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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 166  The household submits an application for recertification prior to the end of its certification period, an interview is conducted (if required) prior to the end of the certification period, but eligibility cannot be determined by the end of the current certification period due to the time period allowed for submitting any missing verification. The household will receive an opportunity to participate, if eligible, within five working days after the household submits the missing verification. Benefits cannot be prorated. If the recertification process is delayed beyond the end of the certification period due to a household- caused delay, the first month’s benefits for households found eligible are prorated either from the date the household takes the required action or from the date of the application for recertification:  If a household files a recertification application prior to the end of the certification period, regardless of whether the application was submitted by the 15th day of the last month, and the household completes the last outstanding action (i.e. submits final required verification) within 30 days after the end of the certification period, ESA must provide benefits retroactive to the date the household took the last outstanding action.  If a household files a recertification application within 30 days after the end of the certification period and completes all required actions, benefits must be prorated from the date the recertification application was filed following policy in Section 13.5.3.1, Determining Initial Month of Benefits. If the recertification process is delayed beyond the end of the certification period due to delays caused by ESA, benefits are provided for the full month of the new certification period and not prorated.  If a household files a recertification application before the end of the certification period but processing is delayed beyond the end of the certification period due to the fault of ESA, the household, if eligible, must receive a full month’s benefits for the new certification period.  If a household files a recertification application within 30 days after the end of the certification period and ESA is at fault for causing the application to be filed after the certification period (i.e. ESA failed to offer assistance to complete the application), the household, if eligible, must receive a full month’s benefits for the new certification period. Follow policy in Chapter 17, Recertifications, to determine cause of delays. Legal Authority Recertification eligibility (federal): SNAP: 7 USC § 2020(e)(4), 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(2), 7 CFR § 273.14(b)(4) and (d)-(e), FNS’s SNAP Recertification Toolkit (June 2018)

13.5.3.3 Minimum Monthly Benefit Amount Except during the initial month (see Section 13.5.3.1, Determining Initial Month of Benefits), the monthly benefit level calculated in accordance with Section 13.5.3, Benefit Levels, for one- and two- person households must not be less than the minimum monthly benefit allotment in effect; see Table 25.3.b, SNAP Minimum Allotments. Return