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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 154  This requires ESA to anticipate the household’s circumstances for each month of participation based on existing circumstances that are expected to remain the same and changes in existing circumstances that are reasonably certain to occur.  Prospective eligibility and budgeting are used at initial application, mid-certification, recertification or when a household experiences a change in circumstances that may affect its eligibility or benefits. 13.1.2 Month of Application ESA uses a household’s circumstances for the entire month of application to determine eligibility and benefit level for the initial month of certification. 13.1.3 Recertification Eligibility for recertification will be determined based on circumstances anticipated for the certification period starting the month following the expiration of the current certification period. The level of benefits for recertification will be based on the same anticipated circumstances. 13.1.4 Anticipated Changes Because of anticipated changes, a household may be eligible for the month of application but ineligible in the subsequent month. The household will be entitled to benefits for the month of application even if the processing of its application results in the benefits being issued in the subsequent month. Similarly, a household may be ineligible for the month of application but eligible in the subsequent month due to anticipated changes in circumstances. Even though it is found ineligible or is denied benefits for the month of application, the household does not have to reapply in the subsequent month. The same application will be used for the denial for the month of application and the determination of eligibility for subsequent months. As a result of anticipated changes, the household’s allotment for the month of application may differ from its allotment in subsequent months. Legal Authority Determining household eligibility and benefit levels (federal): SNAP: 7 USC § 2014, 7 CFR § 273.10 Month of application (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(a) Recertification (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(2) Anticipated changes (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(3) 13.2 Determining Assets ESA must determine a household’s available assets if the household is subject to the asset limits. Households that are not categorically eligible for SNAP are subject to the asset limits. See Chapter 4, Return