New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 139 - FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Part 120 - CASE ADMINISTRATION - CASE MANAGEMENT
Section 8.139.120.8 - RECERTIFICATION
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
When a household's certification period expires, its eligibility to participate in SNAP ends. SNAP benefits will not be continued beyond the certification period. Timely applications for recertification will be approved or denied before the end of the current certification period. ISD must establish procedures for notifying households of expiration dates, providing application forms, scheduling interviews, and recertifying eligible households prior to the expiration of certification periods.
A. Notice and time standards: ISD shall provide households certified for one month or certified in the second month of a two-month certification period a notice of expiration (NOE) at the time of certification. ISD shall provide other households the NOE before the first day of the last month of the certification period, but not before the first day of the next-to-the-last month. Jointly processed Public Assistance ("PA") (as defined at 7 C.F.R. 271.2), and General Assistance ("GA") (as defined at 7 C.F.R. 271.2) households need not receive a separate SNAP notice if they are recertified for SNAP at the same time as their PA or GA redetermination. Every household will be provided with a notice of expiration, as follows:
B. Failure to submit timely application:
C. ISD caused delayed processing: If an eligible household files an application before the end of the certification period but the recertification process cannot be completed within 30 days after the date of application because of ISD fault, ISD must continue to process the case and provide a full month's allotment for the first month of the new certification period, and will send a delay notice in accordance with Subsection D of 8.139.110.13 NMAC. If the household fails to take required action, ISD may deny the case at the time of application, at the end of the certification period, or at the end of 30 days. ISD shall determine cause for any delay in processing a recertification application in accordance with the provisions of 7 C.F.R. 273.2(h)(1).
D. Scheduling interviews: ISD shall schedule interviews so that the household has at least 10 days after the interview in which to provide verification before the certification period expires. A household will not be required to appear for an interview, or to file an application for recertification, in the month before the last month of its current certification period. An interview may be scheduled in the month before the last month of certification, or prior to the date the application is timely filed, provided the household is not denied for failing or refusing to appear for the interview. If an interview was scheduled, or if household member or authorized representative failed to attend an interview which was scheduled prior to the date a household files a timely application, ISD will schedule an interview on or after the date an application is timely filed.
E. Failure to appear: If a household member or authorized representative fails to appear for a recertification interview scheduled on or after a timely application is filed, the household loses the right to uninterrupted participation. ISD shall send the household a notice of missed interview that may be combined with the notice of denial. If a household misses its scheduled interview and requests another interview, the ISD shall schedule a second interview. The household is responsible for rescheduling a missed interview.
F. Prospective eligibility determination: A household's eligibility and SNAP benefit amount at recertification will be determined prospectively based on circumstances anticipated for the certification period, beginning with the month following the expiration of the current certification period.
G. Eligibility and benefits: Eligibility will be determined at recertification according to the standards described below.