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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – APPENDIX AA Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of County Operations

Broad Based Categorical Eligibility Broad Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) applies to all SNAP households who fall under the TANF BBCE income limits which are 130% FPL for regular households and 165% FPL for aged/disabled households. Due to DHS’s options for all households to receive a non-cash TANF/Maintenance of Effort (MOE) benefit, the BBCE resource limit can be temporarily increased to $5500. This increase is permitted for a 12-month consecutive period and can only be granted once every five (5) years. After the 12-month consecutive period has been exhausted the standard resource amounts will apply (see Appendix D). DHS meets the non-cash TANF/Maintenance of Effort eligibility requirements by having the Help for Arkansans in Need program. This brochure is issued to SNAP clients to make them aware of the programs that are offered. BBCE refers to the policy that allows households to be categorically eligible for SNAP because they receive a non-cash TANF/MOE funded benefit (Help for Arkansans in Need brochure). This is not to be confused with traditional categorical eligibility or TEA cash assistance. Traditional categorical eligibility rules have not changed, which is the policy that makes households categorically eligible for SNAP because the household receives TANF, SSI or TEA cash assistance in which resources are disregarded. BBCE offers households the ability to retain savings while receiving nutritional support. While households may meet the BBCE resource limit, they will still need to meet all other financial and non-financial eligibility rules to receive SNAP benefits. The BBCE resource timeframe of 12 consecutive months will follow the owner of the resource from case to case, as well as remaining with the original household. Example: Client applies July 2025 with $5200 in resources, the 12 months start in July 2025. The household can have up to $5500 in resources from July 2025-June 2026. The household is not allowed to have over the normal resource amount again until July 2030. The certification period is irrelevant. Example: Client with the $5200 resource leaves the household in November 2025. The client then applies for SNAP on her own and is only eligible for the BBCE resource limit for another 7 months (since she has used 5 months of the 12 months in the original household). The original household will also retain their increased BBCE resource limit for another 7 months. As outlined in the Help for Arkansans in Need brochure, programs offered are: • SNAP • National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs • Summer EBT • Food Assistance • Medicaid • Substance Abuse or Mental Health Treatment • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) • Family Planning • Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) • School Readiness Assistance • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) • Arkansas Workforce Connections