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Page | 272 14340 RESIDENCY SIX MONTH REPORT

Residency verification is required if the customer has moved since the last residency verification was received or the shelter arrangement is questionable. If residency verification is required and not received with the DSS-EA-214, Six Month Report form, send a DSS-EA-349, Six Month Report Notice of Action within 5 days requesting the verification. Enter an “I” on the MONT panel. The case will auto close if the “I” is entered on the MONT panel by the 25th of the month. If the “I” is entered after the 25th, manual approval of the closure is required.

Shelter expenses are never required to be verified unless the customer wants to claim a deduction for the expense, or the shelter arrangement is questionable. The following steps must be followed: 1. Customer has moved from previous residence: A. Change the amount on the rent/home panel to $0 and the verification code to “N”. B. Change the Use Code on the UTIL panel to “N”, no utilities and the verification code to “N”, not verified UNLESS an adult member of the household had a LIEAP payment over $20 made on his/her behalf in the current month or the past 12 months. If more than $20 LIEAP was paid, change the use code to “L” and verification to “Y if it is verified or “N” if it is not verified. C. Make sure the Stat residency panel is correctly coded.

2. Customer reports a change in shelter costs at the same residence (did not move since the last renewal/residence verification): A. Change the amount on the rent/home panel to the reported amount and the verification code to “N”. B. Change the Use Code on the UTIL panel to “N”, no utilities and the verification code to “N”, not verified UNLESS an adult member of the household had a LIEAP payment over $20 made on his/her behalf in the current month or the past 12 months. If more than $20 LIEAP was paid, change the use code to “L” and verification to “Y” if it is verified or “N” if it is not verified. C. ACCESS will continue to budget the previously verified shelter amount until the new shelter amount is verified, the next reported residence change, or the next renewal.

14350 BENEFITS SPECIALISTS ACTION ON THE SIX MONTH REPORT FORM

When the EA-214 is received the benefits specialist should do the following:

1. Review the report to ensure accuracy and completeness within 5 working days of the receipt of the report form. 2. Consider the report incomplete if: A. The head of the household, an authorized representative or a responsible member of the household does not sign it; B. It is not accompanied by the necessary verifications. C. It omits information necessary either to determine the household's eligibility or to complete the household's level of SNAP benefits. 3. Determine items which will require additional verification. 4. Notify the household if the form is incomplete or if information is still needed in order to make a determination of eligibility or benefits allotment. The EA-349, Notice of Action form, should be used to notify the household. 5. Determine the household's eligibility by considering all financial and nonfinancial factors. 6. Determine the household's allotment and approve the case.