Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
There are assistance groups that have eligibility factors
waived due to receiving specific public benefits or services. These assistance
groups are considered categorically eligible for the supplemental nutrition
assistance program (SNAP). When each assistance group member receives or is
authorized to receive Ohio works first (OWF), supplemental security income
(SSI), or a temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) funded service as
defined in this rule, or any combination of these benefits the assistance group
is categorically eligible.
(A) Who is
considered an OWF or SSI recipient?
An OWF or SSI recipient is any person:
(1) Who receives an OWF or SSI money
payment;
(2) Whose entire grant is
being recouped;
(3) Whose grant is
in suspended status;
(4) Who is
eligible for the benefit but is not receiving it because the monthly grant is
below a minimum amount for a check to be issued; or
(5) Whose OWF or SSI has been authorized and
the individual has been notified of the decision but payment has yet to be
received.
(B) Who is
considered an assistance group receiving a TANF-funded service or benefit?
(1) Ohio careline:
An assistance group with gross income
at or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level according to
their assistance group size that is provided a notice and a text message with a
link that includes information about Ohio careline services and how to access
those services. Assistance groups are provided information on approval notices
received at application and recertification.
(2)
Prevention, retention, and contingency (PRC) benefits:
(a) An assistance group in which any member
is authorized to receive or is receiving benefits or services under the PRC
program is categorically eligible for SNAP. An assistance group is considered
authorized to receive PRC as of the date of approval and/or notification of
approval.
(b) An assistance group
that is authorized to receive or is receiving PRC
benefits or services is to be categorically eligible for SNAP benefits only
for the number of months any member of the assistance group is authorized to
receive or is receiving PRC benefits or services. Certification periods for
SNAP benefits are to continue to be assigned in accordance with rule
5101:4-5-03 of the
Administrative Code.
(c) An
ineligible member of the assistance group authorized to receive or
is receiving PRC benefits or services
is not
to be included in the assistance group size when determining the benefit
amount. The income and resources of the ineligible member
is to be
determined in accordance with rules
5101:4-6-13 and
5101:4-6-15 of the
Administrative Code.
(3)
Other TANF-funded services:
(a) TANF funds
transferred to Title XX or child care development block grant (CCDBG) for child
care services are not considered funded under Title IV-A of the Social Security
Act of 1935 as amended (SSA), and are thus not subject to categorical
eligibility.
(b) All other TANF
funds are considered funded under Title IV-A of the SSA, regardless of which
agency administers the funds and may grant categorical eligibility to
assistance groups receiving benefits or services from these agencies.
(C) What eligibility
factors are waived for assistance groups determined categorically eligible?
(1)
SNAP one hundred
thirty per cent gross income limit;
(2)
Net income limit;
and
(3)
Resource limit.
(D) What are the
exceptions to categorical eligibility for OWF, SSI, PRC and Ohio careline
assistance groups?
(1) No person
is to be
included as a member in an assistance group that is otherwise categorically
eligible when that person is:
(a) An
ineligible alien as defined in rule
5101:4-3-07 of the
Administrative Code;
(b) An
ineligible student as defined in rule
5101:4-6-04 of the
Administrative Code;
(c)
Institutionalized in a non-exempt facility as defined in rule
5101:4-2-03 of the
Administrative Code; or
(d)
Ineligible under the able-bodied adults without dependents provisions in rule
5101:4-3-20 of the
Administrative Code.
(2)
Under no circumstances is an assistance group to be considered categorically eligible when:
(a) Any member of the assistance group is
disqualified for an intentional program violation in accordance with division
5101:6 of the Administrative Code;
(b) Any member of the assistance group is
ineligible because of a failure to comply with requirement of rules
5101:4-3-11.1,
5101:4-3-19 and
5101:4-3-09 of the
Administrative Code;
(c) Any member
of the assistance group is ineligible because of violating a condition of
probation or parole or fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody or confinement, or
for having a conviction of certain crimes and are out of compliance with their
sentence as defined in rule
5101:4-2-03 of the
Administrative Code; or
(d) The
assistance groups defined in paragraphs (D)(2)(a) to (D)(2)(c) of this rule are
subject to all SNAP eligibility requirements and cannot be reinstated in the
program on the basis of categorical eligibility.
(E) How is the monthly benefit
determined?
Categorically eligible assistance groups
are to
have their level of benefits calculated using the method described in
paragraphs (A) and (B) of rule
5101:4-4-39 of the
Administrative Code using the assistance group's net monthly income.
(F) How is a potentially
categorically eligible assistance group handled?
An assistance group is considered to have potential categorical
eligibility when all members of the assistance group have applied for benefits
that would make the assistance group categorically eligible.
(1) When all the assistance group members
have applied for benefits that will make the assistance group categorically
eligible and the county agency determines that the assistance group is
ineligible for SNAP benefits because it does not meet the gross or net income
tests, or exceeds the resource limits, the county agency
is to
pend the assistance group until it is established that all assistance group
members have gained categorical eligibility. When categorical eligibility has
not been established by the thirtieth day from the date of application, the
county agency is to deny the assistance group the following
day.
(2) When the assistance group
establishes categorical eligibility within the thirty days from the date of
application, the agency is to determine the level of benefits from the date of
application. When the assistance group's net income is high enough to result in
ineligibility for a monthly allotment, the denial notice is
to indicate that the net income exceeds the level at which benefits are
issued.
(G) What happens
when a potentially categorically eligible assistance group is denied SNAP
benefits?
(1) A potentially categorically
eligible assistance group is to be informed on the denial notice that its
application can be reopened when it gains categorical eligibility. The
assistance group is to be provided a change reporting form in
accordance with rule
5101:4-7-01 of the
Administrative Code.
(2) When the
application of a potentially categorical eligible assistance group was denied
because of failure to meet the gross or net income test, or being over
resources, and the assistance group later reports that all assistance group
members have become recipients of benefits that make the assistance group
categorically eligible the county agency is to have the
assistance group update their application. The assistance group
is to
provide any needed verification or information on the change since
the previous application was completed and have the application signed again by
an assistance group member or authorized representative.
(3) When the application was made via an
interactive interview and there are open public assistance benefits with the
SNAP benefit being denied, the county agency is to enter the
reported changes on the appropriate Ohio benefits
integrated
eligibility system screens and determine eligibility using the date the
assistance group gained categorical eligibility as the signature date. A new
interactive interview or JFS 07200 "Application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash
Assistance, Medical Assistance, or Child Care
Assistance" is not a requirement.
(4) When an assistance group gains
categorical eligibility status, restored benefits are to be paid
from the date the assistance group was authorized to receive OWF, SSI, or
TANF-funded services or benefits (e.g. Ohio careline or PRC) or the date of the
SNAP application whichever is later. See rule
5101:4-4-23 of the
Administrative Code regarding SSI recipients who may be eligible for use of
excess medical expenses and the uncapped shelter deduction in determining
restored benefits. The county agency is to issue
restored benefits within ten days, if necessary, and begin regular issuances. A
certification period is to be established as described in rule
5101:4-5-03 of the
Administrative Code.
(5) When the
assistance group has not complied with the requirements listed in paragraphs
(G)(1) to (G)(4) of this rule, the county agency is to issue a
denial notice on the day after the assistance group was to have complied, and
issue a new change report form when necessary.
(6) When an assistance group reports a change
which results in the assistance group becoming eligible for SNAP, but the
change does not result in categorical eligibility, the assistance group
is to be
advised
to file a new application before benefits can be
approved.
(H) What
happens when an assistance group is approved for benefits while awaiting a
determination of categorical eligibility?
When an assistance group is approved for SNAP benefits within
the thirty-day processing time and later gains categorical eligibility, the
assistance group may be eligible for restored benefits in a situation where an
SSI recipient incurs excess medical expenses and/or shelter expenses. Restored
benefits are
to be paid from the beginning of the period for which SSI benefits are
paid or the original SNAP application date, whichever is later.
