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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES APPLICATION PROCESSING

10/25 VOLUME V, PART II, APPENDIX III, PAGE 1

Elderly Simplified Application Project

This appendix describes the provisions of the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP). ESAP seeks to increase SNAP participation among elderly households by streamlining some of the processes.

ESAP is a demonstration project with the Food and Nutrition Service that permits ESAP to operate by waiving some federal regulations. While ESAP is similar to the Virginia Combined Application Project (VaCAP) by avoiding some elements, ESAP does not provide set benefit amounts or require an interface with data matches to generate applications.

Unless specifically addressed in this appendix, all other SNAP provisions addressed in this manual will apply to ESAP households.

Eligible Households

ESAP applies to any household in which: • All eligible household members are 60 years of age or older; and • There is no earned income.

Application Procedures

Households may apply for ESAP using a simplified Virginia ESAP application or any Virginia SNAP application, including online.

Upon receipt of SNAP or ESAP applications, local departments must evaluate applications for ESAP eligibility. Households may opt out of having their cases converted to ESAP.

Local departments must screen ESAP applications for expedited processing.

Verification Requirements

To the extent possible, local departments must use available computer-matching systems to verify information to determine eligibility and benefit amounts for ESAP households. When possible, local departments must use computer-matching systems to verify:

- Gross nonexempt income - Residency

- Identity - Immigration status

- Social Security numbers - Death match

- Prisoner match - Legally obligated child support payments

Households must verify the elements above if the information is unclear or questionable. While Part III.F routinely requires secondary verification for some computer-matching systems, secondary verification will not routinely be required for ESAP households unless the information is questionable. Follow up with the household is required however.

Households must claim medical expenses that total a minimum of $35 per month to qualify for the medical standard deduction. Households will need to verify the $35 threshold only if the

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