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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION APPLICATIONS FNS 400 HOW TO APPLY FOR FNS

2 FNS 400 Change #09-2021 August 9, 2021 B. Authorized Representatives as described in FNS 175 Authorized Representative. C. If there is no adult in the household, a legally emancipated minor may make and sign the application. 400.04

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION APPLICATIONS A. The SSA Office takes FNS applications for those households who contain only SSI applicants/recipients. The SSA refers non-SSI households to the appropriate county department of social services (DSS) to apply. 1. Do not require the applicant to be seen at the local DSS when the SSA Office takes an application. 2. Additional information may be requested, but the applicant does not have to come in to the agency. 3. In no event would the applicant be required to appear at the FNS office to complete the application process. The SSA Office completes joint SSI and FNS applications for residents of public institutions. In accordance with the SSA Pre-Release Program, these individuals may apply for both SSI and FNS benefits prior to their release from the institution. The applicant is not eligible to receive the FNS benefits until he is released from the institution. B. County Responsibilities 1. Determine eligibility and give eligible SSI households the opportunity to purchase food within 30 days following the date the application was received by SSA. All eligibility factors must be verified. Note time frame exceptions with expedited service applications and pre-release applications. 2. Process expedited service applications so eligible households are able to purchase food within seven calendar days. The expedited processing time standards begin on the date DSS receives the application. 3. If an application and the supporting documentation are sent to the wrong DSS, the receiving DSS must forward the application and documentation to the appropriate DSS within one working day of receipt. 4. Applicant households that contain only SSI applicants or recipients are not required to see a DSS eligibility worker or be interviewed by DSS staff. DSS must process the FNS application. DSS must not contact the applicant household to obtain information for certification unless: