New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 139 - FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Part 500 - FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY - NEED DETERMINATION
Section 8.139.500.12 - ESTABLISHING CERTIFICATION PERIODS

Universal Citation: 8 NM Admin Code 8.139.500.12

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

A. The caseworker shall establish a definite period of time within which a household is eligible to receive benefits.

B. Entitlement to SNAP benefits ends at the expiration of the household's certification period. Continued eligibility is determined only when an application has been filed, an interview held, and all verification provided.

C. Under no circumstances shall benefits be continued beyond the end of a certification period without a redetermination of eligibility.

D. A household shall be provided with an expiration notice before or at the beginning of the last month of a certification period.

E. If a household is determined eligible for the initial month but ineligible the following month, it shall be certified for one month only. Conversely, a household may be ineligible for the month of application but eligible for the following month(s). If the household is denied for the month of application, it does not need to file a new application for the following month.

F. Conformity with calendar month: Certification periods shall conform to calendar months. At the initial application, the first month in the certification period is the month of application, even if the household's eligibility is not determined until a later month.

G. Length of certification period: All households will be assigned to simplified reporting and shall be assigned a certification period in accordance with Subsection A of 8.139.120.9 NMAC. Households shall be assigned the longest certification period possible based on the stability of the household's circumstances. A certification period cannot exceed 12 months, except for households in which all adult members in the household are elderly or disabled. Households in which all members are elderly or disabled will be assigned a 24-month certification period. At least one contact with each certified household shall be made every 12 months.

H. Shortening the certification period:

(1) The caseworker may not end a household's certification period earlier than its assigned termination date, unless the caseworker receives information that the household has become ineligible, or the household has not taken action to clarify or provide verification of a change in household circumstances for which the caseworker has requested verification.

(2) Loss of cash assistance or a change in employment status is not sufficient to meet the criteria necessary for shortening a certification period.

I. Lengthening the certification period: The caseworker may lengthen a household's current certification period once it is established, as long as the total months of the certification period do not exceed 24 months for households in which all adult members are elderly or disabled, or 12 months for other households. If the caseworker extends the household's certification period, the caseworker shall issue written notice advising the household of the new certification end date.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.