The Department will determine a definite period of time for
which a household is eligible to receive benefits. At the expiration of the
certification period, the household loses its entitlement to Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program benefits until it is recertified based on a new
application, an interview if required, and providing the required
verifications. Under no circumstances will the Department continue benefits
beyond the end of a certification period without a new determination of
eligibility.
002.01
CALENDAR MONTHS. The Department sets the certification
period to conform to calendar months. For the initial certification, the
Department uses the month of application, if eligible, as the first month in
the certification period, even if the household's eligibility is not determined
until a later month. For recertification, the certification period will begin
the month following the last month of the previous certification
period.
002.02
LENGTH
OF CERTIFICATION PERIODS. The length of the certification period
assigned to a household is determined by the household's reporting category and
circumstances. If the household is ineligible for the application month and
eligible for the month following the application month, the certification
period begins with the first month the household is eligible for Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
002.02(A)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS
FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN SIMPLIFIED REPORTING. When the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program household is assigned to Simplified Reporting at
initial determination of eligibility or at recertification the household will
be given a six month or 12 month certification period.
002.02(B)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS
FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN TRANSITIONAL BENEFIT REPORTING. The household is
assigned to the Transitional Benefit Reporting category during an existing
certification period from the Simplified Reporting category. The household
cannot be assigned to Transitional Benefit Reporting at initial determination
of eligibility or at recertification.
002.02(C)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS
FOR EXPEDITED SERVICES. A certification period is assigned based
on the household's circumstances and reporting category. The household may
provide all verifications or postpone verifications other than the identity of
the head of the household and authorized representative, if appropriate, for
the first two months' issuance. When the household has postponed verifications
and provides, at a minimum, verification of the identity of the head of the
household and authorized representative, if appropriate:
(1) The Department issues benefits only for
the application month when the household applies before the
16th of the month; or
(2) The Department issues benefits for the
application month and the second month together when the household applies on
or after the 16th of the month.
002.02(C)(i)
EXPEDITED SERVICES
AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION. When an expedited household applies
before the 16th of the month and provides the
minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two of this title, the
Department will, within seven days from the date the application is filed,
issue to the household prorated benefits for the month of application.
002.02(C)(i)(1)
EXPEDITED
VERIFICATION. If the household fails to provide the required
postponed verification(s) by the end of the expedited issuance benefit month,
the benefits for the second issuance will not be issued. If the household
provides the required postponed verification(s) before the end of the second
month of the certification period, the benefits will be provided for the second
month and for the remainder of the original certification period without a new
application. Benefits will not be prorated.
002.02(C)(i)(2)
EXPEDITED
ELIGIBILITY. There is no limit to the number of times a household
can be certified under expedited processes as long as the household has
completed the verification requirements or was certified under normal
processing standards since the last expedited certification.
002.02(C)(i)(3)
AGGREGATE
ALLOTMENTS AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION. When an expedited household
applies on or after the 16th of the month and
provides the minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two, the
Department will, within seven days from the date the application is filed,
issue to the household an aggregate allotment of the prorated benefits for the
month of application and the full second month.
002.02(C)(i)(3)(a)
AGGREGATE
EXPEDITED VERIFICATION. If the household fails to provide the
required postponed verification(s) by the end of the second month of the
certification period, the benefits for the third month, which would be the
second issuance, will not be issued. If the household provides the required
postponed verification(s) before the end of the third month of the
certification period, the benefits will be provided for the third month and for
the remainder of the original certification period without a new application.
Benefits will not be prorated.
002.02(D)
REINSTATEMENT DURING
THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD. A household in the Simplified Reporting
category may be eligible for reinstatement during the remaining months of the
certification period if household circumstances change.
002.02(D)(i)
REINSTATEMENT
ELIGIBILITY. During the initial 30 days following the close
effective date, the household may be reinstated if a change in circumstances is
reported and verified by the household that re-establishes the household's
eligibility, or if the missing verification is provided. The household is not
required to file a new application. If eligible, the benefits are prorated from
the date of report if verified in ten days or from the date all information to
re-establish eligibility is received if more than ten days. If the reason for
closure was missing verification, benefits are prorated from the date the
verifications are provided.
002.02(D)(ii)
REINSTATEMENT AFTER
CERTIFICATION PERIOD ENDS. If the certification period has ended a
new application must be submitted to continue
eligibility.
