Page 87

NO LIMITS ON EXPEDITED SERVICES 4.13 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 either:

 complete the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited approval (regardless of the amount of time that has expired), or

 be processed under normal application processing standards after expedited benefits were last issued.

APPROVAL OF EXPEDITED SERVICES 4.14 If the household is entitled to expedited benefits, the SSR has to create an Expedited Food Stamp- Postponed Verification Notice (F 609) to be sent through ACEDS. The form tells the household what information is needed before additional benefits can be issued.

DENIAL OF EXPEDITED SERVICES 4.15 If the household is not entitled to expedited service, the SSR will:

 advise the household of ineligibility for expedited service and document that fact on the screening form (written notice to the household is not required);

 inform the household of the right to a Department conference with a supervisor within two business days after the determination of ineligibility for expedited service, an administrative conference, or a fair hearing on any action by the Department which occurred in the prior 90 days;

 pre-screen the application and schedule an interview according to normal application processing procedures; and

 record in the case record the reason for denial, any attempts to verify identity through collateral contacts (if this is the reason for the denial of expedited service), and that the household was advised of the right to a Department conference.

VERIFICATION 4.16 Reasonable efforts should be taken to verify all information within the expedited processing time standard. In all expedited cases, however, identity is the only item requiring verification before benefits are issued. Identity can be verified through readily available documentary evidence or a collateral contact which is an oral confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside of the household. The collateral contact may be made in person or over the telephone. Expedited benefits cannot be delayed if assets, income, and other facts needed to determine FS eligibility or benefit level cannot be verified within the time requirement.