Page 97

ESA SNAP Policy Manual 81  ESA must screen all applications on the date the household applies to determine whether the household is eligible for expedited service. This must happen even if there is not enough staffing or ESA experiences an unexpected influx of applications. 7.2.1.2 No Limits on Expedited Service There is no limit to the number of times a household can be approved under expedited procedures. However, prior to the next expedited approval, the household must do either of the following:  Meet the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited approval, regardless of how long ago that approval was (review the checklist for postponed verification).  Be processed under normal application processing standards after expedited benefits were last issued. 7.2.2 Expedited Timeframes ESA must process the applications for households eligible for expedited service and provide the household its EBT card within seven calendar days from the date the application was filed with the agency. Benefits must be made available on the EBT card by the seventh day; this means ensuring the household has a PIN and benefits loaded for use.  ESA’s practice is to mail all EBT cards; however, if the household wishes, a household member or authorized representative may visit one of the Service Centers to pick up a card. − Note: The card would be a duplicate. If a household is ineligible to participate for the month of application, but ESA determines that it meets expedited criteria for the following month, the household must be provided an opportunity to participate within seven days from the date of application or the first working day of the second month, whichever is later. If a resident of a public institution applies for benefits prior to their release from the institution and is entitled to expedited service, the date of filing for their SNAP application is the date of release of the applicant from the institution. ESA has seven calendar days following the date of release to provide the individual with their EBT card and PIN. If an SSI customer applying for SNAP benefits at an SSA office meets the expedited criteria, benefits must be made available within seven calendar days from the date ESA receives the application. ESA must not delay processing expedited benefits pending proof needed for another program. 7.2.2.1 Late Determinations If the prescreening fails to identify the household as entitled to expedited service and ESA later discovers the household is entitled to expedited service, ESA must process the application and issue benefits within seven days of ESA’s discovery that the household is eligible for expedited service.

Return