Page 420

benefits for the month in which the child is born or the month in which the birth was reported is permitted. Example A mother completes and signs the hospital-generated request to add her newborn child to her case on March 13. The agency receives the form from the hospital on April 5th. The SSR will adjust EBT benefits to ensure benefits for the full month of April for the added member. Example A mother completes and signs the hospital-generated request to add her newborn child to her case on June 15. The agency does not receive the form until August 10. The departmen will initiate restoration of lost benefits to ensure the child received food stamp benefits for the ful months of July and August since the household reported the birth in June.

LOSS OF BENEFITS 5.7 FS Each recipient who has received an EBT card has the right to receive a replacement card within two days of notifying the Department of the loss of his/her card. The recipient also has the right to replacement benefits remaining in the EBT account at the time the card was reported lost or stolen. The Department, and not the beneficiary, is liable for benefits drawn on an EBRT account following the notification of a lost or stolen EBT card. The Department may collect a fee for issuing a replacement card. Each recipient, who has purchased food with their Food Stamp allotment and then suffers the loss or destruction of the purchased food due to a household misfortune, has the right to receive a replacement allotment of the lesser of the following two amounts: • the value of the destroyed food; or • the amount of the Food Stamp benefit that was given to the household for the month in which the loss occurred. In order to qualify for replacement benefits, the recipient must meet the following conditions: • the household received Food Stamps for the month in which the loss occurred; • the household purchased food that was subsequently destroyed in a household misfortune, including, but not limited to; o fire, o flood, or o power loss; • the household reports the loss orally or in writing and completes a written affidavit attesting to the loss within ten days of the loss; and • the Department can verify that the loss occurred with a community agency, Fire Department, Red Cross, utility company, rental office, or home visit.