Recertification Processing Standards and Timeframes

A. Timely Applications for Recertification 1. Households that file an application for recertification on or before the fifteenth (15th) of the last month of their certification period will have reapplied timely. A timely application for recertification shall be approved or denied prior to the end of the household's current certification period and shall provide eligible households with an opportunity to obtain their benefits by their normal issuance day of the month following the expiration of their certification period. 2. Households which have reapplied timely, but because of local office error are not determined eligible in sufficient time to permit normal issuance to the household in the following month, shall receive an immediate opportunity to participate upon being determined eligible. Such households shall be entitled to participate and receive a full month's allotment for the month following the expiration of the certification period. B. Untimely Applications for Recertification 1. Households which file an application for recertification anytime between the sixteenth

(16th) and the last day of the last month of the certification period shall not be considered as having timely reapplied. For households that have not timely reapplied, but have been found eligible, benefits may be delayed past the household’s normal issuance day. The household shall be notified of approval or denial on a notice of action form within thirty

(30) calendar days of when the application for recertification was submitted to the local office. C. Late Applications for Recertification 1. If a household files an application form within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the certification period, the application shall be considered and processed as an application for recertification and shall have the allotment for the initial month of application prorated from the day of application to the end of the month, unless the local office was at fault for the delay. For applications received within thirty (30) calendar days after the expiration of the certification period, verification requirements shall remain consistent with the verification requirements for applications that were filed prior to the expiration of the certification period as outlined in Section 4.502, B. D. If an application for recertification is denied for a failure of the household to take a required action, the local office shall reopen the case if the required action is taken by the end of the certification period and provide benefits for the first month of the new certification period. If the household takes the required action after the end of the certification period, but within the next thirty (30) calendar days, the local office shall reopen the case and provide benefits retroactive to the date that the action was taken by the household. E. A household shall lose its right to uninterrupted benefits if one of the following occurs after the fifteenth (15th) day of the last month of the household’s certification period: 1. A household fails to timely apply for recertification in accordance with Section 4.209.1, A; or, 2. A household timely files an application for recertification but fails to appear for a scheduled interview; or, 3. A household fails to submit all necessary verification by the date specified on the request for such verification. The request for verification shall allow the household no less than ten (10) days to provide the verification to prevent an interruption in benefits. If the household is eligible after providing such verification(s), the county/district shall provide benefits within thirty (30) calendar days after the application was filed. If the local office is unable to provide benefits within thirty (30) calendar days due to the time allowed for providing verification, the office shall provide benefits within five (5) calendar days after the household supplies the missing verification. Households that refuse to cooperate in providing required information or taking the required actions to determine eligibility shall be denied.