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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 30 − The application is completed improperly. − Mandatory verification is missing. − Information on the application is questionable. The customer does not need to appear at an ESA Service Center for ESA to make a final eligibility decision. If all household members are applying for or receiving SSI, the household does not need to have an additional interview with ESA. SSA prescreens all applications for eligibility for expedited service on the day the agency receives the application at the SSA office and marks “Expedited Processing” on the first page of applications that appear to be eligible. SSA informs households that appear to meet the criteria for expedited service that benefits may be issued sooner if they apply directly at an ESA Service Center. SSA will distribute an ESA-provided information sheet and a brochure to all households processed under the SSI and SNAP joint application provision. These materials include the following details:  The address and telephone number of the ESA Service Centers  The remaining actions to be taken in the application process  A statement that ESA must notify the household of SNAP eligibility within 30 days  The customer’s rights and responsibilities, including administrative reviews, fair hearings, authorized representatives, out-of-office interviews, reporting changes and timely reapplication  Information on how and where to get and use benefits, including items customers may buy with benefits When ESA receives an application from SSA, ESA staff must do as follows:  Review the application to ensure it is complete.  Determine whether any household member currently receives SNAP.  Determine whether the documentation and verification are sufficient and adequate.  Contact the household for additional information to determine SNAP eligibility, if needed.  Determine eligibility for expedited service and, if eligible, meet expedited timeframes.  Not request the household to come to an ESA Service Center. If SSA takes an SSI phone application or redetermination from a member of a household in which all members are SSI recipients, the household member will also complete a SNAP application during the phone interview. SSA mails the SNAP application to the household for signature to return to the SSA office. SSA forwards any SNAP applications it receives to the ESA SNAP Branch, SSI Processing Unit.

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