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Page | 112 7360 PRISONER RE-ENTRY APPLICANTS

Individuals who are incarcerate in state correctional facilities may apply for SNAP benefits up to two weeks before their scheduled release from the facility, with assistance from Department of Corrections (DOC) case managers.

DOC case managers will not submit applications for individuals being released to another temporary correctional facility where they will not be SNAP eligible (example CTP, CPR, etc.), alcohol/drug treatment center, or moving in with a spouse/child.

Even though the application forms, verifications, and interview may be completed prior to the individual’s release, the application date is the prisoner’s release date.

The application will be identified on ACCESS on the APPL panel by entering a “P” in the “RSN” (reason) code. Entering the “P” allows for entry of a later application date, and also provides statistical data that is needed for the federal waiver process.

The SNAP case will remain with the designated DSS EABS until all required information and verifications are processed. If the individual’s case closes and the individual re-applies for benefits at a later date, it is important to remember to remove the “P” code from the APPL panel, if the “P” code is still showing.

7370 CONVICTED FELONS

Certain individuals convicted of felonies and not in compliance with the terms of their sentence will be ineligible to receive SNAP benefits if the conviction is after February 7, 2014. A. Attestation: a. Requires every individual applying for SNAP benefits to attest to whether the individual, or any member of the individual’s household, has been convicted of a crime covered in the applicable convictions section (See B below) and whether the household member is in compliance with the terms of their sentence. b. Attestation can be done in writing, verbally, or both, providing that the attestation is legally binding in the law of the State and the method is reasonably and consistently applied. c. Verification of the felon status is only required when the attestation is questionable. EXAMPLE: An individual is scheduled for release June 18th. The application was processed June 5th (301 received, interview completed, etc). The date entered on the Appl panel is June 18th and benefits are not approved until the 18th, when the individual is released. Example: Expedited Prisoner re-entry appl received May 4th. Residency verification is not available before the individual’s May 10th release, so case is approved for May without the verification. (Residency verification is required before June benefits are approved.) Verification of residence is received May 24th and case is approved. The case is then transferred to the appropriate county. (If the release date was after the 15th of the month, combined issuance rules would apply, meaning, the case would not be transferred to the appropriate county until the postponed verifications were processed for July.