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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESSING

10/24 VOLUME V, PART II, PAGE 15

i. If the SSA office sends the application to the wrong agency, the local agency must forward the application to the correct agency within one working day. The incorrect mailing will not affect processing time standards except as indicated in Item b above, when the household is entitled to expedited processing.

j. Recertification - Any household that may apply at the SSA for initial certification has the right to recertify at the SSA office also, regardless of whether the application for initial certification was taken at the SSA office. SSA will interview the applicant, obtain any readily available verification, complete a transmittal form, and send this material to the local agency.

In order to be eligible for uninterrupted benefits, however, applicants must file the recertification application at the SSA office on or before the date on the Notice of Expiration.

The local agency may not re-verify information obtained and documented by SSA unless the information is questionable or insufficient.

3. Categorical Eligibility for PA Households (7 CFR 273.2 (j)(2))

a. Any household in which all members receive or are authorized to receive a cash payment from the TANF, GR – Unattached Child, or SSI Program is eligible for SNAP benefits regarding income and resources. Any household in which at least one person receives or is authorized to receive services funded through the TANF block grant also will be categorically eligible regarding income and resources.

To confer with broad-based categorical eligibility, all households with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty limit and receive or is authorized to receive a non-cash or in-kind TANF funded service will be considered categorically eligible. See the “PA Case” in the Definitions section. Eligibility for SNAP benefits does not apply if the entire household:

• is residing in an institution; • is disqualified for any reason from receiving SNAP benefits; or • fails to meet nonfinancial criteria, as addressed in Part VII.

Residents of public institutions who jointly apply for SSI and SNAP benefits before release from the institution will not be categorically eligible when SSA determines potential SSI eligibility before the release. These individuals will be categorically eligible when SSA makes a final SSI determination and the individual leaves the institution.

Eligibility and SNAP benefits determinations will be based on information provided by households. Categorically eligible households are subject to the same verification requirements as other households. However, categorically eligible households meet the following eligibility factors without additional verification:

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