9080 Shelters for Battered Women and Children

[273.11(g)] Prior to certifying its residents under this paragraph, determine that the shelter for battered women and children meets the definition in DSSM 9015 (4) and document the basis of this determination. Shelters having FNS authorization to redeem as wholesalers will be considered as meeting the definition and the Division is not required to make any further determination. Many shelter residents have recently left a household containing the person who has abused them. Their former household may be certified for participation in the Program, and its certification may be based on a household size that includes the women and children who have just left. Shelter residents who are included in such certified households may nevertheless apply for and (if otherwise eligible) participate in the Program as separate households if such certified household which includes them is the household containing the person who subjected them to abuse. Shelter residents who are included in such certified households may receive an additional allotment as a separate household only once a month. A full new application is required since the shelter resident would constitute a new household. However, information previously verified need not be re-verified if the worker is satisfied that it remains valid. Eligibility is determined solely on the resources and income actually available to the applicant. The rationale for allowing a resident of a shelter for battered women to participate as a new household is the assumption that she is in fact cut off from her old household. Benefits for the shelter resident household shall be from the date of application to the end of the month. Shelter residents who apply as separate households will be certified solely on the basis of their income and resources and the expenses for which they are responsible. They will be certified without regard to the income, resources, and expenses of their former household. Jointly held resources will be considered inaccessible in accordance with DSSM 9047. Room payments to the shelter will be considered as shelter expenses. Any shelter residents eligible for expedited service will be handled in accordance with DSSM 9041. Take prompt action to ensure that the former household's eligibility or allotment reflects the change in the household's composition. Such action will include acting on the reported changes in accordance with DSSM 9085 by issuing a notice of adverse action in accordance with DSSM 9006. The battered spouse has to be in a shelter to get additional Food Stamps under this section. The spouse cannot stay at the home, even if the abuser has left the dwelling, and get additional Food Stamps.