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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESSING

10/24 VOLUME V, PART II, PAGE 11

5. Reinstatements

The agency must return applications denied incorrectly because of agency error to pending status if the action date is within 60 days from the date of application. After the 60th day, the application must remain denied. The agency must encourage the household to file a new application and determine entitlement to lost benefits, if appropriate. In determining whether to reinstate the pending status within the first 60 days, the agency should consider the nature of the error and the amount of time that has passed which might affect the reliability of the information provided.

Ongoing cases incorrectly closed due to agency error may be reinstated to the certification period at the time of the closure only if the case was correct as of the effective date of the closure. The agency may reinstate the case either before the effective date of the closure or in the month following the closure.

Whenever the agency needs to reinstate an application or ongoing case, agency records must reflect this change. Reinstating cases, as described in this chapter, is only appropriate when an agency error caused the erroneous denial or termination.

G. JOINT PROCESSING AND CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY OF PA CASES

This chapter contains requirements for joint processing that apply to SNAP applicants who are also applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief – Unattached Child (GR), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This chapter also contains procedures for categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits for these public assistance (PA) households. See the PA Case definition in Definitions for program descriptions needed to qualify as a public assistance program.

1. Applications for TANF or GR and SNAP Benefits (7 CFR 273.2(j))

The local agency should encourage households in which all members are applying for TANF or GR – Unattached Child to apply for SNAP benefits at the same time. The agency must regard all applications for TANF and GR – Unattached Child, except those on which the household indicates that it does not want SNAP benefits, as applications for SNAP benefits. If the household's intention to apply for SNAP benefits is unclear, the local agency must determine at the interview or through other contact with the household if the household wants the application processed for SNAP purposes. The BPS must base SNAP eligibility and benefit levels solely on SNAP eligibility criteria and certify the household according to the notice, procedural and timeliness requirements of this manual.

The local agency must not discourage households from applying for SNAP benefits even when there might be encouragement or inducements to avoid dependence on other public assistance programs or benefits.

The local agency must conduct a single interview at initial application for both the public assistance programs and SNAP purposes. The agency must not have different BPS

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