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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 8000 8500 Normal Processing Standards 8000 Initial Application Process

8520 Determining Fault - County Caused Delay SNAP Manual 05/01/2022 The county office is at fault for delays in application processing when the household has completed all required actions, and the eligibility worker has failed to follow processing guidelines or has not: • Scheduled the first appointment for an interview by the twentieth day after the date of application. • Provided the household with a statement of required verification; or • Allowed the household enough time to provide the missing verification. • Completed the application process when the applicant has returned all required information. The county office is also at fault for the delay if the eligibility worker failed in some other way to complete the application process. If unable to complete the process, a Notice of Action must be sent to the household explaining the delay. In cases where verification is incomplete, the county office must have taken one (1) of the following actions: • Provided the household with a properly completed Request for Information • Allowed the household enough time to provide the missing verification • Assisted the household to get required verification if such assistance was requested If the information needed to process the application was not requested via Request for Information, a Request for Information will be prepared and mailed to the household. The form must specify the information that must be provided by the sixtieth (60) day after the date of application. If the sixtieth (60) day falls on a weekend or holiday, this will be the first workday after the sixtieth (60) day.

8521 Determining Fault - Client Caused Delay SNAP Manual 05/01/2022 A delay is the fault of the household if the household has failed to complete the application process even though the county office has taken all required actions. A household that fails to complete the application process is at fault if the county office attempted to assist with the application on or before the thirtieth (30) day of the application period. This applies when a household is interviewed on or before the thirtieth (30) day of the application period and fails to provide the information needed to complete the application.