Connecticut Department of Social Services Uniform Policy Manual: 1505.25 Application Process - Head of the Assistance Unit

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 2-1-92 Transmittal: UP-93-29 1505.25 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: The Application Process FS _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Head of the Assistance Unit ______________________________________________________________________________

1505.25 A. General Statement

1. In general, the assistance unit may select any responsible individual as head of the Food Stamps assistance unit, except in the situations described below in B.

2. Whenever possible, the head of the assistance unit will be the adult responsible for the care or supervision of the majority of the assistance unit members.

3. The head of the assistance unit must be an eligible member of the assistance unit, except when he or she:

a. is the only adult able to serve as head of the assistance unit; and

b. is excluded from participation in the FS program because of non-citizen status, or a disqualification penalty (Cross Reference: 2020); and

c. would otherwise be included in the assistance unit if not for the exclusion.

4. Additional requirements are not imposed based on the head of the assistance unit classification, such as requiring the head of the assistance unit rather than another responsible member to appear at the district office for an interview.

B. Assistance Units That Have Violated Employment and Training Requirements or Voluntary Quit Requirements

1. The assistance unit may select as its head the adult parent of a child of any age or an adult who has parental control over a minor child in the assistance unit.

a. All adults in the assistance unit must agree on the individual selected.

b. The adult parent or adult with parental control does not have to be the principal wage earner.

2. The Department designates the head of the assistance unit when:

a. the assistance unit fails to select its own head;

all adults in the assistance unit cannot agree on a designee. CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 11-1-97 Transmittal: UP-98-12 1505.25 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: The Application Process FS _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Head of the Assistance Unit ______________________________________________________________________________

1505.25 C. When the Head of the Assistance Unit Is Selected

1. An assistance unit may select its head only:

a. at certification; or

b. when the composition of the assistance unit changes.

2. The Department cannot delay certification or deny benefits solely because the assistance unit fails to select its head.

D. Notification

The Department must notify all assistance units to inform them:

1. that they may have the option to select their head; and

2. which assistance units are eligible to select the head; and

3. how changes in the designation of head of the assistance unit must be reported.

E. Fraud Disqualification

If the adult is excluded because of a fraud disqualification, the individual may represent the assistance unit only if no other adult is immediately available to act as an authorized representative for the purpose of applying or purchasing foods with the EBT debit card.