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• Some group living arrangement residents are charged a basic rate for room and board, others are charged a higher rate depending on the amount of medical care they require. Residents with the higher rate will have their shelter expense determined by subtracting the SNAP maximum allotment for a one-person AG from the basic rate amount. • The medical expense for those residents with the higher room and board rate is determined by subtracting the basic room rate from the higher room rate.

If the amount paid for medical and shelter expenses cannot be separately identified from other expenses, as described above, no deduction should be allowed in the SNAP budget. 3210.15.25.05

CERTIFICATION OF RESIDENTS IN GROUP LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (S)

Residents of group living arrangements shall either apply and be certified through use of an authorized representative employed and designated by the group living arrangement or apply and be certified on their own behalf or through an authorized representative of their own choice.

The group living arrangement shall determine if any resident may apply for SNAP on their own behalf; the determination should be based on the resident's physical and mental ability to handle their own affairs.

The group living arrangement is encouraged to consult with any other agencies of the state providing other services to individual residents prior to a determination. All of the residents of the group living arrangement do not have to be certified either through an authorized representative or individually in order for one or the other method to be used. Applications shall be accepted for any individual applying as a one-person unit, or for any grouping of residents applying together.

If the resident applies through the use of an authorized representative who is an employee of the facility, the facility may receive and/or spend the SNAP benefit allotment for food prepared and served to the resident.

If the residents are certified on their own behalf, the SNAP benefit allotment may be: • Returned to the facility to be used to purchase food for meals served either communally or individually to eligible residents; • Used by eligible residents to purchase and prepare food for their own consumption; and/or • To purchase meals prepared and served by the group living arrangement.

If the group living arrangement has its status as an authorized retail food store suspended by FNS, the DFR shall also suspend its authorized representative status. However, residents applying on their own behalf shall still be able to participate, if otherwise eligible. 3210.15.25.10

REVIEW OF GROUP LIVING ARRANGEMENTS (S)