section-6 CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY

A. Recertification 1. Recertification Process The recertification process includes the expiration notice (notice of expiration NOE), recertification application, interview, verification, and timely eligibility determination. The District must: a. Send to each household, including TA/SNAP households, a recertification application for SNAP, a written expiration notice as described in SNAPSB Section 8. Note: Households certified for one month or certified in the second month of a two-month certification period must receive a written expiration notice at certification. b. Complete the application process and approve or deny timely recertification applications (subsequently referred to in this section as recertifications) before the end of the household's current certification period. SNAP applications submitted electronically via MyBenefits or Access NYC shall be treated as having been signed by the head of household. c. Provide eligible households with an opportunity to participate by the household's regular issuance cycle in the month following receipt of a timely recertification. Do not continue household benefits beyond the end of the certification period unless the household is recertified. d. Provide each TA/SNAP households with general information on verification requirements at application and recertification. Client informational books LDSS-4148A, LDSS-4148B and LDSS-4148C fulfill this requirement. For specific types of verification required see SNAPSB Section 5. Provide each NTA/SNAP household using LDSS-4826 SNAP Benefits Application/Recertification with client information book LDSS- 4826A. e. Provide a local telephone number and either a toll-free number or a number at which collect calls will be accepted from households outside the local calling area. The number must be provided in writing at certification and recertification. f. These interviews must be scheduled on a specific day and time so the household has at least 10 days after the interview to provide verification before their certification period expires. g. SNAP Households, including those in receipt of TA, that submit a recertification application but miss their scheduled recertification interview, must be provided a notice of missed interview (NOMI). The household cannot be denied before the end of the certification period for missing a scheduled interview. h. All NTA/SNAP households are to have telephone recertification interviews unless a face-to-face recertification interview is requested by the household. i. Advise any household with one or more non-exempt adult SNAP recipient(s) (no aged/disabled and with no earned income at previous required contact point) of the availability of employment and training services within the district and or region. j. Provide a consolidation notice and an oral explanation of SNAP Employment and Training requirements and ABAWD work requirements to households that contain a non-exempt adult. 2. Timely Recertification A household that submits its application for recertification by the 15th day of the last month of the expiring certification period is considered to have applied timely. a. Households do not have to submit a recertification application or receive an interview before the last month of its current certification period. b. If a household receives an expiration notice at the time of certification, it has 15 days from the date the notice is received to file a timely recertification. The DSS must have procedures that ensure timely processing when issuing a one or two-month certification period in order to avoid a lapse in benefits. c. All households which submit a SNAP recertification application by the 15th of the last month of their current certification period must be considered to have made timely application for recertification regardless of the interview date. d. Jointly processed TA/SNAP cases need not receive a separate SNAP recert notice if they are recertified for SNAP at the same time as their TA redetermination. 3. District Action on Timely Applications for Recertification Benefits must not be interrupted if the household has reapplied in a timely fashion and been determined eligible. The District must act on timely recertifications within the following time standards. The standards must be met even if the household has to receive an opportunity to participate outside of the regular issuance system. a. If a household receives the expiration notice at the time of certification and recertifies in a timely fashion, it must be notified of its eligibility or ineligibility, and if eligible, receive an opportunity to participate no later than 30 days after the household's last issuance date. It is important to note this when issuing a one or two-month certification period. The DSS must have procedures that ensure timely processing when issuing a one or two-month certification period to avoid a lapse in benefits. b. A household that files a timely recertification application must be notified of the district's decision by the end of the current certification period. c. A household that files an application within 30 days after the end of their certification period must have their application treated as a recertification application, and if eligible, benefits are to be prorated from the date of re- application. d. A household that files an application within 30 days after the end of their certification period must have their application screened for Expedited SNAP processing, identity would not need to be re-verified as the household is known to the district. e. Uninterrupted benefits must be provided to eligible households if the household appeared for a recertification interview during the last 15 days of the current certification period providing the recertification was filed prior to the 15th. f. A household must receive an immediate opportunity to participate if: (1) The household reapplies in a timely fashion. (2) The household is eligible. (3) A District error delays the eligibility determination; and (4) The household does not receive SNAP benefits in the regular issuance for the following month because of the determination delay. If necessary, the District must provide an opportunity to participate outside the regular issuance cycle. Filing Date if Found Eligible Accrual Date If client files by the 15th Benefits continue into new recertification period uninterrupted, regardless of when the interview occurs If client files after the 15th and prior to the expiration of the certification period and is found eligible within 30 days The benefit may not be available on the usual issuance date the first month of the new certification period because all the paperwork is not complete, but they will be issued for the entire month. Benefits for the new certification month may not be pro- rated. If the client files within 30 days after the end of the certification period and is found eligible Benefits begin when all requirements are met and pro-rated from date of re- application (exceptions for migrant and seasonal farm workers.) 4. Verification If verification is missing after a recertification interview, the recipient must be allowed ten days from the date of a written request for documentation to provide the missing documentation. a. Any eligible household not determined eligible in sufficient time to allow uninterrupted benefits due to this 10-day time period for submission of additional verification will receive a full month's benefit within five working days after supplying the missing verification. b. If missing verification is submitted within 60 days of a timely recertification application, the District must process the case without requiring a new recertification application. c. Benefits must be prorated if a household (other than seasonal/migrant farm worker) provides verification more than 30 days from the date of application for recertification. 5. District Failure to Act It is an administrative error if the District fails to meet the specified time standards when it provides an opportunity to participate to eligible households who filed timely recertifications. These households have a right to receive lost benefits if the households cannot participate in the month following the expiration of the certification period. 6. Household Fails to Comply If a household submits a recertification application but fails to be available for a scheduled interview, fails to file the recertification application prior to the required time period, or fails to provide missing verification by the end of the 10-day time period required in paragraph 4 above, the District must deny the recertification application. a. A recertification application submitted more than 30 days after the end of the certification period must be treated as an initial application and processed according to the timeliness standards specified in SNAPSB Section 4. Households filing applications within 30 days after the end of their certification period must have their application treated as an application for recertification (and if eligible, benefits are to be prorated from the date of re-application.) b. If the household submits an application for recertification after the 15th of the month but prior to the expiration of its current certification period and is found eligible for the first month following the end of the certification period, then that month's benefits must not be prorated unless necessary verification is submitted after the 30th day after late app submitted, according to the example below. EXAMPLE: A household's certification period is due to end on August 31st. A household submits their recertification application on August 15th and is requested in writing by the district to submit verification of a changed circumstance on that date. The household does not submit verification until September 17th. If eligible, the district would accept the application and provide benefits from September 17th, the date the documentation was submitted. Conversely, had the household submitted the documentation by September 14th, the household would be eligible for benefits from September 1st, as they had submitted the documentation within thirty days from the original application date for recertification. 7. Verification At Recertification The District must verify information that has changed or is incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or outdated. This includes information received during the certification period that was not required to be acted on by the State at the time of discovery/receipt. The District cannot limit verifications to specific types of documents or proofs but should accept any verification that satisfies a verification requirement. Once the District receives a household’s verifications, the District should process the verifications as quickly as possible to ensure timely recertification. The information the District considers at recertification should be accurate and reflect a household’s income and deductions for the month of application based upon the most recent information available at the time of recertification. While verification for the month of application is generally preferable, the District may use verification so long as it is no more than 60 days old relative to the first month of the new certification period and the household agrees that it is representative of their circumstances. The District shall use the initial certification period procedure to verify changes reported since the last recertification. At recertification the District shall verify the following: a. All sources of income must be verified. b. Medical and utility expenses must be verified if the amount has changed. c. Newly obtained Social Security numbers (SSN) and/or SSNs that have not been verified previously. NOTE: Individuals who refuse to verify their SSN shall be excluded from the SNAP Program. d. The date of birth of new household members or dates of birth that have not been verified previously. e. When there is a change in the Child Support obligation or the amount f. ABAWD work hours or hours of participation in work activities, if ABAWD requirements are not waived by the District g. Changes in items other than income, medical expenses or actual utility expenses shall be subject to the same verification procedures as at initial certification. Some examples are: (1) Dependent care cost, if not questionable, may be reverified if the care provider changed or the amount has changed. (2) Shelter costs, other than utilities, may, if not questionable, be reverified only if the household has moved, or has reported a change in the amount of shelter cost components and the change could potentially affect the level of deduction. If the household reports a change in the cost of particular shelter components, only those components that have changed may be reverified. (3) A household's eligibility to claim the standard utility allowance may be reverified, if not questionable, only if the household has moved or changed utilities. NOTE: Unchanged information shall not be verified at recertification unless the information does not accurately reflect the household’s income and deductions for the month of application.is inaccurate, inconsistent or outdated. NOTE: For households reporting a loss of income, the eligibility worker should make all efforts to verify the loss of income, including following up via telephone, using available data sources to verify the household’s statement regarding the change in income or use of a collateral contact. If all options are exhausted, the eligibility worker should use the best available information to make the eligibility decision and adjust benefits accordingly. Additionally, if all necessary steps have been taken to verify the income and the last resort is to rely on self-attestation, detailed case notes should be entered into the household’s case file showing that all necessary steps had been taken to try and verify the income prior to relying on self-attestation. This should include documentation showing that collateral contact was made, available data sources were used, and a copy of the household’s self-attestation. NOTE: The rationale for verifying information, other than that which is required at recertification, must be documented in the case file. h. General Requirements - The Client Information Book(s) must be provided at Recertification to all TA and SNAP Recipients at least once per year, except for households granted a 24-month certification period or NYSCAP and ESAP households with 36-month certification periods. In addition, when recertifications are more frequent than yearly, the books must be provided at each recertification. As long as districts are using the 05/08 (or later) version of the LDSS-4826 and LDSS-4826Aor the 9/20 (or later) version of the LDSS-5166, they are not required to provide the Client Information Books (LDSS-4148A, LDSS-4148B and LDSS-4148C) to households that are applying or recertifying for SNAP Benefits. This is because information from the Client Information Books that must be provided to SNAP applicant households has been consolidated and included in the LDSS-4826A and LDSS-5166. Districts must continue to provide the LDSS-4826A: “How to Complete the Food Stamp Benefits Application/Recertification and Applicant/Recipient Rights and Responsibilities for the Food Stamp Program” to all households applying and recertifying for SNAP benefits, unless they are using the LDSS- 5166 to apply, and must continue to provide the Client Information Books (LDSS-4148A, LDSS-4148B and LDSS-4148C) upon request. References: 387.17 Certification/authorization 273.14 Recertification 90 ADM-41 New Client Informational Books: DSS-4148A - "What You Should Know About Your Rights and Responsibilities (When Applying for or Receiving Social Services)" and DSS-4148B - "What You Should Know About Social Services Programs" 12 INF-06 Food Stamp Program Clarification of Required Documentation/Verification 96 LCM-83 Food Stamp Impact of New Federal Welfare Law B. Changes During the Certification Period 1. Reporting Changes a. All SNAP households are subject to Simplified Reporting requirements (six- month reporting) rules except: (1) Households with no income (2) Households certified for less than four months (3) Group home residents in receipt of SSI or District (4) Households in which all adult members are aged/disabled with no earned income (except NYSCAP cases) (5) Migrant or seasonal farmers (6) Undomiciled homeless household’s (only shelter type 23) Note: SNAP households that also receive Temporary Assistance (TA) continue to be required to report changes for TA within 10 days of the change. Note: Households in receipt of Transitional Benefit Allowance (TBA) are not required to report changes during the five-month TBA period, other than if they are subject to ABAWD (able-bodied adult without dependents) requirements and their employment or other work activities falls below 80 hours per month even during the TBA period. If a TBA household wants to report a change that would increase SNAP benefits, they must recertify and TBA ends early. If a household fails to come in for this early recertification appointment, the SNAP benefits remain unchanged at the TBA amount until the end of the five-month TBA period. Do not close the case during the TBA period for this reason. 2. Changes Which Must Be Reported 1. The only change that households subject to Simplified Reporting requirements (six month reporting) are required to report is if their total household income exceeds 130% of the poverty level for their household size as set at the time of their last certification and when the hours of work for an Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) who is in your SNAP household go below 80 hours a month within 10 days after the end of the month of change. For simplified reporting (six month) households, if reported during the certification period, only the following changes reported can be reflected in the SNAP benefit calculations: (1) Total household monthly Income exceeds 130% of the poverty level. This report must be documented in writing. If reported by phone, worker must send a written request to client to confirm information. (2) The information is considered verified upon receipt. (3) The information is reported at recertification. (4) The information is reported on a simplified periodic mailer. (5) The household requests to have case closed. (6) Changes resulting in a Temporary Assistance budget change. (7) The household voluntarily reports and verifies information. 2. Households with earned income that are assigned seven-month or longer certification periods, are only required to report increases in their gross monthly income resulting in the household exceeding 130% of the monthly poverty income guideline for their household size during the certification period. Any other kind of income received besides earnings must be included in the household’s total gross income such as, but not limited to: (1) Child support received (2) Unemployment Insurance (3) Temporary Assistance payments (4) Workers Compensation (5) Social Security Benefits (6) Supplemental Security Income (7) Private disability payments. For all NTA-SNAP HH’s that are certified for 7 full months or more and have earned and/or unearned income (Except HH’s in which all adult members are aged/disabled with no earned income): (1) These cases are sent a periodic mailer (LDSS-4310) which must be returned by the 10th day of the sixth month of their cert period, even if they have no changes to report. (2) Changes reported in the mailers must be processed even if it causes a decrease – unless the decrease is a “Simplified Deduction” (non- move shelter, medical, or childcare expenses). (3) If client does not return a completed mailer, they must be sent timely notice to close SNAP case. (4) Use “Quarterly Contact Data Mailer Sent” screens (WMS Menu selection 24) to identify households sent a mailer and post completed mailers in WMS. TA WAIVERS (Limited Local Districts): TA-SNAP households subject to simplified reporting, will receive a local TA six-month eligibility questionnaire (mail-in TA recert with SNAP penalty language under a TA waiver) and completion of the TA six-month mail-in recert is also a SNAP requirement for these households. 3. Change Reporter (ten day reporting) households must report the following changes within ten days following the month of change AND simplified reporting households must report these changes on either the Periodic Report or Recertification: (1) New address (2) New rent or mortgage costs, if they move (3) Changes in total household earned income when it increases or decreases by more than $100 since the last time the household SNAP budget was calculated. (4) Increase in resources above the resource limit for those HH’s not categorically eligible. For those HHs not Categorically Eligible, the resource test is applied. (See LDSS-4943: SNAP Benefits Cat. El. Desk- Aid). (5) Changes in any source of income (6) Change in household composition (7) Changes in the amount of child support client is legally obligated to pay outside their home. (8) Changes in total household unearned income when it increases or decreases by more than $100/month, if received from a public source (SS benefits, UIB, etc.). (9) If client has an additional or change in licensed vehicles for those households not Categorically Eligible. (10) If anyone in the SNAP household is an Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (“ABAWD”) the household must report if the ABAWD’s work hours go below 80 hours a month within 10 days after the end of that month. 4. All Adult Aged/Disabled households with a 24 month certification period are sent a WMS-generated “Periodic Report Form” and cover letter in the 11th month of their certification period, which they must only return in the 12th month if they have one of the above reportable changes. 5. ESAP households are considered Simplified Reporters but MUST also report the following changes within 10 days after the end of the month in which the change happened: (1) Changes in who lives with them (2) if anyone in the household begins receiving earned income (3) if any household member receives substantial lottery/gambling winnings above current thresholds won as a cash prize, in a single game, before taxes or other withholdings. ESAP households will receive a contact letter 18 months into their certification period. They are NOT required to return this contact letter, but may do so voluntarily, and must document any changes prior to having their SNAP benefits increased. 6. At recertification, when changes occur between the Date of Interview and the date the Notice of Eligibility is issued, the household will have until ten days following the end of the calendar month the Notice of Eligibility was issued to report any changes. 7. NYSCAP households will receive an interim contact letter halfway through their certification that they must complete and return. Other than the interim contact letter, NYSCAP households are not required to report changes during the certification period. They can report any change that might cause an increase in their SNAP benefit. If reported and verified, worker needs to determine the effect on the SNAP case and adjust it accordingly. NOTE: Sponsored aliens must report changes regarding sponsor's income, resources or sponsorship status. 3. No Action on Changes For cases with earned income, Districts must not act on changes that would result in a decrease in the SNAP benefits unless: 1. The household has voluntarily requested that its case be closed in writing or in the presence of an eligible worker; or 2. The District has information about the household's circumstances considered verified upon receipt; or 3. There has been a change in the household's TA grant. 4. Requirements To Close Cases The District must close a Simplified Reporter (six-month reporting) case with adequate notice (see SNAPSB Section 8 for definition/details of an adequate notice) when the household: 1. Reports in writing, or reports in person to an eligibility worker, an income that exceeds 130% (if the household receives SNAP benefits and is eligible for a dependent care deduction, or has an aged/disabled member, the household gross monthly income may not exceed 200% of Federal Poverty level for their household size. For households with earned income, the gross monthly income may not exceed 150% of Federal Poverty level for their household size) of the monthly income guidelines for their household size or the household requests, in writing or in person, that the case be closed; or 2. Is on a certification period greater than seven-months and fails to complete and/or return the LDSS-4310 Periodic Report form by the 10th day of the 6th month of certification and they fail to verify income at the end of the 6th month; or 3. No longer resides in the state, or all household members are dead 5. TA/SNAP Cases 1. TA reporting rules already require reporting any income changes as they occur. This means that the current TA reporting rules for reporting changes within ten days will continue for TA cases. 2. However, should a TA/SNAP household fail to report a change as required by TA rules, and delays reporting that change until the next recertification, that change would not be considered an overpayment of SNAP benefits. 3. Consequently, income changes or all other changes (excluding ABAWD requirements) experienced during the certification period that result in the household remaining under 130% poverty level are not subject to SNAP quality control errors. 4. The case circumstances as verified by the District at the most recent certification interview are sufficient for continuing recurring benefits. 5. However, the household may voluntarily report changes that occur during the certification period. The household may report changes to meet TA reporting requirements. In those instances, the TA worker would act on the reported change to adjust the TA grant. 6. The TA/SNAP worker must consider these changes that are reported and take appropriate action to adjust benefits if the change is verified upon receipt and it results in a decrease or an increase in SNAP benefits. 7. If any TA case is discontinued for failure to comply with TA reporting rules, the SNAP portion of the case must be continued for the original length of the certification period, or longer if qualified for TBA (unless they become ineligible for other reasons). 8. SNAP certification periods may not be shortened for failure to comply with TA reporting requirements. 6. Date Change Is Reported A household change is considered reported on the date the District receives the report delivered in person or by telephone. If the household's report is mailed, it is considered reported on the date the form is received. A report which is received by a District worker other than the IM/SNAP worker is still considered received on that date. Note: Mail that is returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable with no forwarding address cannot be considered verified upon receipt, since the impact on the household is unknown. Thus, under simplified reporting, the district would not send an RFC or act on the returned mail but would follow up with the household at the next household contact or recertification. 7. SNAP Change Report Form (LDSS-3151) 1. The District must provide all households with a Change Report Form and pay the postage necessary to return the report form. The form is to be: (1) Provided at the time of certification to newly certified households (2) Provided at recertification (3) Replaced whenever a household reports a change NOTE: The District may, at their option, provide households with a Change Report Form more often. 2. At a minimum, the following information must be sent to the household on the Change Report Form: a. A space for the household to report whether the change shall continue beyond the report month. b. The civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Food Stamp Act, written in understandable terms in prominent and bold face lettering. c. A reminder of the household's right to claim actual utility costs if the actual costs exceed the standard. 8. Periodic Report Form (LDSS-4310) All SNAP households subject to simplified change reporting rules that have certification periods of more than seven months and have earned and/or unearned income shall receive the Periodic Report form (LDSS-4310). The form is sent to households at the end of the fifth month of certification with the requirement to return by the 10th day of the sixth month of certification, even if they have no changes to report. Changes reported in the mailers must be processed if it causes a decrease in the SNAP benefit- unless the decrease is to a “Simplified Deduction”. Please see below. a. Reported Changes in Income: A report of an increase in income cannot be considered as verified upon receipt unless it includes exact new income amount, effective date of receipt, and any other information needed to recalculate the SNAP benefit amount. If a household is reporting a clear increase in earnings on the report, then workers must act on budgeting a reduction in benefits based the information reported by the household. No supporting documentation for reports of increased earnings is required because the household is the primary source and is considered as verified upon receipt. If a household reports a decrease in earnings, then workers may not act on a budget to increase benefits until the decrease is verified. Verification may be from the employer or from pay stubs, but the district must not contact the employer directly without the household's permission. Otherwise, until the verification is received, benefits would remain unchanged until recertification. b. Reported Changes in Simplified Deductions: Districts will not reduce or discontinue the simplified deductions listed below between certification periods; all reported and verified increases in deductible expenses must continue to be processed: (1) Dependent care deduction (2) Medical deduction (3) Excess shelter deduction, unless the shelter and/or SUA change because the household has moved, or the shelter-related changes are being budgeted for TA. c. Closing SNAP Cases from Periodic Report Form Information Districts must discontinue SNAP benefits of a Simplified Reporter (six-month reporting) household when the household: (1) becomes ineligible based on a reported change in income that exceeds the 130 percent threshold. (2) requests to have its case closed (3) is certified for more than six months and fails to return a completed periodic reporting mailer (LDSS-4310) in their sixth month. (4) no longer resides in New York State (5) all household members have died; or (6) is otherwise ineligible for reasons such as failure to meet ABAWD requirements, because all household members are sanctioned or disqualified, or for a reason that is voluntarily reported by the household such as ineligible student status. 9. NYSCAP 18 Month Interim Report (LDSS-4836) Between certifications, the only reporting requirement for NYSCAP households is to respond to NYSCAP SNAP Benefit Interim Reports as set forth below NYSCAP households are required to complete Interim Reports. a. Approximately 18 months prior to the end of the certification period, households are mailed the Interim Reports requesting that the households provide updated information regarding living arrangements, shelter costs, and utility expenses. Households are advised to return the completed form by the tenth day of the month following the month the Interim Report is received or SNAP benefits will be discontinued. Blank reports, reports submitted without required verification as set forth in section 387.8 of this Part, and unsigned reports will be treated as "No change" reports and processed for continuing NYSCAP eligibility at the current benefit amount. b. Households that do not return the NYSCAP 18 Month Interim Report will have their case closed. The code EZ6 - Failure to Complete/Sign/Return NYSCAP 18 Month Interim Report is to be used to close the case. c. A NYSCAP household is not required to report any changes except as provided in the above paragraph. When a household reports and verifies a change, in accordance with the above paragraph, and that change would affect the household's eligibility or change its benefit amount, the District must act upon that information. d. SSA information is transmitted to or made available to the District by daily NYSCAP reports. Action by the District is required for certain case status changes. System-reported changes that require the District to make a determination of continuing eligibility for SNAP benefits include: (1) Loss of SSI income (2) Relocation from one District to another; or (3) Relocation to an ineligible living arrangement. System-reported changes that do not require the District to take action are changes in: (1) Income (2) Relocation within the same County (3) Relocation to an eligible living arrangement (4) Death 10. NYSCAP Recertification a. All SNAP cases recertified into the NYSCAP are recertified for a 36-month period. b. NYSCAP cases will need to follow the recertification process currently in place for all SNAP households to continue receiving ongoing benefits. The notice of expiration sent to the household will continue to be delivered with a SNAP application/recertification form. Districts will use the same verification requirements with NYSCAP cases that would be used with any standard SNAP recertification. c. A NYSCAP household's failure to recertify for the SNAP results in case closing. Reference: 09 ADM-22 Food Stamp Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) for Households with Children Leaving Safety Net Assistance 07 ADM-05 Food Stamp Change Reporting for Ten-Day Reporters 04 ADM-02 Changes in Food Stamp Program Change Reporting Rules 02 ADM-07 Food Stamp Program Reauthorization Changes 01 ADM-09 Six-Month Reporting Rules for Food Stamp Households With Earned Income 03 INF-10 Food Stamp Program Questions and Answers: Application Processing, Six-Month Reporting, Transitional Benefits and Standard Utility Allowances GIS Message (12 TA/DC009) Release of Updated LDSS-3151 GIS Message (01 TA/DC010) Adoption of a New 6 Month Reporting Policy for Food Stamps with Earned Income 24-ADM-09 NYS Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) GIS Message (21 TA/DC079) Preliminary Guidance Regarding the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) C. District Action 1. Documenting Report The District shall document the date the change is reported and take prompt action to determine if the reported change affects the household's eligibility or benefit level. Household change reported by telephone or in person must be acted on in the same manner as those reported on the Change Reporting Form. When the change does not alter the benefit level, the District must: a. Document the information in the case file. b. Send another change reporting form to the household, and c. Notify the household of the change's effect on its eligibility or level of benefits. 2. Increasing Benefits a. For changes which results in an increase in a household's benefit, other than changes described in item b. below, the District must make the change effective not later than the first allotment issued 10 days after the date the change was reported to the District. EXAMPLE: A $30 decrease in income reported on the 15th of May would increase the household's June allotment. If the same decrease were reported on May 28th, and the household's normal issuance cycle was on June 1st, the household's allotment would have to be increased by July. b. For changes which result in an increase in a household's benefits due to an addition of a new household member who is not a member of another certified household, or due to a decrease of $50 or more in the household's gross monthly income, the District shall make the change effective not later than the first allotment issued 10 days after the date the change was reported. If a household reports to the District the birth of a child(ren) and an adult member of the SNAP household requests the newborn(s) be added to the SNAP case effective the month the child(ren) was/were born, the District shall add the newborn(s) to the SNAP case effective the date the newborn(s) enter the SNAP household and prorate SNAP benefits from the date the newborn(s) enter the SNAP household to the end of the month. If an adult member in the SNAP household reports the birth of a child(ren) but does not request SNAP benefits for the month the child(ren) was/were born, the District shall add the child(ren) to the SNAP case with an effective date of the first of the month following the month the change was reported. However, in no event shall these changes take effect any later than the month following the month in which the change is reported. Therefore, if the change is reported after the 20th of a month and it is too late for the District to adjust the following month's allotment, the District must issue supplementary benefits or otherwise provide an opportunity for the household to obtain the increase in benefits by the 10th day of the following month, or the household's normal issuance cycle in that month, whichever is later. EXAMPLE: A household reporting a $100 decrease in income at any time during May would have its June allotment increased. If the household reported the change after the 20th of May and it was too late for the District to adjust the benefits normally issued on June 1st, the District should issue supplementary benefits for the increase by June 10th. 3. Verifying Changes The District shall verify changes, reported during the certification period in accordance with the same verification procedures as apply at initial certification. However, the District shall not verify changes in income, total medical expenses or actual utility expenses which are unchanged or have changed by $100 or less, unless the information is incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent or outdated. Districts will not reduce the deductions for childcare, Medical or Excess shelter between recertification. a. The District must allow the household 10 days from the date the change is reported to provide verification. The time frames shall run from the date the change was reported, not from the date of verification. If, however, the household fails to provide the required verification within 10 days after the change is reported but does provide the verification at a later date, then the time frames for taking action on changes shall run from the date verification is provided rather than from the date the change is reported. b. In cases where the District has determined that a household has refused to cooperate, as defined in SNAPSB Section 4, the District shall terminate the household's eligibility following the notice of adverse action. 4. Restoring Lost Benefits If the District fails to take action on a change which increases a household's benefit within the time limits specified above, all lost benefits shall be restored to the household as detailed in SNAPSB Section 11. 5. Decreasing Benefits If during the certification period the household's benefit level decreases or the household becomes ineligible as a result of the change, the District shall issue an adverse action notice to the household. This may be accomplished by using the Client Notice System on WMS or by mailing a Notice of Intent to Change SNAP Benefits (LDSS-3620) within 10 days of the date the change was reported. The notice must be timely (mailed at least 10 days before the date upon which the proposed action is to become effective). The notice of adverse action expires 10 days after it has been mailed. The decrease or termination in the benefits must be made effective no later than the allotment for the month following the month in which the notice of adverse action period has expired, provided a fair hearing and continuation of benefits have not been requested. Verification which is required must be obtained prior to recertification. NOTE: Only an adequate (see SNAPSB Section 8 for a definition/details of an adequate notice) notice is required (it does not have to be timely, as indicated above) for a decrease or ineligibility as a result of a change in the first month of the household’s certification period following recertification. 6. Failure To Report The District must file a claim against the household when it discovers that a household failed to report a change as required and received benefits to which it was not entitled. NOTE: Procedures for filing claims are detailed in SNAPSB Section 16. If the discovery is made within the certification period, the household is entitled to a notice of adverse action if the household's benefits are to be reduced. a. A household shall not be held liable for a claim because of a change in household circumstances which it is not required to report. b. Individuals cannot be terminated for failure to report a change unless the individual is disqualified for intentional program violation. References: 387.17 Certification/ Authorization D. Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance) Households TA households which report a change to a TA Eligibility Worker must be considered to have reported the change for SNAP purposes as well. 1. Change In TA Grant a. Sufficient Information to Determine SNAP Eligibility - If a change reduces or terminates a household's TA grant during the SNAP certification period, and the District has sufficient information to determine the effect on the SNAP eligibility and benefits, the District must take the following action: (1) If both the TA grant and SNAP benefits are reduced or terminated, the District should issue a single adverse action notice for both the TA and actions SNAP. (2) If the household requests a fair hearing within the period listed on the adverse action notice, the household's SNAP benefits must be continued on the strength of its most recent certification. The household must reapply for SNAP benefits if its certification period expires before the fair hearing process is completed. (3) If the household does not appeal the decision, the change must be made for the first regular issuance period after the expiration of the 10-day adverse action notice. (4) If the TA grant reduction or termination increases the household's SNAP benefits, the District must issue the TA adverse notice. The household's SNAP benefits cannot be increased until it is known whether the household plans to appeal the adverse action. If the household appeals and the TA grant is continued, the household's SNAP benefits must continue at the previous level. (5) If the household does not appeal, the District must make the change effective for the first regular issuance period after the expiration of the TA adverse action notice. (6) Any benefits lost due to the District's failure to act within the time limit must be restored to the household. b. Insufficient Information to Determine SNAP Eligibility - Whenever a change terminates a household's TA grant during its SNAP certification period the household must be evaluated for Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) eligibility. If the household is TBA ineligible and sufficient information to determine the effect of the change on the household's SNAP eligibility and benefits is not available, the District must take the following action: (1) When a TA adverse action notice has been sent, no action can be taken until the household's notice expires or the household requests a fair hearing, whichever occurs first. If the household requests a fair hearing and its TA benefits continue pending the appeal, the household's SNAP benefits must continue without change. (2) If a TA adverse action is not necessary, or the household did not request a fair hearing and continuation of the TA grant, the household must be sent a SNAP expiration notice stating that the certification period will expire at the end of the month after the month in which the expiration notice is sent. The notice will explain that the household can reapply if it wishes to continue SNAP participation. Also, the notice will advise that the certification period is expiring because of household changes which may affect its SNAP eligibility and benefits. 2. Temporary Assistance Closings and Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) TBA is the Federal provision that permits NYS to provide transitional SNAP benefits to eligible households after leaving FA and/or Safety Net Assistance program to further support welfare reform goals and transitional supports for working families. The process and benefit calculation are described in 09 ADM- 22, 02 ADM-07, 01 ADM-16, and ABEL Transmittals 01-5 and 02-05. The Auto TBA SNAP benefit process is outlined in WMS/CNS letter dated 1/31/04. District must determine TBA eligibility when a TA case closes and provide 5 months of SNAP benefits. a. TBA is not available to households that at case closing: (1) fail to comply with certain SNAP requirements, or (2) to households leaving Safety Net Assistance (SNA) without children (Case Type 16 & 17) or (3) converting from FA to SNA or (4) do not have an active SNAP case (5) closed for Failed to Appear for a TA and SNAP recertification interview b. Eligibility for TBA (1) SNAP households that will be entitled to TBA include all eligible SNAP households, with children leaving FA (Case Type 11), Safety Net Cash (Case Type 16), and Safety Net Federally Non-Participating (Case Type 17). Eligible households will include those consisting of FA recipients and non-FA recipients (Upstate SNAP Mixed case type) whose FA cases are closing, as long as the households no longer receive TA benefits, and the households meet all other TBA eligibility criteria. SNAP mixed cases are not included in the Auto TBA SNAP process; however, they must continue to be processed for the TBA as long as the SNAP household no longer receives TA. (2) A “child” is defined here according to the SNAP definition contained in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. To be eligible for TBA, a household leaving SN-CSH or SN-FNP assistance must include a child who is under 22 years of age and living with a parent, or a child who is under 18 years of age and under the parental control of an adult member of the household or who is a minor head of household at the time of the Safety Net case closing. The child/children do not need to be participating in either the Safety Net case or the SNAP case at the time of the Safety Net case closing. Otherwise, qualified eligible households include households having: (a) A child who is receiving SSI and SNAP, but not SNA benefits; or (b) A child who is an ineligible immigrant for both the SNAP and SNA programs; or (c) A child who is sanctioned for violations under the SNA program; or (d) A minor head of household. Children must be identified in either the Safety Net or SNAP case record on WMS as either active (WMS individual disposition status code 07), sanctioned (WMS individual disposition status code 10) or inactive household members at the time of the Safety Net case closing in order for the household to be eligible for TBA. Households that have not reported and verified the residence of a child, as defined above, in the household at the time of Safety Net case closing will not be eligible for TBA. (3) FA time-limit cases that are closing for failure to respond to a FA reassessment or SNA application call-in or fail to sign a SNA repayment agreement or earnings assignment, will qualify for TBA unless they fall under the TBA exceptions listed below. (4) Households that do not receive SNAP benefits at the time of FA case closing, but subsequently apply for SNAP benefits, are not eligible for TBA. Households leaving Safety Net cash (Case Type 16) or Safety Net Non-Cash (17) are not eligible for TBA. (5) As with TBA for households leaving TANF-funded cash assistance, Safety Net households with children who have a member participating in an employment program that provides wages that are funded or reimbursed, at least in part, through the diversion of the household’s entire Temporary Assistance grant ($0 cash grant case) are considered to have left cash assistance and are eligible for TBA. Please see either GIS 09TA/DC016 or 09 ADM-11 for further information regarding TBA and employment grant diversion programs. (6) When a TA household reports a change and is requested to provide verification to determine ongoing TA eligibility, but the TA case closes for failure to provide the verification, SNAP eligibility must be separately determined. The separate determination is processed as a TBA case for TANF or federally funded SNA leavers. For Non-federally funded SNA leavers who are subject to six-month reporting rules, a separate determination to continue SNAP for the remainder of the certification period must be processed. (7) TA households that recertify but fail to verify new information may qualify for the TBA because new information is not used in calculating the TBA benefit. If these households are otherwise TBA eligible, the Auto TBA Process will be supported. TA closings, including recert closings, using a case reason code = V20, V23, V24 and V25, that are otherwise eligible for the TBA, require an entry of SNAP case reason code J05 or J06 (Separate SNAP Notice will be provided). (8) District must provide the TBA to all families who leave FA and SNA, except those noted below: (a) District must not provide the TBA to a household leaving FA if it includes a member who, at the time of the closing, has: i. Violated a TANF requirement and the District is imposing a comparable SNAP sanction or closing, e.g., failed to provide a social security number or to recertify ii. Violated a SNAP work requirement iii. Committed a FA/SNA or SNAP intentional program violation (IPV); or iv. Failed to comply with SNAP reporting requirements, e.g., the District discovered unreported income or resources through computer matching, indicating noncompliance with SNAP reporting requirements. (b) When evaluating TBA eligibility, Districts are reminded to consider whether a FA/SNA SNAP case, which is subject to simplified reporting requirements for SNAP, has complied with SNAP reporting requirements, even if it has not complied with a higher standard of reporting requirements for FA or SNA. If such a household has complied with SNAP reporting requirements, the household is eligible for TBA. (9) Households that have a member who incurred and completed a sanction or IPV disqualification prior to the closing of the FA/SNA case, if otherwise qualified, are eligible for the TBA. Districts must ensure that TA staff carefully evaluates the TA category of assistance and reason for the FA closings to determine TBA eligibility. (10) Households sanctioned under TA but not under SNAP may still be eligible for the TBA under certain circumstances. EXAMPLE: A FA household consists of a parent and a 3 year old child. The parent works part-time and is sanctioned for failure to comply with FA work requirements. The FA case subsequently closes due to client request. This household is eligible for the TBA because the parent is not under a SNAP sanction. As a parent with a dependent child under the age of six, the parent is exempt from SNAP work registration and requirements. However, a household is ineligible for the TBA if it contains a member disqualified from either TA or SNAP due to an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), or if the District is imposing a comparable SNAP sanction on a member that has violated a TANF requirement. (11) Households that are not eligible for the TBA may still be eligible for SNAP benefits. Districts must determine their continued eligibility based on normal SNAP separate determination procedures. Districts are reminded that this must be accomplished without shortening the certification period or requiring households to report for an in-office interview. Instead, as instructed by 01 ADM-08, when information is needed during the certification period, Districts must send the LDSS-4753 “Request for Contact Notice” and allow households at least ten days to submit the required information. EXAMPLE: A parent on FA is employed part-time. The client is disqualified from FA and SNAP for committing an IPV. The client’s FA case closes 03/31/02 for failure to submit a TA periodic report. The IPV disqualification would prohibit the household from being eligible for the TBA; however, the household is entitled to a normal separate SNAP determination with the IPV continued. (12) Households closed for failure to appear for the TA and SNAP recertification interview are ineligible for TBA. (13) If a household leaves FA and reports a move The “from” district is responsible to process the TBA case for the full transition period. A separate determination would be done to create the TBA case and to generate the proper notice language. The TBA case can be closed with adequate notice at the end of the transition period by using the CNS code E61. This will notify the household that it must reapply in the new district. EXAMPLE: An FA household requests to have its case closed because of a job offer in another district. The household provides verification of the new residence but is unable to provide verification of the job. The household is eligible for transitional SNAP benefits. The "from" district would open and maintain a separate SNAP case for the transition period and then close the case with adequate notice using CNS reason code E61-"Not a Resident of District." c. Determining the TBA Amount All transitional SNAP benefits will be calculated by removing the TA income from the pre-TA closing SNAP budget. No other changes or budget comparisons will be made, and transitional benefits remain frozen at the set level until the household recertifies. Transitional households are not required to report changes during the transition period. Households experiencing changes that would result in benefit increases may request to be recertified before the expiration of the five-month transitional period, thereby ending their transitional period early. Households will be notified that they may voluntarily report changes that may result in an increase in SNAP benefits, but that they must recertify to receive the increase and end their transitional benefit period. d. Determining the Transition Period Districts must authorize five months of transitional benefits for Family Assistance and Safety Net Assistance leavers who are eligible for transitional benefits. The five months must be issued even if it results in extending a household’s certification period beyond the 12-month limit imposed on most cases. WMS modifications will support the five-month transition period for households starting their transition period on October 1, 2002, or later. EXAMPLE: A Family Assistance (FA) household is certified from 10/1/02 to 09/30/03. The household closes FA effective 8/31/03 due to excess earned income. The household would receive transitional SNAP benefits from 9/1/03 to 1/1/04. The original TA/SNAP certification period is extended four months beyond the 12-month limit to allow five months of transitional SNAP benefits. e. Recertification All transitional SNAP households must recertify in order to continue to receive SNAP benefits after the five-month transitional period. In some instances, this will require districts to shorten the original SNAP certification period. The authority to shorten the SNAP certification period for transitional households only is the result of the statutory change in P.L. 107-171. EXAMPLE: An FA household is certified from 10/1/02 to 09/30/03. The household closes FA effective 11/30/02 due to excess earned income. The household qualifies for transitional SNAP benefits from 12/1/02 to 4/30/03 and the household must recertify to receive (non-transitional) SNAP benefits beyond 4/30/03. (1) The following rules apply to client-requested recertifications for transitional SNAP households: a. Households must be allowed to file a client-requested recertification at any time during the transition period. b. Unless conducted on the same day as the recertification filing date, client-requested interviews must be scheduled as soon as possible, but no later than 10 days prior to the end of the month following the month in which the recertification is requested. A transitional SNAP household that fails to show for a scheduled interview must have their transitional SNAP benefits continued until the end of the transition period. c. Only changes voluntarily reported and verified through a client- requested recertification that will result in an increase in SNAP benefits will “unfreeze” the SNAP benefit. These households will be recertified and the increased SNAP benefit will be issued for the new certification period that will begin with the month after the month in which the household completes all recertification requirements. A transitional SNAP household that requests an early recertification but fails to provide required verification or reports changes that result in a decrease in benefits, will continue to receive its transitional SNAP benefits unchanged until the end of the transition period. EXAMPLE: A household calls and requests to have their TA case closed because they have new earnings. The household is unable or fails to provide sufficient information about their income. This household qualifies for the TBA, and the verification is postponed until the end of the 5-month transition period. The transitional SNAP benefit would be calculated by removing the TA income from the pre-TA/SNAP budget. f. Notification of TBA Eligibility Districts must notify a household when it is determined to be eligible for TBA and inform the household of its SNAP benefit amount, transition period, change reporting requirements through early recertification and that a return to TA would end the TBA. The WMS Auto TBA process in both Upstate and NYC, will system generate required notification (WMS CNS code = B17). This can also be manually accomplished by using CNS codes for separately determining SNAP eligibility. For TA/SNAP cases the CNS Code J05 used with SNAP opening codes B18 or B19 (for SNAP Mixed cases, B20 or B21) CNS will generate the appropriate TBA language when a “T” is entered in the “SD” input field of the ABEL budget to calculate TBA benefits. g. Reporting and Processing Changes During the Transition Period (1) Households are not required to report changes during the TBA period. TBA households that are subject to six-month reporting rules are not required to report changes during the TBA period even if their gross monthly income exceeds 130 percent of the poverty level. (2) If the household requests to have its SNAP case closed during the TBA period, however, the District will close the case. (3) TBA households are not subject to sanctions for instances of non- compliance with SNAP employment and training requirements that occur during the TBA period. (4) When a TBA household moves to another District during the TBA period, the “from” District must continue the TBA case to the end of the TBA period. Changes reported and verified during the TBA period that will result in an increase in SNAP benefits must be processed by the “from” District. When an active TBA household applies for SNAP benefits in a new District, the WMS clearance report for Upstate Districts will reflect an active SNAP case. The presence of a “T” in the “SD” (Separate Determination) field of the ABEL SNAP budget will identify a case as TBA. 3. Temporary Assistance Closings – Not TBA Eligible a. When closing a TA case for failure to return a mail-in recertification, the SNAP portion of the case should also be closed. The mail-in recertification for TA is also required for continued SNAP eligibility and it equates to the SNAP periodic report. Effective 2/15/2015, the SNAP ‘M12’ Reason Code can only be used in combination with the TA ‘M12’ Reason Code, and SNAP Reason Codes, ‘E50-E54’ and ‘N53’ will no longer be allowed in combination with TA Reason Code ‘M12.’ b. When closing a TA case for any procedural or financial reason and the household is eligible for a non-TBA SNAP separate determination. References: 09 ADM-22 Food Stamp Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) for Households with Children Leaving Safety Net Assistance 09 ADM-11Transitional Employment Advancement Program 02 ADM-07 Food Stamp Program Reauthorization Changes 01 ADM-16 Transitional Benefit Alternative: Transitional Food Stamp Benefits for Family Assistance Leavers 09 INF-24 Questions & Answers from September 2009 Conference Call on the Transitional Employment Advancement Program (TEAP) 03 INF-10 Food Stamp Program Questions and Answers: Application Processing, Six-Month Reporting, Transitional Benefits and Standard Utility Allowances GIS 09TA/DC016 Transitional Food Stamp Benefits for Participants of TA Grant Diversion Programs (TEAP) GIS 04 TA-DC013 Clarification of FS TBA policy ABEL Transmittal 09-4 Information #3: Food Stamps Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) Expansion ABEL Transmittals 01-5 Information #1: Food Stamp Transitional Benefit Alternative (TBA) ABEL Transmittals 02-5 Information #2: 2002 Food Stamp Program Reauthorization Changes WMS CNS Letter 10-2-09 Explanation of the WMS/CNS enhancements scheduled to become operational on the Production System October 19, 2009 WMS/CNS Letter 1/30/04 Announcement - AutoTBA Food Stamp process scheduled to be on the Production System 7 CFR 273.12(f)(4) Requirements for change reporting households P.L. 110-246, Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Section 4106 E. Mixed Households When a District becomes aware that a TA household has become a mixed household due to the addition of a non-TA household member or the deletion of a member from the TA grant, the following procedures shall be followed: a. If the District has enough information to redetermine SNAP eligibility and benefit level, it must do so according to normal procedures for changes in household circumstances in currently certified cases. b. If the District does not have sufficient information to redetermine eligibility, it shall send the household a Request for Contact (RFC) without shortening the household’s certification period. The household’s SNAP case must continue unless any new income would exceed the 6-month reporting income threshold. References: 01 ADM-09 Six-Month Reporting Rules for Food Stamp Households With Earned Income F. Reconstituted Households 1. Issuing Benefits In the month an original SNAP household separates, no additional benefits may be issued to any leaving members applying separately on their own behalf (except as residents of shelters for battered women and children), since during the month those individuals participated as members of the original household. The separated household members applying on their own behalf, if satisfying the definition of a SNAP household and otherwise eligible, shall, however, be entitled to benefits for the month following the month they separate from the original household. This is the case even if the separating members leave the original household at a time in the month where the District issues a notice of adverse action to the original household. The notice, for example, would not expire until two months following the month the household members separated. The separated household members in this instance are determined not to have participated as members of the original household in the month following the month they separated from the original household, even though benefits issued to the original household for this month are determined as if the separated members are still members of the original household. This circumstance presents no basis for filing a claim of overissuance against the original household unless resulting from an untimely reporting of a change in household circumstance by the original household. EXAMPLE: Alice Jones and Alice’s two children reside with Alice’s sibling Mary Smith and Mary’s two children. Together they comprise one food unit with Alice designated as head of household for receipt of SNAP benefits. On July 1st, the Jones household receives its normal issuance of SNAP benefits. On July 22nd, Mary and Mary’s children move out of the Jones household and apply as their own separate SNAP household. If otherwise eligible, benefits are issued to the new Smith SNAP household effective August 1st, with the Smiths having already participated as members of the Jones household for the month of July. The District subsequently issues a notice of adverse action to the Jones household on July 22nd, reducing their benefits effective September 1st. Since this reduction notice cannot expire prior to the August issuance date, the August allotment for the Jones household must be the same amount as in July even though this amount includes the Smith members. If otherwise eligible, the Smith household is then issued benefits separately for August and no overissuance has occurred. G. Mass Changes 1. Definition A mass change is a change initiated by the State or Federal Government which affects the entire caseload or significant portions of the caseload. These changes include but are not limited to: a. Adjustments to the gross or net income eligibility standards, the shelter and dependent care deductions, the Thrifty Food Plan and the standard deduction b. Adjustments to the Standard Utility allowances for heat, other utilities and telephone c. Periodic cost-of-living adjustments to Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other Federal benefits. d. Adjustments to TA benefits e. Changes in eligibility and benefit criteria based on legislative or regulatory changes. 2. Mass Changes in Public Assistance a. When there is at least 30 days advance knowledge of the TA adjustment amount, the District must change all TA/SNAP household SNAP benefits in the same month they make the general TA change. b. When the Districts do not have 30 days notice of the TA adjustment amount, the SNAP benefit change must be effective no later than the month after the month in which the TA change was made. 3. Mass Changes in Federal Benefits (RSDI And/or SSI) a. Households which receive RSDI, SSI and/or veteran’s assistance and are not responsible for reporting a cost-of-living increase to the District. The SNAP benefit levels of such households are to be automatically adjusted effective the date of the increase. The exact amount of the new RSDI, SSI, and/or veteran's assistance benefits must be verified at the next client contact or the next regularly scheduled recertification interview. Readily available sources of documentation such as federal or state reports are to be used to verify the actual amount of the increase. Any difference between the flat computation and the actual increase will not be considered a Quality Control error until after first client contact. b. The benefits of households which are affected by a cost-of-living increase in RSDI, SSI and/or VA must also be automatically adjusted effective in the appropriate month. However, households subject to simplified reporting requirements are also required to report the change on the periodic report. 4. Notice Requirements SNAP households must be notified of any increase, decrease or termination of benefits, which results from a mass change. For specific requirements see SNAPSB Section 8. 5. Fair Hearings and Continuation Of Benefits A household is entitled to a fair hearing as a result of a mass change to contest issues of improper computation of eligibility or benefits or misinterpretations of Federal law or regulation. The household is entitled to continued benefits at its previous level while awaiting the result of the fair hearing, if the appropriate time frame for requesting the hearing is observed and the household does not specifically waive its right to a continuation of benefits. Also see SNAPSB Section 9. References: 358.2.12 Fair Hearings 358-3.6 Right to Aid Continuing 03-INF-10 Food Stamp Program Questions and Answers: Application Processing, Six-Month