Page 236

ESA SNAP Policy Manual 220 Recertification interviews are conducted to accomplish the following:  Clarify information received by ESA interfaces, such as wages, unemployment compensation and Social Security benefits.  Inform recipients that information they provide regarding eligibility and benefits will be matched regularly against information from DOES, IRS, SSA and other states.  Inform recipients of the opportunity to register to vote.  Explore and resolve unclear and incomplete information.  Explain simplified reporting requirements to recipients. Customers may choose to have a telephone interview instead of a face-to-face interview without needing to show that an in-person interview would create a hardship. ESA must inform customers of the opportunity for a face-to-face interview and provide one upon request. During the recertification process, ESA must conduct a face-to-face or telephone interview with the applicant or authorized representative. This process includes the following actions:  Complete or review the applicant’s statement fields on the appropriate screens in the system or hard copy application fields as indicated by the type of interview.  Screen for expedited service using the Expedited Screening Form. Households that are timely recertifying are generally not eligible for expedited service.  Review the applicant’s responses and resolve any unclear or incomplete information.  Ensure the application and appropriate forms are signed and dated.  Advise the applicant of their rights and responsibilities, simplified reporting requirements, timeframes for application processing, the right to a fair hearing and the QC process.  Provide the applicant with any necessary forms or verification requests.  Advise the applicant with written explanation and oral notification of available employment and training services. Customers who speak a language other than English must be provided with bilingual staff or an interpreter to complete the interview in the customer’s language, including sign language. The individual interviewed may be any responsible member of the household, such as the head of household or spouse, or an authorized representative. The household may bring or have present any person it chooses at the interview. ESA must conduct the interview in an official and confidential manner to ensure the privacy of the household is protected. 17.2.1 Recertification Interview Sixty days prior to the end of the household’s certification period, the household will receive a Notice of Expiration, which indicates that an interview is required. Once the household submits a recertification Return