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Chapter: 2200 Standard Filing Unit Program: FS 10 3. The resident in the facility must be blind or disabled as defined in passage 2210.0310.01, paragraphs 2-13. The first paragraph of passage 2210.0310.01 pertains to individuals age 60 or over. In order for individuals age 60 or over to be eligible for food stamps in the group living arrangement, they must be determined blind or disabled as described in the following paragraph.

4. Elderly persons who receive benefits listed above may also reside in group living arrangements. However, these elderly residents must be determined to be blind or disabled in order to be eligible in a group facility. In making this determination, the eligibility specialist may request a doctor's statement, verify the resident previously received a disability benefit, or use the group living arrangement's determination of disability, if these conditions are prerequisite for residing in the facility. 2210.0318.02 Certification of Residents (FS) Eligible residents of authorized group living arrangements for the blind or the disabled may apply and be certified by any one of the following methods:

1. An appointed staff member of the group living arrangement may act as the authorized representative, in which case the residents apply as one individual household. When the resident applies through the facility as authorized representative, the interview, verification, and other procedures must be accomplished through the authorized representative. As an authorized representative, the facility must be knowledgeable about the residents' circumstances and should carefully review those circumstances with residents prior to applying on their behalf.

2. An individual resident may apply on his own behalf or through his authorized representative. The staff of the facility is primarily responsible for determining if an individual is physically and mentally capable of applying on his own behalf.

3. If a group of individuals within a facility function as a household, they may be considered one SFU. The staff of the facility is primarily responsible for determining if a group of residents should apply on their own behalf, based on the physical and mental capabilities of the residents applying.

4. The children in nonprofit foster homes for the blind or the disabled are considered SFUs of one. It is mandatory that an employee of the foster home facility be the authorized representative for the child (who is under 18). The child is not to sign any forms. The authorized representative is liable for any misinformation on the application form. 2210.0318.03 Residents of Group Living Arrangements (FS) Department of Children and Family (DCF) responsibilities include the following:

1. Prior to approving any residents, DCF will verify that the group living arrangement is a nonprofit organization and is certified by DCF. It is not required that the facility be authorized by FNS. However, if authorization as a retailer has been granted by FNS, this is sufficient evidence of certification and non-profit status.

2. DCF will approve the SFU in accordance with ongoing policy, with only the exceptions outlined in this subsection.

3. Group living facilities are to provide DCF with a list of all current residents by the seventh of each month. This list will include a statement signed by a responsible center official attesting to the validity of the list. When a resident leaves the facility, each treatment and rehabilitation center must notify DCF within 5 days by sending a completed change report form informing the agency of the resident’s change in address, new address if available,