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Page | 309 Because of a DSS error, if benefits are delayed less than 60 days from the date the application was filed, the Specialist must provide benefits retroactive to the date of application.

If an eligible household made timely application for continued benefits but was not provided an opportunity to participate in the month following the expiration of its certification period, the month following the end of the certification period is considered the first month the loss occurred.

If a household's benefits were erroneously terminated, the first month that benefits were not received as a result of the erroneous action is considered the month the loss initially occurred.

After computing the date the loss initially occurred, the loss is calculated for each month after the initial month until either: 1. The first month the error is corrected 2. The first month the household is found ineligible 3. The first month the household reapplied

19113 DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY

The Benefits Specialist must determine if the household was actually eligible for each month a potential loss occurred. If there is insufficient information in the household's case file to document that the household actually was eligible, or if the household had never applied for the month in question, the Specialist would tell the household what information must be provided to determine eligibility. For each month the household cannot provide the necessary information to demonstrate its eligibility, the household is considered ineligible.

19114 CALCULATION

For the months the household was eligible, the Specialist will calculate the allotment the household should have received.

If the household was certified and participating but received a smaller amount than it was entitled to, the difference between the actual and the correct amount is the amount under issued.

Example 1: A household receives fewer benefits than entitled beginning in January and the error is not corrected until the April issuance. If otherwise eligible, the household is due restored benefits for January, February, and March.

Example 2: A household was erroneously denied in January, reapplied July 1, and was certified. Lost benefits would be considered for January through June 30. Note that the household's situation for February through May is considered even though the household did not apply in those months.

Example 3: Same situation as example 2: Except the household was ineligible for March although eligible for the other months. In this case, the lost benefits should be restored only for January and February because the restoration stops at the first month the household is actually ineligible.