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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESSING

10/24 VOLUME V, PART II, PAGE 6

if the agency has not allowed the household a minimum of 10 days after the interview to supply verification or needed information to process the application.

For agencies with walk-in systems for interviewing, the agency must assign a specific period for the applicant to appear for the interview if the applicant does not elect to complete the interview on the day of the contact. The agency must schedule an interview even if the agency otherwise advises of the full range of interview hours available. As indicated above, the BPS must send the Missed Interview Notice if the interview does not occur when scheduled. The agency must deny the application on the 30th day after the application filing date if the applicant misses the interview and does not reschedule the interview. See Part IV.C.3 for interview time frames for the recertification process.

The agency may request a certified household appear for an in-office interview during the certification period in order to clarify the household's circumstances. The agency may not require an interview however. See Part XIV.A.2 for a discussion of the agency's required actions on changes.

E. NORMAL PROCESSING STANDARD (7 CFR 273.2(g)(1); 274.1)

The filing date of an application is the day the appropriate SNAP office receives an application. The minimal information an application needs is the applicant's name, address, and a signature by either a responsible member of the household or the authorized representative of the household. The local agency must provide eligible households that complete the initial application process an opportunity to participate, as soon as possible, but not later than 30 calendar days following the application filing date.

The 30-day processing standard does not apply for residents of public institutions who apply jointly for SSI and SNAP benefits before their release from the institution. For these applicants, the agency must provide an opportunity to participate as soon as possible, but not later than 30 calendar days from the applicant’s release from the institution.

The processing standards for households entitled to expedited service are in Part V. The processing standards for the recertification process are in Part IV.C.

The agency may not impose application procedures or processing standards of other programs on SNAP applicants.

1. Opportunity to Participate (7 CFR 273.2(g))

A household must receive the EBT card, the agency must authorize benefits and the vendor must post authorized benefits to the account in order for the household to have an opportunity to participate timely.

Example

A household files an application on July 15. If the household is eligible, the agency must give the household an opportunity to participate by August 14. If August 14

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