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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTIONS 100 TO 900 200 Authorization of the Program and the State’s Responsibilities 121 Communal Dining Facilities

200 Authorization of the Program and the State’s Responsibilities

SNAP MANUAL 06/01/01 U.S.D.A., Food and Nutrition Service and the Division of County Operations (DCO) have jointly entered into a Plan of Operation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Arkansas and have prescribed policies and procedures, and rules and regulations as set forth in this manual for the administration of this program. DCO responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Insuring that county offices administer the program in a manner that guarantees prompt action, nondiscrimination, and accurate completion of the certification process. 2. Establishing the policies and procedures under which the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is administered. 3. Establishing procedures to best serve households in the State including households with elderly or disabled members, households in rural areas, homeless households, households with limited English skills, and working households. 4. Issuing SNAP benefits to eligible households. Benefits are issued via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. 5. Maintaining issuance control and submitting accurate and timely financial and program reports. 6. Providing qualified employees to conduct interviews and to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for the program.  NOTE: Only DCO employees may conduct interviews with supplemental nutrition assistance benefit applicants and/or recipients unless the applicant is interviewed as part of a joint SSI/SNAP application as specified in SNAP 8240. 7. Developing, conducting, and evaluating training of certification and issuance personnel. 8. Maintaining a Performance Reporting System (Quality Assurance and Management Evaluation) in accordance with federal regulations. 9. Making program records available for review or audit by U.S.D.A., FNS (Office of Audit and Office of Investigation) for a period of three years from the month of origin of each record. 10. Handling recipient claims and restorations of lost benefits in accordance with federal regulations. 11. Disqualifying individuals and households from participation in accordance with federal regulations.