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402.5 Content of the Interview (continued)
The interview must be conducted as an official and confidential discussion.
The applicant should be made to feel at ease and the right to privacy maintained.
The scope of the interview may not extend beyond the examination of the household’s circumstances directly relating to the determination of the household’s eligibility and basis of issuance.
The household may bring anyone it chooses to the interview.
In order to accomplish its purpose, during the interview the local department will:
Advise the applicant of the household’s rights and responsibilities. (Include privacy rights, the right to review the case record, the right to a fair hearing, the responsibility to cooperate, and the responsibility to report changes.)
Review the information provided by the applicant to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Assist the applicant to complete the necessary forms associated with the interview process.
Resolve any unclear or inconsistent information with the applicant.
Request any verification necessary beyond that, which is provided by the applicant at the interview.
Advise the household that failure to report or verify the following expenses is considered a statement by the household that it chooses not to receive a deduction for the unreported or unverified expense:
Dependent care expenses;
Shelter expenses for a homeless household in excess of the allowance;
Medical expenses for persons age 60 or older or with a disability; or
Child Support payments.
Advise the applicant of Electronic Benefit Transfer System (EBTS) procedures. (This information may be provided to the applicant by a volunteer or another employee.)
402.5 Content of the Interview (continued)
Advise the customer they may apply for more than one program at the same time or they may file a separate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application.
Advise the customer that time limits or other requirements that apply to the receipt of TCA do not apply to SNAP benefits and if the TCA is closed because the customer has reached the maximum time limit, the customer may still be eligible for SNAP benefits.
Advise the customer that receiving SNAP does not affect the TCA time limit.
At the end of an interactive interview give the customer the opportunity to review prior to committing case information into the E&E System. (For further clarification of the application process, please see Section 400 of this manual.)
REMINDER: Do not deny or terminate SNAP applications because the customer failed or refused to comply with a requirement of another program.
402.6 Scheduling Interviews and the Notice of Missed Interview
The local department:
Must schedule all interviews as promptly as possible to ensure that timeliness standards are met.
Should allow a minimum of 10 days to allow the customer to return any required verification.
If the customer does not appear for the in-office interview or is not available for the telephone interview, the local department must notify the household that it missed the appointment and that the household is responsible for rescheduling the appointment.
If the household requests a second interview, the local department must schedule one.
Applicants who come into the local department and cannot be seen the same day must be given an appointment with a specific date and time that the customer will be seen or telephoned for an interview.
402.6 Scheduling Interviews and the Notice of Missed Interview (continued)
If the screening process indicates the household meets expedited criteria, the local department must make every effort to interview the household that day if the customer is in the office. If the customer is not in the office, then the local
Department must attempt to hold a telephone interview the day of the application or schedule the interview so that the household has access to SNAP benefits
within the expedited time frame. If neither the in-person or telephone interview can be accomplished, the local department waives the interview requirement and processes the expedited application. See Section 401.6 of this manual for details and further requirements.
When scheduling an interview on E&E for a household that dropped off or mailed in an application, the local department must take into consideration the mailing time for getting the scheduled interview notice to the customer. Mailing time may add up to three days to the application processing time.
Select Telephone for the Interview Method in E&E to indicate the appointment is for a telephone interview
Reminder: The case manager should offer a telephone interview to any applicant or recipient. A telephone interview can help local departments meet application timeliness requirements.
Felony Drug Conviction and Substance Abuse Testing
402.71 Background
An Individual receiving SNAP benefits who is convicted after July 1, 2000, of a drug-related felony involving the manufacture, distribution, or possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance is:
Ineligible for SNAP for one year from the date of conviction, and
Is subject to testing and treatment for substance abuse for a period of two years starting from the later of the date when the custodial parent is:
Released from incarceration,
Completes any term of probation,
Completes any term of parole and mandatory supervision.
402.72 The Role of the Case Manager (continued)
402.72 The Role of the Case Manager
For SNAP applicants or participants who have been convicted of a drug-related felony after July 1, 2000, the case manager must:
Complete the interview and the related application or redetermination procedures.
Review the Rights and Responsibilities with the applicant.
Determine if an individual in the household has been convicted of a drug-related felony.
Inform the individual who has been convicted of a drug-related felony that to receive benefits he or she must be screened by the addictions specialist and referred for a drug test.
Inform the customer who has been convicted of a drug-related felony of mandatory compliance with the Family Investment Program’s Substance Abuse Treatment and Services Program (SATS).
Refer the individual convicted of a drug-related felony to the addictions specialist for screening and drug testing.
Complete a Substance Abuse Screening Referral (DHS/FIA 1177) form. Write “convicted drug felon” in the top portion of the form next to the zip code.
The addictions specialist returns the form within 10 days advising whether the customer is in compliance.
402.73 Compliance
The addictions specialist advises the case manager of the action being taken with the customer for comprehensive assessment and drug testing and whether the customer is in compliance.
Customers are in compliance if the customer:
Completed the drug test.
Is awaiting availability of a treatment facility.
Is enrolled in a treatment program.
Has successfully completed a treatment program or was referred to a new program, or
The results of the comprehensive assessment indicate no need for treatment.
Customers are always work registered unless they are otherwise exempt from work registration requirements. Refer to Section 130 of the SNAP manual to determine the individual’s status.
Individuals who have a felony drug conviction are not entitled to a 30-day conciliation period.
Send the adverse action notice and allow adverse action time before removing the individual convicted of a drug-related felony from the household.