10:87-2.26 Normal processing standard

(a) The CSSA shall provide eligible households that submit a complete application an opportunity to participate as soon as possible, but not later than 30 calendar days after the application was filed. CSSAs are required to provide the applicant with a copy of an electronically filed application. An application is considered filed the day the appropriate NJ SNAP office receives the application containing the applicant's name and address and signed by either a responsible member of the household or the household's authorized representative. For SSI jointly processed households, the application shall be considered filed for normal processing purposes when the signed application is received by the SSA district office. For residents of public institutions who jointly apply for NJ SNAP benefits and SSI under SSA's Prerelease Program for the Institutionalized, the application shall be considered filed for normal processing purposes when the resident is released from the institution. Households entitled to expedited processing are specified at N.J.A.C. 10:87- 2.28. (b) An opportunity to participate consists of issuing benefits to the household's Families First account in accordance with any staggered issuance procedure that has been established by a CSSA. The Families First card is the standard method of distributing NJ SNAP program benefits, serving also to provide cash benefits for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Debt Reduction Act child support bonus payments to eligible households. 1. At the time that a CSSA certifies a household's eligibility to receive benefits, the State's automated case file and issuance system (also known as FAMIS), creates a Families First account on the Families First automated account network. A Families First card shall be made available to the household not later than 30 days after the application for NJ SNAP benefits, if eligible. The CSSA then contacts the household for an initial training session and the selection of a Personal Identification Number (PIN). 2. The replacement of NJ SNAP benefits or credit adjustments to NJ SNAP benefit accounts shall be carried out in accordance with N.J.A.C. 10:87-9.8 and 9.9. 3. The replacement of lost or misplaced Families First cards shall be carried out in accordance with N.J.A.C. 10:87-9.10 and 10:88-6.2. (c) Determinations of eligibility shall be made in accordance with normal processing standards. For a household entitled to expedited processing as specified at N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.30, issuance of benefits shall be made in accordance with the following provisions: 1. If a household is found to be eligible for benefits and a reduction is in effect, the amount of benefits shall be calculated based on the reduction formula provided by DFD. 2. If a household is found to be eligible for benefits while a suspension or cancellation is in effect, no benefits shall be issued to the household until issuance is again authorized by DFD. History HISTORY: Amended by R. 1980 d.117, effective March 19, 1980. See: 11 N.J.R. 517(a), 12 N.J.R. 195(b). Added (b)1. Amended by R.1981, d.64, effective February 26, 1981. See: 13 N.J.R. 226(b). (c) added. Amended by R.1989 d.121, effective February 21, 1989. See: 20 N.J.R. 2689(a), 21 N.J.R. 511(b). Changed "35" to "34". Amended by R.1989 d.464, effective September 5, 1989. See: 21 N.J.R. 1636(a), 21 N.J.R. 2790(a). Date of application for applicants who are institutionalized is now the same as date of release from institution. ID card provided at initial issuance. Provision for replacement benefits added at (b)2. Amended by R.1991 d.247, effective May 6, 1991. See: 23 N.J.R. 179(a), 23 N.J.R. 1412(b). In (b)1: changed "19th" to "15th" day. Added new (b)3. Amended by R.1998 d.498, effective October 5, 1998. See: 30 N.J.R. 1928(a), 30 N.J.R. 3669(b). In (b), inserted "either" following "with" and added ", or issuing benefits to the household's Families First account in accordance with any staggered issuance procedure which has been established by a CWA" at the end of the first sentence and substituted a reference to ATPs for a reference to benefits in the last sentence of the introductory paragraph, and rewrote 3. Recodified from N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.30 and amended by R.2004 d.181, effective May 17, 2004. See: 36 N.J.R. 28(a), 36 N.J.R. 2425(a). Rewrote the section. Former N.J.A.C. 10:87-2.26 repealed. Amended by R.2007 d.129, effective May 7, 2007. See: 38 N.J.R. 4374(a), 39 N.J.R. 1719(a). In the introductory paragraph of (b), deleted the final sentence. Administrative change. See: 44 N.J.R. 1529(a). Amended by R.2023 d.083, effective July 3, 2023. See: 54 N.J.R. 2062(a), 55 N.J.R. 1335(a). In the introductory paragraph of (b), substituted "that" for "which"; and in (b)1, deleted the fourth sentence.