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Stale benefit accounts are those SNAP and cash assistance accounts that have not been accessed for 90 days from the most recent date of withdrawal.
A. Offline accounts: If EBT accounts are not accessed for 90 days, the department may store such benefits in an offline account.
(1) Notification: The department shall notify the eligibility determination group of this action before storing benefits in an offline account and how to reactivate the account.
(2) Reinstatement: An adult eligibility determination group member or authorized representative may contact the department or the EBT customer service help desk and request reinstatement of their EBT account.
(a) SNAP: SNAP benefits may be restored within 274 days of the initial date of benefit activity. Initial date of benefit activity is the first deposit made to the account upon initial approval of the eligibility determination group’s benefits.
(b) Cash assistance: Cash assistance benefits may be restored within 364 days of the initial date of benefit activity. Initial date of benefit activity is the first deposit made to the account upon initial approval of the eligibility determination group’s benefits.
B. Expungements: SNAP and cash assistance benefits that have not been accessed in excess of the threshold for each program will be expunged. All benefits will no longer be available to the eligibility determination group. The eligibility determination group loses all rights to expunged benefits.
(1) Stale benefit threshold:
(a) SNAP: SNAP benefits will be expunged after no activity within 274 days of the initial date of benefit activity.
(b) Cash assistance: Cash assistance benefits which have had no activity within 180 days of the initial date of benefit activity will be expunged.
(2) Notification: The contractor shall notify the department no less than five days prior to expungement of the SNAP benefits. The department shall identify any SNAP claims against the eligibility determination group and shall apply upon expungement.
(a) SNAP: The department shall notify the eligibility determination group no less than 30 days prior to the expungement of the SNAP benefits. Request from the participant to reinstate any benefit must be received prior to date of expungement.
(b) Cash assistance: The department shall attempt to notify the eligibility determination group no less than 45 days prior to the expungement of the cash assistance benefits. A request from the participant to reinstate any benefit must be received prior to the date of expungement.
(3) Payments of claims against the eligibility determination group. The contractor shall notify the department no less than five days prior to expungement of the SNAP or cash assistance benefits and any claims against the eligibility determination group shall be removed from the account and applied to the claims upon expungement.
[8.100.640.17 NMAC - N, 09/30/2013; A and Rn, 3/1/2020; A, 10/1/2021]
History of 8.100.640 NMAC: [RESERVED]