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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 27  If all adults agree on who should be the head of household, ESA accepts the selection. If the adults do not agree, ESA will select the head of household.  If a child (either a minor child or an adult child) resides in the household, ESA will generally select the child’s parent to serve as the head unless the parent is incapacitated and cannot provide information. If there is no child in the household and the household adults cannot agree on who should serve as the head, ESA will select an adult it determines is most able to provide the needed information.  A child under age 18 who does not live with a parent, relative or other responsible adult and is not under parental control may apply for SNAP on their own as the head of household or with others they regularly purchase and prepare food with. 3.1.2.1.1 Death of a Household Member  If an individual in a one-person household dies before completing the application process, ESA denies the application.  If an individual in a household of more than one dies, ESA processes the application. In determining eligibility and benefits for the month of application and the following month, ESA includes the deceased person in the household for each month when they were present for at least one day. The household is certified for ongoing benefits without including the deceased individual. 3.1.2.2 SNAP Authorized Representative The household may designate an adult nonmember who is sufficiently aware of relevant household circumstances as the authorized representative to act on behalf of the household for application processing purposes. The authorized representative must be designated in writing by the head of household, spouse or another responsible member of the household.  Authorized representatives who act on behalf of the household for application processing purposes may apply for program benefits, complete the household application interview, provide documentary evidence to meet verification requirements and carry out household responsibilities, such as reporting changes, during the certification period. Authorized representatives may also be authorized to obtain and use benefits, as discussed in Section 22.2, Who May Use the EBT Card.  ESA must verify the identity of the authorized representative and the head of the household applying for benefits.  The head of the household or their spouse should prepare or review the application whenever possible, even if the authorized representative will actually be interviewed. ESA must emphasize to the household that it is responsible for any overpayment resulting from incorrect information the authorized representative provides.  If someone does not have sufficient information to complete an application (knowledge of SSN, date of birth, residence address), they cannot act as the authorized representative. Persons living in a drug addiction and alcohol treatment facility must have a designated employee of the facility as the household’s authorized representative for SNAP, who will apply for SNAP on behalf of those individuals. The representative also uses the customer’s benefits to purchase food for the Return