Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Joint
cash assistance (CA)/SNAP applications:
(1) To
facilitate participation in SNAP, households in which all members are applying
for cash assistance (Title IV-A or GA) shall be allowed to apply for SNAP
benefits at the same time they apply for other assistance. However, SNAP
eligibility and benefit amounts shall be based solely on SNAP eligibility
factors pending determination of cash assistance eligibility. All households
shall be certified in accordance with the notice and procedural and timeliness
requirements of SNAP regulations. (See Subsection B of
8.139.110.11 NMAC, combined CA/SNAP
interviews, for further information.)
(2) A household shall be notified of the
Privacy Act regarding application information and shall be provided the
following information:
(a) The collection of
information, including the social security number of each household member, is
authorized under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended
7 U.S.C.
2011-2036.
(b) The information shall be used to
determine whether a household is eligible or continues to be eligible to
participate in the SNAP program.
(c) The information shall be verified through
computer matching programs.
(d) The
information shall be used to monitor compliance with program regulations and
for program management.
(e) The
information provided may be disclosed to other federal and state agencies for
official examination, and to law enforcement officials for the purpose of
apprehending persons fleeing from the law.
(f) If a SNAP claim is filed against a
household, the information on the application, including all SSNs, may be
referred to federal and state agencies, as well as private claims collection
agencies, for claims collection action.
(g) That providing the requested information,
including the SSN of each household member, is voluntary, but that failure to
provide required information shall result in the denial of SNAP benefits to a
household.
B.
Items completed: SNAP regulations require only that an application contain the
name, address and signature, or witnessed mark, of the applicant in order to be
filed and registered.
C. Who
completes the application: The application must be completed by a household
member or designated authorized representative. If an authorized representative
or adult member of the SNAP household completes the application form, the
applicant should still review the completed form, since the applicant is liable
for improper payments resulting from erroneous information given by an
authorized representative. If an applicant needs help completing the form, ISD
shall help the applicant complete the form.
D. Signature:
(1) The application must be signed by the
applicant and the authorized representative, if one is designated. A signature
means that the applicant is verifying the information provided by the household
and has read and agrees with all of the statements on the application or other
form requiring a signature.
(2) A
signature is the depiction of the individual's name(s) that is, handwritten,
electronic or recorded telephonically. Electronic and telephonically recorded
signatures are valid only if provided in a format or on a system approved by
the HCA, which includes verification of the identity of the person providing
the signature.
(3) If the applicant
receives help completing the form, that person must also sign at the bottom of
the form.
(4) A person who is
unable to sign their own name may sign the application with a mark and have it
witnessed. A mark that is not witnessed cannot be accepted as a valid
signature. The witness shall be someone other than the interviewer.
E. Filing the application:
(1) An application can be filed in person,
through an authorized representative, by mail or by fax or other electronic
transmission, including on-line electronic transmission. An application
submitted electronically or by fax and containing a handwritten or electronic
signature shall be considered an acceptable application.
(2) An application shall be filed at the ISD
field office serving the community or county where the applicant lives or
through the YES-NM web portal. ISD shall provide households that complete an
on-line electronic application in person at the ISD office the opportunity to
review the information that has been recorded electronically and provide them
with a copy of that information for their records, upon request.
F. Registration of the
application: Applications submitted to ISD with at least the applicant's name,
address and signature of the applicant, spouse, other adult household member or
authorized representative shall be registered effective the date on which an
application is received by ISD at the field office or electronically during
regular business hours. Applications that are dropped off or submitted
electronically after regular business hours will be considered received as of
the next business day. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday from 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays or other days/times when the field
office is officially closed. Processing deadlines shall be calculated based on
the application date.
G. Incomplete
applications: Applications that do not contain, at a minimum, the applicant's
name, address, and signature, or witnessed mark, are incomplete and cannot be
registered. Prompt action shall be taken to return the application form for
completion of the minimum required entries. Other missing information does not
constitute an incomplete application for purposes of registering the
application.
H. Computer inquiries:
Computer inquiries shall be completed prior to certification and, where
feasible, prior to the interview in order to prevent dual participation and to
reveal undetected income and resources. These inquiries include scans for wage
and unemployment benefits, SSI benefits, and licensed vehicle ownership, as
well as for other available information and appropriate IEVS data.
I. Action on discrepancies:
(1) If computer interfaces show a household
member is currently participating in another household or receiving benefits
from the food distribution on Indian reservations program (FDPIR), ISD shall
discuss the situation with the applicant. The household can be certified only
after the other project area has been informed of the situation and the case
has been adjusted or transferred whichever is appropriate. If an inquiry shows
that the case is on file in another project area, residence shall be
established. The application shall be forwarded to the project area in which
the applicant household has established residency.
(2) Available information: The household
shall be given an opportunity to verify information from another source if
information is contradictory to that already provided or is questionable. A
decision on eligibility and benefit amount shall not be delayed beyond normal
application processing standards if other sources of data are unavailable. The
final decision to approve or deny shall be based on the available
information.
