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MS 6500

[1]

Volume 2 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) MS 6500 – R. 7/15/26 – OMTL – 702 Overview of Recertification Time Standards

[At the expiration of the certification period, entitlement to SNAP ends. Establish further eligibility only when a completed application, an interview, and verification are provided. Do not continue benefits beyond the end of a certification period without a new determination of eligibility. All households keeping timely recertifications are entitled to uninterrupted SNAP benefits.

Use the following timeframes to process recertification applications based on whether the household makes a timely application:

A. If a household submits an application for recertification and meets the interview requirement by the 15th calendar day of the month, act on the recertification no later than the last workday of the month. Provide benefits to the household no later than its normal issuance date. If the household is not provided an opportunity to participate in the first month of its new certification period, the household is entitled to restoration of lost benefits.

B. If a household does not submit an application for recertification and/or complete interview requirements by the 15th calendar day of the month, act on the recertification no later than 30 days from receipt of the application; the household loses its right to uninterrupted benefits and maintenance of its normal issuance cycle. The household must be able to access their benefits no later than the 30th day from receipt of the application for recertification.

C. Consider a recertification from an expedited application timely if the application for recertification and an interview are completed within 15 calendar days of the initial approval or 17 calendar days if the Request for Information (RFI) is mailed to the household.

D. When a non-case decision (NCD) worker or any worker tries to dispose a case that pends for supervisor approval, a message will appear stating that a supervisor has to sign off on the case before it can be processed, and a supervisor task will be generated.

If the household fails to submit an application for recertification or the agency fails to act on a recertification application, the case is automatically discontinued on the last calendar day of the month.

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