COMAR 07.03.17.46. Certification Actions and Certification Period Length.

(a) Certify an eligible household for a definite period of time; and

(i) Homeless households; and

(ii) Migrant and seasonal farm worker households;

(c) May not exceed 6 months unless the local department has contact with the household every 6 months and receives a report of changes in circumstances; and

(d) May be up to 24 months if:

(i) All adult household members are elderly or disabled as described in Regulation .02B of this chapter and have no earned income; and

(ii) The local department has at least one contact with the certified household every 12 months.

(4) The local department may assign 1-month or 2-month certification periods when it appears likely that the household will become ineligible in the near future. B. The local department shall issue a notice of eligibility to an eligible household, as described in Regulation .16A of this chapter. C. The local department shall arrange for issuance of an EBT card to an eligible household. D. Shortening a Certification Period. The local department may not:

(1) End a household's certification period earlier than its assigned termination date, unless:

(a) The local department receives information that the household has become ineligible;

(b) The household has not complied with the requirements of Regulation .49G of this chapter;

(c) The household receives transitional benefits as described in Regulation .49H of this chapter; or

(d) The household applies for and is approved for another program and the certification period is shortened to align the eligibility periods of all programs; and

(2) Use the notice of expiration as described in Regulation .52C of this chapter to shorten a certification period. E. Shortening a Certification Period. The local department may not:

(1) End a household’s certification period earlier than its assigned termination date, unless:

(a) The local department receives information that the household has become ineligible; or

(b) The household has not complied with the requirements of Regulation 49G of this chapter,

(c) The household becomes subject to simplified reporting requirements as described in Regulation .47B of this chapter during an established certification period with more than 6 months remaining;

(d) The household receives transitional benefits as described in Regulation .49H of this chapter; or

(e) The household applies for and is approved for another program and the certification period is shortened to align the eligibility periods of all programs; and

(2) Use the notice of expiration as described in Regulation .52C of this chapter to shorten a certification period. F. Lengthening a Certification Period.

(1) Except as described in §F(3) of this regulation, the local department may lengthen a household's certification period once it is established, as long as the total months of the certification period do not exceed:

(a) 24 months for a household in which all adult members are elderly or disabled as described in Regulation .02B of this chapter and who have no earned income; or

(b) 12 months for any other household.

(2) The local department shall advise the household with a notice of eligibility as described in Regulation .16 of this chapter if the local department lengthens the certification period.

(3) The local department may extend the household's certification period to the end of a transitional benefit period established in accordance with Regulation .49H of this chapter.