920 Regular SSI/ SNAP Households

In accordance with 7 USC 2020(i) and SSA policy, SSA will take a regular SNAP application for pure SSI households who do not meet the Bay State CAP criteria or who meet Bay State CAP criteria but are subject to a disability determination that will take longer than 30 days to process. The SSA claims representative will also screen for expedited service. SSI applicants/recipients who qualify for expedited service may complete a SNAP application at SSA, the Department or online for regular SNAP benefits. Any obligation attributed to SSA in eligibility or benefit level must be pursued through SSA. The following procedures shall apply for regular SSI/SNAP households served by the Department. (A) Filing an Application. Assistance in completing SNAP applications will be available at SSA or the Department. (B) Date of Application. If the application is filed at an SSA office, then the date of application shall be the date the identifiable SNAP application is faxed by SSA to the appropriate Transitional Assistance Office (TAO). If an application is filed at a TAO or online, the date of application shall be the date the identifiable SNAP application is received by the Department through the online application, the DTA Document Processing Center or at a Department local office. (See 106 CMR 361.120: Date of Application.) (C) Interviewing Households. At initial certification, if a pure SSI household files an application at an SSA office that is then forwarded to the Department, the households shall not be required to see a Department representative or be subject to an additional interview, in accordance with 106 CMR 361.190: Handling Applications for Pure SSI Households. At initial certification and recertification, if the application is filed at a TAO or online, the household must have a face-to-face or telephone interview, in accordance with 106 CMR 361.500: Interviewing Households. (D) Verification at Initial Certification. (1) If the application is filed at an SSA office, SSA will indicate what required verifications are on file at the SSA office. Unless the application is incomplete, mandatory verification is missing, or certain information on the application is questionable, no other verification shall be requested. (2) If an application is filed at a TAO, available SDX data will be used to verify the assets, identity, residency, social security number and unearned income of the SSI recipient. Additional verification of these eligibility factors will be required only if the information supplied by the SSI recipient contradicts SDX data. (3) Deductible expenses claimed by the applicant shall be verified in accordance with Department requirements. (4) Noncitizen Status. Noncitizen Status will be verified through SDX. The applicant must meet an eligible noncitizen status in accordance with 106 CMR 362.220(B). The applicant will be denied if the noncitizen status on SDX is an ineligible status. Additional verification of noncitizen status will be required if the SDX information is questionable. (5) Anticipating Income. At application or recertification, income listed on the SDX file shall be treated as the income anticipated to be received during the certification period. (6) Certification Periods. These households may be certified for up to 24 months. The recertification will be conducted by mail with telephone follow-up, if necessary. Unemployable SSI households with stable income will be assigned certification periods of not less than six months. If all household members are elderly or disabled, the household can be assigned a certification period of up to 24 months. (7) Asset Eligibility Initial Certification. SSI recipients shall be regarded as asset eligible at initial certification. (8) Documentary Evidence. SDX data serves as documentary evidence of the income, assets, identity, residency, social security number, and noncitizen status of the SSI recipient. REGULATORY AUTHORITY