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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 84 7.2.6 Expedited Certification Period Households that are certified on an expedited basis and have provided all required verification prior to certification will be assigned normal certification periods. If verification was postponed, ESA may certify these households for the month of application (the month of application and the subsequent month for those households applying after the 15th of the month). In all cases, the applicant’s identity must be verified and an interview must be completed to receive expedited service. Identity must be verified through a collateral contact or readily available documentary evidence. 7.2.6.1 Postponed Verification For households applying on or before the 15th of the month, ESA will assign a one-month certification period with the verification requirements postponed until the second month of participation. The Notice of Eligibility must explain that the household must satisfy all verification requirements that were postponed. For households applying after the 15th of the month, ESA will assign a two-month certification period. The Notice of Eligibility must explain that the household is obligated to satisfy the verification requirements that were postponed. 7.2.6.2 Simultaneous Expedited Benefits If a household applies for initial benefits on or after the 16th of the month and is eligible for expedited service, it will receive a combined prorated allotment for the month of application plus the next full month’s allotment within the expedited timeframe. Example Ms. Brown applies for SNAP on October 18 and is eligible for expedited service. She provides proof of her identity but does not have verification of her income, and ESA is unable to contact her employer during the interview. Ms. Brown is issued expedited benefits for the prorated portion of October and a full month’s benefits for November. She is given a notice that this benefit will end on November 30 if she does not provide the required income verification.

7.2.6.3 Ongoing Benefits After Postponed Verification Households that apply for SNAP prior to the 16th of the month and are eligible for expedited service receive benefits prorated from the date of application to the end of the month of application under the postponed verification requirements. ESA cannot issue benefits for the month after the month of application until the household provides all required verification.

Households that apply for SNAP on or after the 16th of the month and are eligible for expedited service receive benefits simultaneously for the month of application (prorated based on the date of application) Return