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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND BENEFIT LEVELS

10/24 VOLUME V, PART XIII, PAGE 1

A. DETERMINING HOUSEHOLD ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT LEVELS (7 CFR 273.10(a))

Eligibility and the level of SNAP benefits for households submitting an initial application, reapplication or recertification must be based on circumstances reasonably anticipated for the months of eligibility.

Applicant households consisting of residents of a public institution who apply jointly for SSI and SNAP benefits prior to release from the institution will have their eligibility determined for the month in which the applicant was released from the institution.

Because of anticipated changes, a household may be eligible for the month of application, but ineligible in the subsequent month. The household is entitled to benefits for the month of application even if the processing of its application results in the benefits being issued in a subsequent month. Similarly, a household may be ineligible for the month of application, but eligible in a subsequent month due to anticipated changes in circumstances. Even though denied for the month of application, the household does not have to reapply in the subsequent month. [The same application must be used for the denial for the month of application and the determination of eligibility for subsequent months, within the timeliness standards in Part II.F.]

As a result of anticipating changes, the amount of SNAP benefits for a household for the month of application may differ from the benefit amount in subsequent months. The BPS must establish a certification period for the longest possible period as allowed by Part IV.A.2 over which changes in the household's circumstances can be reasonably determined. The household's benefit amount may vary month to month within the certification period to reflect changes determined at the time of certification. Benefits for the initial month or a subsequent month must be prorated from the day of application, the day the household provides the last verification or takes the final action, or the day the household establishes eligibility according to Part XIII.D.

1. Household Composition

A household's membership for eligibility determination and benefit level is assessed as of the application date for the month of application or the first day of the month following entry or attachment to the household for ongoing eligibility. See Part VI for guidelines in determining household composition.

If any household member is included in another active SNAP case for the month of application, reapplication or recertification, eligibility for the remaining household members must be determined. The household member included in another case is added to the current case as soon as administratively possible.

The BPS must add the individual to the gaining household for the earliest possible month after the move. However, if the person cannot be removed from the old household effective the following month, the person cannot be added to the new household until the person is deleted from the old one. For example, a member moves on June 28 and there is insufficient time to send advance notice effective July 1, so the deletion is effective August 1. A new member cannot be added to the household until the individual's income and resources have been determined and eligibility determined.

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