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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 167 Except during the initial month (see Section 13.5.3.1, Determining Initial Month of Benefits), households of three or more persons must receive the monthly allotment as calculated in Section 13.5.3, Benefit Levels. 13.5.3.4 Entitlement to No Benefits Except during the initial month (see Section 13.5.3.1, Determining Initial Month of Benefits), households of three or more persons whose monthly benefit amount is equal to zero or less (as calculated in Section 13.5.3, Benefit Levels) will be denied on the grounds that the household’s net income exceeds the level at which benefits are issued. 13.5.3.5 Prohibition on Benefit Increase Due to Sanction From Another Assistance Program SNAP allotments cannot be increased when a household’s income has been reduced as a result of a sanction in another assistance program. If a household’s income is lower due to a penalty, such as a TANF sanction, ESA must compute the household’s SNAP benefits as if no sanctions were imposed. See Section 14.8, Treatment of Cash Assistance Sanctions for SNAP. Legal Authority Benefit levels (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)-(iv) Proration for initial month (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1) Prerelease applicant households (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.11(i), 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1)(ii) Proration at recertification (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(2), 7 CFR § 273.14(b)(4) and (e) Prohibition on benefit increase (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.11(j)

13.5.4 Thrifty Food Plan and Maximum SNAP Allotments Maximum SNAP allotments will be based on the Thrifty Food Plan. Maximum allotments are set based on household size. An eligible SNAP household’s benefit amount is equal to the maximum allotment for the household size reduced by 30 percent of the household’s net income. Households cannot receive a monthly benefit amount greater than the maximum allotment for the household size. The Thrifty Food Plan amounts and maximum allotments are adjusted every October 1. Please refer to Section 25.3, SNAP Benefit Tables, for the current maximum allotments. Legal Authority Thrifty Food Plan and maximum allotments (federal): SNAP: 7 CFR § 273.10(e)(4)

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