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(1) Having income and resources below specified levels set out in federal SNAP law (regular eligibility); or, (2) Being “categorically,” or automatically, eligible based on receiving benefits from other specified low-income assistance programs. Traditional Categorical Eligibility (CE) describes households in which all members receive or are authorized to receive CASH assistance funded by TANF, TANF Post Employment, Tribal TANF, or SSI. Expanded categorically eligible (ECE) describes households in which all members receive or are authorized to receive non-cash assistance (in Montana this is the TANF Information and Referral Services brochure). Traditional Categorical Eligibility (CE) and Expanded Categorical Eligibility (ECE) policies are described in more detail in SNAP 304-1. If the prorated benefits amount for the initial month’s allotment is less than $10, the allotment is not issued for the initial month. All eligible (including Regular, Categorically Eligible, and Expanded Categorically Eligible) one and two person households receive a minimum monthly allotment, except for the initial month when the allotment is not issued. All eligible households with three or more members eligible for a benefit amount receive that benefit amount except for the initial month when the allotment is not issued. All eligible households (including Regular, Categorically Eligible, and Expanded Categorically Eligible) with three or more members passing the gross monthly income (GMI) and net monthly income (NMI) tests but are not eligible for a benefit amount are denied or closed. ALLOTMENT PRORATED FOR MONTH OF APPLICATION: The SNAP benefit amount for the initial month of application is prorated from the application date to the end of the month. The benefit amount is calculated for a household applying on the 31st as though it applies on the 30th. COMBINED ALLOTMENTS: A household receives, on the same day, a prorated allotment for the application month as well as the full allotment for the following month when the following criteria are met: 1. Applies on or after the 16th of the month; 2. Completes the application process;