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MS 6420

[1]

Volume 2 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) MS 6420 – R. 5/31/26 – OMTL – 695 Issuance Time Standards at Application

Provide the household a timely opportunity to participate as follows:

A. [If the household is not eligible for expedited services, ensure that the household's benefits are available no later than the 30th calendar day following the date of application. If all mandatory verification has been provided, process the application by the 28th day to allow at least two days mailing time after approval for the household to receive benefits by the 30th day.

B. If the household is eligible for expedited services, provide benefits no later than the 5th calendar day following the date of application. Participating households must receive their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in the mail no later than the 5th calendar day; allow two days for mail delivery. The count begins with the first day following the date of application. Refer to MS 6400 for additional information.

If the 5th calendar day falls on a weekend or holiday, the benefits must be made available by the next business day.

C. Households applying after the 15th day of the month are issued the initial or prorated month's benefits and the second month's benefits when the application is approved, except in the following situations:

1. Households determined ineligible for the first month but eligible for the second month receive only the second month's benefits when the application is approved;

2. Households eligible for zero benefits the first month, because the prorated allotment is less than the minimum allotment, receive only the second month's allotment when the application is approved.

D. For applications with severely delayed processing (more than 1 year) due to agency error, refer to MS 6790.]