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If an SSI applicant/recipient applying for FS benefits at an SSA Office meets the expedited criteria, benefits must be made available within seven days from the date that the application is received at ESA.

INTERVIEWS 4.6 Households entitled to expedited service must participate in an office or telephone interview (see Section 1.8: Intake Interview in this Part for specific interview policy). If the application is filed in person, the interview must be held the same day the application is filed, unless the applicant/recipient requests a postponement. If s/he qualifies for a telephone interview, it must be conducted no later than the first working day following the application submittal. If the household applied by mail and/or could not be contacted within one day to be interviewed, this fact must be documented in the case record. ESA must offer the applicant the opportunity to be interviewed no later than one working day after contact is made. Provide any necessary help in completing the application during the interview. Expedited service will not be provided until the face-to-face or telephone interview is completed. If the interview is completed within six days of the application submittal, adhere to the seven day deadline for making expedited services available. If the interview is completed on the seventh day or thereafter, consider the date of the interview the "discovery date" and make expedited benefits available within seven days of the date of discovery (see Section 4.5: Time Standards in this Part.)

TREATMENT OF ASSETS 4.7 When determining entitlement to expedited service, only liquid assets are counted (see Section 4.3: Expedited Service Criteria in this Chapter). When determining eligibility for allotment, both liquid and non liquid assets are counted (see Section 1.4: Liquid and Non-Liquid Assets in Part VI).

TREATMENT OF INCOME 4.8 All income requirements, including deeming the income of ineligible household members, apply when determining benefits provided under expedited service (see Chapters 4-8 in Part VI: Financial Eligibility). While past income may be used as an indicator of future income, only income which can reasonably be expected to be received is counted. If the date of receipt or amount is uncertain, the income is not used. Example Ms. Jones submits an application for FS at the end of the day on Monday, January 10. The application is not complete because Ms. Jones did not provide any information on her assets. Ms. Jones is elderly and ill (but does not receive SSI) and a telephone interview is substituted for a face-to-face intake interview. During the telephone interview, Ms. Jones still cannot provide any information about her assets, indicating that her adult son who does not live with her keeps track of all her finances for her. Ms. Jones appears to be eligible for expedited service, but eligibility cannot be determined until the information about assets is filled out on her application. The time standard for expedited service does not begin until the application, including the information on assets, is completed.