340:50-11-1 Expedited service screening, criteria, and time limits

(a) Expedited service screening. Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) Adult and Family Services must screen every initial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application, including those received from residents of approved drug and alcohol treatment centers and group homes, when received during operating hours to determine if the household is entitled to expedited services. When the household applies when offices are closed after hours, over the weekend, or on a holiday, the application date is the next day OKDHS is open. When an initial application indicates the household is eligible for expedited service, action is taken immediately to begin processing the application. (1) Applications, other than certification renewals, are considered initial applications. (2) Certification renewals are applications received before the household's certification period expires or within 30-calendar days after the end of the certification period. (3) When a certification renewal is received following the expiration of the certification period or any day thereafter, it is subject to prorated benefits and expedited screening. (4) Certification renewals received before the end of the certification period are not eligible for expedited service. (b) Expedited service criteria. Per 273.2(i) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, households entitled to expedited services include households: (1) with less than $150 gross income when liquid resources do not exceed $100; (2) with migrant or seasonal farm workers considered destitute when liquid resources do not exceed $100; and (3) whose combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household's monthly rent or mortgage and applicable utility standard, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:50-7-31(a)(6)(C) . (c) Expedited service time limits. When a household is eligible for expedited service, food benefit eligibility must be determined and food benefits issued no later than seven-calendar days from the application date. Refer to OAC 340:50-3-1(b)(1) for right to same day filing processes. When the seventh-calendar day falls on a non-business day, the application must be processed by the last business day prior to the seventh-calendar day. When a household is determined ineligible for food benefits because it does not meet non-financial eligibility criteria, the worker must deny the application no later than 30-calendar days after the application date. (d) Late entitlement determination. When expedited service screening fails to identify a household as being entitled to expedited service and the worker subsequently discovers the household is entitled to expedited service, the worker provides such service within seven-calendar days of discovery.