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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION APPLICATIONS FNS 420 NORMAL APPLICATION PROCESSING

4 Section 420 Change #01-2024 March 01, 2024 4. Other situations for good cause may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. These situations should be discussed with your FNS state representative prior to making the determination. B. Good cause cannot be used for a normal application that is not processed timely due to caseworker delay.

420.05 NORMAL APPLICATION PROCESSING TIMELINESS MEASURE Compliance is measured from the date the FNS household has both a valid EBT card and access to the FNS benefits. This is known as the Benefit Availability Date (BAVDT). To be considered timely the BAVDT must be less than 25 days from the date of application. A. If the FNS unit is issued a new EBT card when approved, you must allow one processing day plus two days for receipt of the EBT card from the date the application is processed to determine the BAVDT. B. Definitions and formulas used to calculate normal application timeliness: 1. Application Date (AD) is the date a filed application is received. 2. Disposition Date (DD) is the date the worker keys the approval in NC FAST. 3. Benefit availability date (BAVDT) a. If a new EBT card is issued BAVDT = DD + 1 processing day + 2 days for receipt of the EBT card b. If no new EBT card is issued BAVDT = DD = 1 processing day 4. Processing Time (PT) is the number of days between the Application date and the Benefit availability date. a. PT = BAVDT – (minus) AD C. Per State directive any application that the processing time is greater than 25 calendar days is considered an overdue application. This includes worker error, client delay, and including applications that are processed using regulatory delay.

Note: Processing by the 25th calendar day must be met to allow the household to have a valid EBT card and access to FNS benefits that provide them the opportunity to purchase food no later than the 30th calendar day from the date of application.