Page 6

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

FNS 220 CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY

6 Section 220 Change #02-2024 October 01, 2024 If a household is ineligible based on FNS eligibility criteria and the WFFA, Work First Employment Services, or SSI eligibility decision is still pending on the 30th day, take the following actions. 1. Deny the FNS application on the 30th day using regular FNS rules. 2. Ensure that the denied application of a potentially categorically eligible household is easily retrievable. A manual tracking system, or any method that will provide accessibility as needed, may accomplish this task. Continue to monitor the pending SSI, WFFA, or Work First Employment Services application until a determination is made regarding eligibility. This can be accomplished by monitoring SSI applications for a period of 90 days (the period of time that the Social Security Administration has to approve or deny SSI benefits) and by monitoring WFFA or Work First Employment Services applications for 45 days (the period of time allowed to approve or deny a WFFA application). If the SSI, WFFA, or Work First Employment Services application pends longer than the allowable time frames, inform the household of their responsibility to provide notification of the approval or denial. C. Reopening a Previously Denied FNS Application Upon WFFA, Work First Employment Services, or SSI Approval If the household becomes categorically eligible after the FNS application is denied, reevaluate the original application upon request or when you become aware of the household’s SSI, WFFA, or Work First Employment Services approval. Take the following actions: 1. Reopen the application. The date of application is either the original date of application or the effective date of the WFFA, Work First Employment Services, or SSI approval, whichever is later. 2. Do not reinterview the household. Update the original application using available information. Contact the household via telephone or mail to explore changes in situation. 3. If information obtained from the household differs from original information or changes have occurred, a household member or authorized representative must initial all changes, re-sign and date the updated application, and provide necessary verification. 4. Allow deductions for specified persons beginning with the date of the FNS application or the effective date of the SSI payment, whichever is later. 5. Authorize FNS benefits back to the date of the FNS application for FNS unit’s that are determined eligible for WFFA, SSI, or Work First Employment Services for a period of time within the 30-day FNS processing time.