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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 79 7.1.3 Cooperation With Application Process For ESA to determine eligibility, the household must do the following:  The household or its representative must complete and sign the application.  The household or its authorized representative must be interviewed when an interview is required.  The household must verify certain information on the application. If the household refuses to cooperate with ESA in completing this application process, ESA will deny the application based on this refusal. For ESA to determine that the household has refused to cooperate, the household must be able to cooperate but clearly demonstrate that it chooses not to take the actions required to complete the application process. If a household refuses to be interviewed, ESA will deny the application. If a household fails to keep an appointment for an interview, ESA will not deny the application based on this missed appointment. If there is any question about whether a household has failed to cooperate or is unable to cooperate, ESA will not deny the application. If information needed to determine eligibility is still missing by the end of the application processing timeframes, ESA must deny the application. For SNAP, when ESA has caused the delay, ESA will consider the application pending. ESA will not deny a household’s application if an individual outside the household fails to cooperate with a request for verification. Household members cannot be treated as outside the household for purposes of failing to cooperate with the application process. 7.1.4 Voluntary Withdrawal If a customer submits a written withdrawal of their application, ESA must:  Confirm the withdrawal with the household and document the contact in the case record.  Advise the household of its right to reapply at any time subsequent to the withdrawal. When an application is voluntarily withdrawn, ESA does not make an eligibility determination. Rather, ESA sends a Notice of Denial based on the withdrawal. 7.1.5 Failure to Provide Verification If the customer is at fault for failing to provide the needed verification within 30 days of the date of application, ESA will deny the application based on failure to provide requested information, as long as ESA acted as follows:  Conducted the intake interview  Requested all necessary verification Return