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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES INTRODUCTION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART I, PAGE 10

J. CERTIFICATION MATERIALS (7 CFR 272.4)

SNAP information must be available to the applicant and recipient households in English and the household’s designated language. Certification materials include the SNAP application or renewal forms, change report form and notices.

K. FAMILY ASSESSMENT

Benefit programs are designed to provide income support benefits to assist families who are unable to provide the necessities of life and maintain minimum standards of health and well-being through their own efforts. Gathering relevant information about a family's situation and assessing that information against the eligibility for benefit programs are the basis for making the eligibility determinations. This process also includes an assessment of need for service programs and other resources to assist the family, which includes following the Practice Model contained in Appendix II of Part I. If other needs exist, the eligibility BPS must refer the family for appropriate services or resources within the agency or community.

L. PRUDENT PERSON CONCEPT

This manual provides guidelines for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Material presented here is often broad to allow certification staff sufficient flexibility to make reasonable judgements in evaluating individual household circumstances to determine SNAP eligibility and benefit level.

It is not possible to have every potential situation observed in managing a caseload addressed in this manual so, the eligibility BPS must determine what is reasonable, i.e., the prudent person concept. The eligibility BPS must exercise reasonable judgement based on experience, knowledge of the program and logic. The prudent person concept does not eliminate or replace eligibility requirements or actions. The BPS must sufficiently document the case file to allow supervisory staff, appeals officers, reviewers, and colleagues to be able to understand case actions as well as to permit self-review.

M. PRE-APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY DETERIMINATION/DISCUSSION PROHIBITED

SNAP eligibility guidance must be applied to the facts of a specific application submitted by a household; the interview with the household based on the submitted application; and any additional information supplied by an applying household. Prior to receipt of an application, local department of social services employees must not provide advice or answers to hypothetical situations from applicants, potential applicants, or, those acting on behalf of others. Until a complete application is received by the local department of social services, an interview is conducted, and verifications are received, the local department of social services cannot be sure it has all the relevant facts. It is appropriate, however, to explain program eligibility criteria.

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