(A) PA households shall be allowed to apply
for SNAP benefits at the same time they apply for other assistance. However,
the household's eligibility and benefit level shall be based solely on SNAP
eligibility criteria and the household shall be certified in accordance with
notice, timeliness, and procedural requirements of the SNAP regulations. If a
household's intent to apply for SNAP benefits is unclear, the worker shall
determine at the interview, or in other contact with the household, whether or
not the household also wants a PA application processed for SNAP purposes.
(1)
Joint Application
Form. The TAFDC application and the EAEDC application shall
contain all the information necessary to determine a household's SNAP
eligibility and benefit level. These joint applications shall also have a place
for the household to indicate if it does not wish to apply for SNAP benefits.
The applicant shall not be required to fill out any additional application form
for SNAP purposes.
(2)
Single Interview Requirement. The worker shall conduct
a single interview at initial application for both cash assistance and SNAP
purposes. PA households shall not be required to see a different worker or
otherwise be subject to two interview requirements to obtain the benefits of
both programs. Following the interview, the application may be processed by
separate workers to determine eligibility and benefit levels for SNAP and cash
assistance. A household's eligibility for a SNAP out-of-office interview does
not relieve the household of any responsibility for a face-to-face interview
for cash purposes.
(3)
Verification Standard.
(a) For households applying for both cash
assistance and SNAP, the verification procedures described in
106 CMR 361.600
through
361.660
shall be followed for those eligibility factors that are needed solely for
purposes of determining the household's eligibility for SNAP benefits. For
those factors that are needed to determine eligibility for both cash assistance
and SNAP, the worker shall follow cash assistance verification requirements.
However, in no case shall the worker delay the household's SNAP benefits if, at
the end of 30 days following the date the application was filed, the applicant
has provided sufficient verification to meet the verification for SNAP
purposes, even if there is insufficient verification to meet the cash
assistance verification rules.
For example, a family applies for TAFDC and SNAP. The applicant
timely submits verification of income and all other verification necessary for
SNAP purposes. However, the applicant does not prove relationship which is
necessary to establish TAFDC eligibility. In this case, the SNAP assistance
shall not be delayed or denied because of the household's failure to comply
with a TAFDC eligibility requirement.
(b) A household may be denied SNAP and cash
assistance at the same time (based on the cash assistance processing standards)
when all of the following conditions have been met:
1. The Department has provided the household
with a statement of required verification and has assisted the household in
obtaining verification, as necessary;
2. The Department has informed the household
of the appropriate processing standard, in writing, at the time of the
application and notified the household at the interview of the date by which
any missing verification must be provided; and
3. The household has failed to provide
verification of an eligibility factor that is required for both cash assistance
and SNAP.
For example, if a family applies jointly for cash assistance
and SNAP and fails to submit income verification by the cash assistance
processing date, cash assistance and SNAP would be denied on the same day
because income verification is required for SNAP as well as for cash
assistance.
If the household provides the missing verification within the
initial 30-day period, the Department must provide benefits from the date of
application. If the household does not provide the missing verification or
complete the application until the second 30 days, the Department must provide
benefits from the date the household completes the application or furnishes the
missing verification. If more than 60 days has elapsed from the date of initial
application, the household would have to reapply for SNAP benefits.
(4)
Timeliness Standard. The worker must make the SNAP
eligibility determination in accordance with all the timeliness standards and
procedures specified in
106 CMR
361.700 through
361.960,
unless the household has failed to provide verification of an eligibility
factor required for both cash assistance and SNAP benefits in accordance with
106 CMR 365.120(A)(3)(b).
(a) As a result of
differences in application processing procedures and standards, the worker may
have to determine SNAP eligibility prior to determining eligibility for PA
payments. Action on the SNAP portion of the application shall not be delayed
nor the application denied on grounds that the PA determination has not been
made.
(b) Households whose PA
applications are denied but who have provided all verifications necessary to
determine SNAP eligibility shall not be required to file a new SNAP
application. They shall, however, have their SNAP eligibility determined or
continued on the basis of their original joint application and any other
documented information obtained subsequent to the application that may have
been used in the PA determination and that is relevant to SNAP eligibility or
level of benefits.
(B)
Asset Standards for PA
Households. Asset standards for PA households shall be determined
as specified in
106 CMR
363.110: Asset Eligibility
Limits.
(C)
Income Standards For PA Households.
(1)
Countable
Income. All income received by the PA household, including the
cash grant, special allowances and all other income (unless excluded in
accordance with
106 CMR 363.230:
Excluded Income) shall be counted in determining the
household's eligibility for SNAP benefits.
(2)
Income Exclusions and
Deductions. PA households will receive only the income exclusions
and deductions provided in SNAP policy. The income exclusions and deductions
allowed under cash assistance programs for the purposes of grant calculation
shall not be allowed in determining income for SNAP purposes.
(3)
Special Allowances,
Retroactive Lump Sum Payments and Protective Payments.
(a)
Special
Allowances. Special allowances, except for one-time payments
(e.g., the clothing allowance for TAFDC children) or vendor
payments, are treated as countable income. This income may be averaged over the
certification period or on a variable basis of issuance to cover the period
when the allowance is received.
(b)
Retroactive Lump Sum PA Payments. Retroactive lump sum
payments are excluded as income and counted as an asset in the month received.
If a PA client's first payment is delayed beyond the first month of
eligibility, the retroactive portion of that check is considered a lump sum
payment. For example, if a household applies in November and is eligible in
November but receives its first check in December to cover both months, only
the December benefit amount is considered as income.
(c)
Protective
Payments. Protective payments are any portion of the cash grant
that is legally obligated and otherwise payable to the PA household, but
diverted by the Department to a third party for a household expense
(e.g., vendor rent). Protective payments are countable as
income when determining SNAP eligibility and benefit level.