UPM 1530.10 - Food Stamp Certification Periods

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 9-21-96 Transmittal: UP-96-17 1530.10 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: Certification FS _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Food Stamp Certification Periods ______________________________________________________________________________

1530.10 A. Beginning and Ending Dates

1. Certification periods conform to calendar months.

2. The certification period:

a. begins with the initial month of eligibility, regardless of when the determination is made; and

b. runs continuously without interruption; and

c. ends on the last calendar day of the final month of the assigned certification period.

B. Length of the Certification Period

1. Assistance units are assigned the longest certification period possible based on the predictability of the household circumstances.

2. Certification periods may be up to 24 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled. However, contact must be made with each certified household every 12 months.

3. Except for households described in B.2. an assigned certification period may not exceed twelve months. A new eligibility determination must be made every twelve months, at a minimum.

4. The Department may vary the certification period on a case to case basis or establish general standards which vary according to such factors as:

(1) the likelihood of a change in the household's circumstances;

(2) case history;

(3) administrative needs;

(4) error prone profiles.

5. Waiver of the office interview requirement does not affect the length of the certification period.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 9-21-96 Transmittal: UP-96-17 1530.10 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Eligibility Process POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: Certification FS _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Food Stamp Certification Periods ______________________________________________________________________________

1530.10 C. One Month Extension Requirement

1. Certification periods of three months or less are extended by one month if the eligibility determination is completed after the fifteenth day of the month of application, unless:

a. the household circumstances do not warrant the extension; or

b. the case is an expedited service case with postponed verification.

2. Certification periods of three months or less are automatically extended by one month if:

a. the eligibility determination is completed in the month following the month of application; and

b. the assistance unit is entitled to retroactive benefits for a prior month; and

c. household circumstances warrant the extension.

D. Cash Assistance Applicants/Recipients

1. FS assistance units in which all members are applicants or recipients of AFDC, or AABD are, to the extent possible, assigned certification periods which coincide with the PA redetermination schedule.

2. The certification period is not coordinated with the PA redetermination schedule if assistance unit circumstances do not warrant such coordination.

E. Changes In the Certification Period

1. The Department may change the length of an already assigned certification period if:

a. changes in assistance unit circumstances warrant the change; and

b. the change is made in sufficient time to provide a notice of expiration in a timely manner if the certification period is shortened (Cross Reference: 1545).

2. In no event does a change in the certification period cause the assistance unit to be certified for more than twelve months without completing a new eligibility determination.