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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESSING

10/24 VOLUME V, PART II, PAGE 12

interview households entitled to joint processing or otherwise subject them to two interviews to obtain the benefits of both programs. Following the single interview, separate workers may process the applications for public assistance and SNAP benefits to determine eligibility and benefit levels. Note however, the SNAP out-of-office interview overrides the requirement for a single interview when a household wants to have a telephone interview for SNAP, in accordance with Part II.D, but a face-to-face interview is needed for the PA eligibility determination.

The BPS must follow the verification procedures described in Part III.A for eligibility factors that are needed to determine the household's SNAP eligibility. For eligibility factors needed to determine both PA and SNAP eligibility, the BPS must use the PA verification rules. The local agency may not delay processing the SNAP application if, at the end of seven days or 30 days following the application date, as appropriate, the agency has sufficient verification to meet SNAP requirements but does not have sufficient verification to meet the PA verification rules.

Because of differences between PA and SNAP application processing procedures and timeliness standards, the BPS may need to determine the SNAP eligibility before determining the household's eligibility for PA payments. The BPS may not delay acting on the SNAP application simply because the PA application is pending. The BPS may not deny the SNAP application because of the pending PA application if the household is otherwise eligible for SNAP benefits.

Inclusion of the initial PA payment in the SNAP benefit calculation depends on whether the BPS knows the date of receipt and amount of the PA payment when the SNAP application is approved. If the BPS can anticipate the amount and the date of receipt of the PA payment, the worker may include the income in computing the allotment for the month(s) the worker anticipates the payment.

The BPS must not count as income any portion of initial PA payments that cover previous months. While the retroactive payment does not count as income, the money must count as a resource.

If the BPS factors in the PA payment in the SNAP benefit calculation at the time of initial certification, the Notice of Action must reflect the varying allotments. When the EW cannot anticipate the PA payment at the time of initial certification, the BPS should note on the Notice of Action that the benefits may be reduced or terminated without another notice once the PA payment is included in the SNAP determination. If the notice did not inform the household of the potential impact, the agency must provide an advance notice if the SNAP benefit is reduced or terminated as a result of the counting the PA payment.

If the BPS denies the PA application, the household does not need to file a new SNAP application. The BPS must determine or continue the SNAP eligibility based on the original applications filed jointly for PA and SNAP purposes. The BPS must use any other documented information obtained after the application if it is relevant to SNAP eligibility or level of benefits.

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