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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 8000 8900 Special Procedures at Initial Application 8000 Initial Application Process

8940 DHS Responsibilities SNAP Manual 05/01/2022 1. Register Applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits Forwarded by the Social Security Administration (SSA) For households not entitled to expedited services, the date of application will be the date the application was received by SSA. For expedited applications, the date of application will be the date the application was received in the Department of Human Services (DHS) county office. 2. Process Applications for SNAP Benefits Forwarded by the SSA See SNAP 8500-8530 for an explanation of the processing periods for initial applications. See SNAP 9400-9600. 3. Obtain All Needed Verification Social Security will attempt to obtain needed verification; however, DHS must obtain any verification not provided by the SSA. All further contact with the household to obtain needed verification will be made by telephone, letter, or scheduled home visit. Another interview will not be scheduled to complete the verification requirements. For households eligible to participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), the eligibility worker will collect all needed verification. 4. Work Register Household Members as Necessary Work registration requirements will be waived on all household members applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), until the member is determined eligible for SSI and becomes exempt on that basis, or the member is determined ineligible for SSI. When a member is determined ineligible, the normal work registration requirements will apply. See SNAP 3000 for Work Registration requirements.

If a household member is denied for SSI but continues to claim that he or she is not able to work, a statement will be requested from a health care professional unless the disability is obvious. When the disability is obvious, the nature of the disability and the anticipated length of the disability must be documented in the case record. The statement must support the member’s contention that he or she is unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment and must state if or when he or she may be able to return to work. 5. Assign the Proper Period of Certification See SNAP 8710-8720 for information about the proper period of certification. Certification periods will be shortened if a household member’s application for SSI is