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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

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treatment center must receive certification notices and instructions on accessing SNAP benefits through EBT.

The BPS should provide the treatment center with blank Change Report forms that the center or household could complete to report changes, including when the household leaves the center. The BPS must take prompt action to remove the authorized representative when the household leaves the treatment center upon learning of the address change.

The local agency must receive a monthly list of residents from the treatment center. The agency may require the treatment center submit the list semimonthly. The local agency must review the list to ensure that only those residents listed are participating as residents of that institution. The agency must resolve any discrepancies immediately between the list submitted by the center and the agency's certification record.

In addition to reviewing the lists of residents in the treatment facility, the local agency must conduct periodic random on-site visits to the center. This review is to ensure the accuracy of the listings and that the local agency's records are consistent and current.

The local agency must promptly notify the Regional Office for the Virginia Department of Social Services when there is reason to believe that a treatment center is misusing SNAP benefits in its possession. The Virginia Department of Social Services must transmit the local agency's findings to USDA. The local agency must not act however, until USDA provides instructions.

2. Group Living Arrangements

Disabled or blind individuals who reside in group living arrangements may be eligible for SNAP benefits. See Part VII.C for specific criteria. Unlike residents of drug or alcohol treatment centers, residents of group living may apply on their own behalf; select an authorized representative; or use an authorized representative employed and designated by the facility.

How residents of group living arrangements apply will determine the household size. For instance, if a resident files an individual application or through a personal authorized representative, the BPS must evaluate household composition based on who purchases and prepares food together but, residents who apply through the use of the facility's authorized representative, will be one-person households, regardless of the eating arrangements.

a. Participating in the Group Living Arrangement

The group living arrangement may purchase and prepare food that eligible residents will consume on a group basis, if residents normally obtain their meals at a central location, e.g. a dining hall, as part of the group living arrangement

TRANSMITTAL #35