Enrollment process.

(1) Eligible households automatically enrolled in the NYSCAP are authorized to receive an initial SNAP benefit of at least the minimum allotment for a household of one (excepting those cases wherein a recoupment for an outstanding claim balance is re-established for collection) and a certification period of 36 months. These households are sent an initial enrollment notice by the Office which includes:

(i) notification of their eligibility for SNAP benefits under the NYSCAP;

(ii) overview of the NYSCAP;

(iii) explanation of the individual’s rights and responsibilities under the NYSCAP; and

(iv) provisions for submitting documentation to support the receipt of a higher SNAP benefit.

(2) Verification.

(i) For the purpose of the NYSCAP, unless contradicted by more current, verified-upon-receipt information, the use of the SSI, SSA and ithe State-funded SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) data will fulfill SNAP verification requirements for the following:

(a) identity;

(b) date of birth;

(c) social security number;

(d) sex;

(e) SSI and other income;

(f) household size; and

(g) living arrangement.

(ii) Information subsequently reported is subject to SNAP verification requirements as set forth in section 387.8 of this Part.

(3) SNAP benefits are accessible using the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card. Use of the EBT card to access SNAP benefits within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP case enrollment constitutes an electronic signature and an acknowledgment that the recipient understands and agrees to their rights and responsibilities under the SNAP:

(i) a NYSCAP case is not considered open, and a household is not considered a SNAP recipient or to have been an applicant, until the household has redeemed a portion of any SNAP benefit within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP case enrollment;

(ii) a household has no rights to a fair hearing unless the household has accessed a portion of any SNAP benefit within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP case enrollment; and

(iii) a NYSCAP enrollment is closed automatically if a household has not redeemed any SNAP benefits within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP case enrollment. No further notices are required.

(4) Automatic case enrollment/closing date for the NYSCAP:

(i) the SNAP case for an automatic NYSCAP enrollment is open effective the first day of the month following the month that the information on the household’s SSI and SSP case activation is received, provided the information is received on or before the 20th day of the month. If the information is received after the 20th day of the month, automatic NYSCAP enrollment is effective no later than the first day of the second month following receipt of this information; and

(ii) the SNAP case for an automatic NYSCAP enrollment is closed automatically if a household has not redeemed any SNAP benefits within 90 days following automatic NYSCAP case enrollment. No further notices are required.

(5) No eligibility for expedited processing. There is no expedited processing, pursuant to section 387.8 of this Part, for the NYSCAP automatic enrollment process.

(6) Restored benefits:

(i) there are no restored SNAP benefits dating back to the date of SSI eligibility for automatically-enrolled NYSCAP cases; and

(ii) if a NYSCAP household fails to redeem any SNAP benefits within 90 days of automatic NYSCAP case enrollment and the SNAP case created by the automatic NYSCAP case enrollment is closed as a result, and the individual then subsequently applies for and is found eligible for SNAP, there is no right or entitlement to restored SNAP benefits back to the date of the initial automatic NYSCAP case enrollment. The new SNAP application and case would then be processed pursuant to section 387.8 of this Part.