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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 224  A Notice of Required Verification was not sent to the household if outstanding verification were required.  The Notice of Required Verification did meet the requirements for what must be included in the notice, including if the notice did not provide at least 10 days to provide verification or was issued in the wrong language (see Section 16.2, Notice of Required Verification, for notice requirements).  ESA did not offer to assist the household in obtaining required verification.  If the recertification application was incomplete, ESA failed to offer assistance in completing the application.  ESA failed to process the recertification application or verification by the end of the certification period, even though the household submitted these items in accordance with the Notice of Expiration or Notice of Required Verification. In addition to the above, other issues under ESA’s control that directly affect a household’s ability to complete the recertification process or ESA’s ability to process the recertification action are considered the fault of ESA. The delay is considered the fault of the household if the household failed to complete the recertification process even though ESA has taken all its required actions and offered to assist the household. ESA must first determine if the fault was due to ESA before a delay can be considered the fault of the household. Example Jamal’s certification period for SNAP ends on May 31. ESA sends the Notice of Expiration, Notice of Interview Requirement and an application for recertification on April 1. Jamal submits the application on April 28 but misses the interview due date. Jamal contacts ESA on May 16 and completes the interview. During the interview, ESA tells Jamal to send proof of income, but ESA fails to send a Notice of Required Verification. Jamal does not submit proof of income by May 31. ESA is at fault for the delay because ESA failed to send a Notice of Required Verification.

17.4.3.1 Household Submits Application for Recertification by End of Certification Period: ESA Delay If the household submits a recertification application before the end of the household’s certification period (regardless of whether the application was submitted timely), but the recertification process cannot be completed within 30 days after the date of application because ESA is at fault, ESA must take the following steps:  ESA must continue to process the application and work with the household to complete any outstanding actions (i.e. interview and required verification).  The household’s participation must be terminated by the last day of the household’s certification period if ESA is unable to make a determination by the end of the certification period. Return