agency. The authorization to approval or rejection an application is completed by field staff. FAMIS automatically sends notifications of the case action to the household. Once active, the case is maintained in this system.

Basic knowledge of FAMIS terminology will assist in navigating this system.

FAMIS Terminology

SUPERCASE All individuals who reside at the same residential address and persons not living at that address, but included in an Eligibility Unit at that address.
A SUPERCASE EXAMPLE Sally, Jeff, Sarah, and Joe are roommates. Sally and Jeff receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Sarah and Joe do not receive any public assistance. The Supercase consists of all individuals at the residence: Sally, Jeff, Sarah, and Joe.
A SUPERCASE NUMBER SCN The identifying (10 Digit) number assigned to an address. This number identifies the Supercase Number for that address.

  1. Residential addresses will have one Supercase Number. Anyone that resides at that address is added to the Supercase, regardless of whether or not the individual is part of an Eligibility Unit.
  2. Addresses that are coded as treatment facilities, group homes, etc. are allowed to have multiple Supercase Numbers assigned.
  3. A Supercase Number remains at an address as long as there is an active Eligibility Unit at that address. The last Eligibility Unit out takes the Supercase Number.
ELIGIBILITY UNIT An Eligibility Unit (EU) is a group of individuals who must have their needs and/or income considered collectively for eligibility determinations. For the MO HealthNet for Aged, Blind, Disabled (MHABD) program, this is also referred to as the assistance group.
EVALUATING ELIGIBILITY UNITS IN THE SUPERCASE
  1. Bill, Jane, and their daughter Suzie reside at the same Supercase address. They receive SNAP and Child Care assistance. Their Supercase contains two Eligibility Units, one for SNAP and one for Child Care.
  2. Bill’s father and mother (Jim and Esther) have moved in with Bill, Jane, and Suzie. Bill, Jane, and Suzie still receive SNAP and Child Care assistance. Esther and Jim receive MHABD assistance. All of these individuals are part of the same Supercase. However, there are now three Eligibility Units in this Supercase, Bill’s SNAP case, Bill’s Child Care case, and now Jim and Esther’s MHABD case.
ELIGIBILITY UNIT NUMBER An identifying number that consists of the program code, 10-digit Department Client Number (DCN) of the applicant, subprogram, and sequence number.

For example: FS0046525789FSP001

  • FS = SNAP program code
  • 0046525789 = 10 digit DCN of the applicant
  • FSP = the subprogram
  • 001 = the sequence number
A DEPARTMENT CLIENT NUMBER DCN An individual number assigned to every baby born in Missouri since 1994. Missourians born before this date are assigned a DCN when applying for or accessing benefits and services.