340:50-11-5 Expedited services procedures and benefit issuance

To expedite the certification process, the worker must verify the applicant's identity and conduct the household's interview as soon as possible to ensure the household, when eligible, receives timely expedited service. (1) Reasonable verification pursuit. The worker makes reasonable efforts to verify, within the seven-calendar day expedited processing standard, the household's residency, income statement, and all other eligibility factors before certification, per Section 273.2(i) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This effort includes evaluating the household's explanation of how the household meets its needs when declared expenses exceed reported income or when the household reports no household income. (A) The worker verifies eligibility factors through documentary evidence or, when documentary evidence is not readily available, through a collateral contact. (B) The worker may postpone verifying eligibility factors other than identity that could not be verified within the expedited service processing time limit. In most instances, it is expected that the applicant verify at least residence and income, within the time limit. (C) The worker must not delay certification up to, or beyond the time limit, solely because factors other than identity were not verified. When the household is unlikely to be able to provide the required verification within the expedited service timeframe, the worker must postpone verification. (2) Postponed verification. When verification is postponed, the worker gives or sends the household Form 08AD092E, Client Contact and Information Request, to request the postponed verification before further benefits are approved. (A) When a household member, who is not a newborn, needs to provide a Social Security number (SSN) that was postponed, the household must furnish the SSN or proof that an application was filed with the Social Security Administration before the second full month of participation. (B) When verification is postponed, the worker certifies the household for a one- or two-month expedited certification period, per (3) of this Section. To avoid a break in benefits, when the household is certified for: (i) one month, the household must furnish the postponed verification within 30-calendar days of the application date; or (ii) two months, the household must furnish the postponed verification by the last day of the expedited certification period. (C) When the household does not provide the verification within 30-calendar days of the application date for a one month certification, or by the last day of the expedited certification period for a two month certification, but does provide it within 60-calendar days of the application date, benefits are prorated from the date the verification is provided. The household must complete a new application to receive further benefits when the verification is not received within 60-calendar days of the application date. (D) When the household provides postponed verification timely, the worker approves the household, when eligible, for a normal certification period within seven-calendar days of receiving the verification. (3) Expedited certification period. When the household is eligible for expedited services and verification is postponed, the worker certifies the household for a one- or two-month expedited certification period. (A) When the household applies between the: (i) first and 15th of the month, the worker certifies the household for one month; or (ii) 16th and 31st of the month, the worker certifies the household for two months. (B) The worker prorates the initial month's benefits when the household applies later than the first day of the month. (C) When proration causes the household to be ineligible for the application month, the worker denies the application for the application month and certifies the household for expedited food benefits for the following month. (D) The initial month's food benefits issue immediately. When the household is assigned a two-month certification period, the second month's benefits issue on the first day of the second month. (4) Normal certification period. When the household is eligible for expedited services and verification is not postponed, the worker certifies the household for a normal certification period. (5) Multiple expedited services certifications. There is no limit to the number of times a household may be certified using expedited procedures when the household provides the postponed verification before reapplying for food benefits. When the household does not provide the postponed verification, it is not eligible for expedited processing until it is certified using normal processing standards, per Oklahoma Administrative Code 340:50-3-1.