202 Filing an Application

A. Household’s Right to File Households must file food assistance applications by submitting the forms to the county department either in person, through an authorized representative, by mail, by facsimile (fax) or other electronic means. The length of time a State agency has to deliver benefits is calculated from the date the applicant returns a signed application form with his name and address on it to the food assistance office (or public assistance office) designated to accept the application, except when a resident of a public institution is jointly applying for SSI and food assistance prior to his/her release from an institution. When a resident of an institution is jointly applying for SSI and food assistance prior to leaving the institution, the filing date on the application is the date of release of the applicant from the institution. Applications signed with an “X” should also contain a witness’ signature. The day after the application is filed is counted as day one for processing standards. An adult household member must sign the perjury statement on the application form. If there is no adult a minor (under age 19) not under parental control may sign as an adult. The signed perjury statement is not required when the application is filed, but must be obtained during the application process. Each household has the right to file an application form the same day it contacts the food assistance office during business hours. The household shall be advised that it: 1. Does not have to be interviewed before filing the application. 2. May file an incomplete application as long as the form contains the applicant’s name and address, and is signed by a responsible member of the household or the household’s authorized representative. County departments shall document the date the application was filed by recording on the application the date it was received by the county department. B. Contacting the Food Assistance Office County departments shall encourage households to file an application form the same day the household or its representative contacts the county department in person or by telephone and expresses interest in obtaining food assistance. The household should be given the application form that is appropriate to the household’s circumstances (See Section 201). The household will not be penalized in any way regardless of which application form is received. Submission of either form containing the minimum information in Section 202A begins the application process. The appropriate form can be obtained by mailing or giving the household such form prior to or at the interview. 1. If a household contacting the office by phone does not wish to come to the appropriate office to file the application that same day and instead prefers receiving an application through the mail, the county department shall mail an application form to the household on the same day the phone request is received. 2. An application shall also be mailed on the same day a written request for food assistance is received. 3. Where a project area a project area has designated certification offices to serve specific geographic areas within the project area, households may contact an office other than the one designated to service the area in which they reside. When a household contacts the wrong certification office within a project area in person or by telephone, the certification office shall, in addition to meeting the requirements in Section B, above, give the household the address and telephone number of the appropriate office. The certification office shall also offer to forward the household’s application to the appropriate office that same day if the household has completed enough information on the application to file, or forward it the next day by fax or any means that ensures the application arrives in the appropriate office the day it is forwarded. 4. The household shall be informed that its application will not be considered filed and the processing standards shall not begin until the application is received by the appropriate office. 5. If the household has mailed its application to the wrong office within a project area, the certification office shall mail the application to the appropriate office on the same day, or forward it the next day by fax or any means that ensures the application arrives in the appropriate office the day it is forwarded. C. Availability of the Application Form The county department shall make application forms readily accessible to anyone who requests the form. D. Notice of Right to File The county department shall post signs in the certification office which explain the application processing standards, and the right to file an application on the day of initial contact. E. Withdrawing an Application The household may voluntarily withdraw its application at any time prior to the determination of eligibility. The county department shall document in the case file the reason for withdrawal, if any was stated by the household, and that contact was made with the household to confirm the withdrawal. The household shall be advised of its right to reapply at any time subsequent to a withdrawal.