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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATION PERIODS/RECERTIFICATION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART IV, PAGE 3

3. be unable to determine the household’s eligibility, within the required timeframe, and leave the application remains pending.

The BPS must provide a Notice of Action to inform the household of the disposition of its application. The BPS may use the Notice of Action and Expiration to inform the household of the approval of the application in the last month of certification.

C. RECERTIFICATION

Each household may apply for recertification before the expiration of the certification period in which it is currently participating.

The BPS must base eligibility for recertification on circumstances anticipated for the month following the expiration of the current certification period. The same anticipated circumstances must be the basis for the level of benefits for the recertification period.

The BPS must complete the application process if the household meets all the requirements and finishes the necessary processing steps in a timely manner, as defined in this chapter, and approve or deny timely applications for recertification prior to the end of the household's current certification period. The BPS must provide eligible households an opportunity to participate by the first of the month following the end of its current certification period.

A household may not receive benefits beyond the end of its certification period unless the household recertifies or unless the agency opts to extend the certification period to match a TANF or Medicaid review period. See Part IV.D for information and limitations on lengthening certification periods.

The joint processing requirements of Part II.G.1 apply to recertification applications. Expedited service processing provisions of Part V apply to recertification applications filed during the month after the previous certification period ends.

The remainder of this chapter describes the processing requirements for recertification applications and the timeframes for each.

1. Notice of Expiration (7 CFR 273.14(b))

The local agency must advise the household that the certification period is about to expire and that a new application is necessary to establish further entitlement. The agency must send the Notice of Expiration form to notify households of the end of the certification period. See Part XXIV for the form and instructions.

Except as noted below, households must receive the Notice of Expiration no later than the last day of the next to the last month of the current certification period, but no earlier than the first day of the next to the last month of the current certification period. When the agency mails the Notice of Expiration, allow two days for delivery in addition to the postmark date. Regardless of when the agency assigns the interview date, the

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