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of the FS regulations. SSI recipients/applicants may apply for FS at a Department facility or an SSA facility as indicated in Section 1.7: Where to File in Part III. If the SSI applicants/recipients applied for FS benefits in the 30 preceding days and/or have a FS application pending, process the current application instead. Groups applying simultaneously for SSI and FS shall be subject to FS program requirements until the group is considered categorically eligible. The SSR should contact the applicant and provide a copy of the TANF-funded brochure in order to convey expanded categorical eligibility to the group while they are applying for SSI. It should be recorded in case dictation that the flyer was provided. Groups denied FS that have an SSI application pending shall be informed on the notice of denial of the possibility of categorical eligibility if they become SSI recipients. ESA will make an eligibility determination based on information provided by SSA and/or the group. Effective November 1, 2013, one and two member categorical FS households that exceed the net income limit are eligible for a $15 FS benefit amount. Three or more member categorical FS households that exceed the net income limit may be eligible for benefits as low as $2 or ineligible for benefits altogether as determined by the FS income standards table (see Exhibit VI-5: FS Income Standards in Part VI).

POSTPONING DENIAL 12.5

MA N/A FS Postpone the denial of benefits for a potential categorically eligible household until the 30th day if it is likely that every household member is eligible for TANF and/or SSI. Example A group consisting of an elderly couple applies for FS. The couple also has a pending application for SSI, which appears likely to be disposed prior to the date the FS application must be either approved or denied. The couple's assets exceed the asset limit. The SSR should postpone denying the application until the 30th day to see if the couple's SSI application is approved. If it is approved, the couple will be categorically eligible for SSI and will not be required to meet the FS asset limit. If eligibility for the other program(s) is still pending on the 30th day, ESA shall: • determine eligibility for FS on the 30th day, and • ensure that a denied FS application is easily retrievable should TANF and/or SSI benefits be approved later.

TERMINATION OF CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY 12.6

MA If TANF or GC benefits are terminated during the benefit period (to the entire group or to a member of the group), review all MA eligibility requirements to determine whether the group