Page 88

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATION PERIODS/RECERTIFICATION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART IV, PAGE 1

A. CERTIFICATION PERIODS (7 CFR 273.10(f))

The local department must assign a certification period once the BPS determines that a household is eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A certification period is the period of time within which a household is eligible to receive benefits. Certification periods vary depending on the circumstances of the individual household. No household may have a certification period of more than twelve (12) months, except for households comprised of elderly or disabled members, as discussed in Section 2, below, and participants in the Combined Application or the Elderly Simplified Application projects, as described in Appendix II or Appendix III of Part II.

1. Assigning A Certification Period

All certification periods are based on calendar months. At initial application and reapplication, the first month in the certification period is normally the month of application. At recertification, the first month in the certification period is the month following the last month in the previous certification period. The beginning date of the certification period will generally be the filing date of the application for initial applications, reapplications, and recertification applications filed after the previous certification period expired.

The BPS does not need to assign the same certification period at each new eligibility cycle. Rather, the BPS must assign a period for each household based on individual circumstances and household characteristics at the time of consideration.

Eligibility for benefits will cease at the end of each certification period. Participation may not continue beyond the end of the certification period without a new determination of eligibility. The household must receive written notification that the benefit period is ending. The agency may use the Notice of Expiration or the Notice of Action and Expiration for this purpose, depending on the length of the certification period and the timing of the application approval. Time frames for providing the Notice of Expiration for the end of the certification period are described in Part IV.C.

2. Maximum Certification Periods

The maximum amount of time a household may have as a certification period is dependent on a household’s circumstances as listed below. The BPS should assign a shorter period than listed if a household’s circumstances do not warrant the maximum period. The BPS must consider anticipated changes or other factors that may affect eligibility when setting the certification period. The minimum certification period for all households is one month.

The month when a household receives a partial month’s allotment or receives no allotment because of proration will count toward the allowable maximum period.

Period Household Characteristics 36 months • Households in which all members are participants in VaCAP or ESAP, as allowed in Appendix II or Appendix III of Part II. These households are not subject to the Interim Report process.

TRANSMITTAL #35