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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CERTIFICATION PERIODS/RECERTIFICATION

10/24 VOLUME V, PART IV, PAGE 8

uninterrupted benefits to the household since the household met all the timeliness standards.

If the household does not provide needed verification until the second of the following month, the agency must act by the 12th of the following month (30 days after the application filing date).

7. Early Filing of Recertifications

If a household files an application for recertification more than two calendar months before the end of the current certification period, the BPS must deny the application as a duplicate application on file. If the household files the application so that the 30th day following the filing is before the end of the current certification period, the BPS must extend the processing time for the case from 30 days to the end of the current certification period.

8. Mandatory Review of Eligibility for 24-Month Certification Periods

Except for households certified for the VaCAP and ESAP components, the BPS must review eligibility for households certified up to 24 months during the certification period. The review must take place anytime a case has a certification period that is over 12 months. The BPS must conduct a review of the household’s eligibility during the eleventh month of certification.

The Virginia Department of Social Services will send households an Interim Report form to complete the review. The BPS must note the frequency for sending the Interim Report to initiate the review process.

The BPS must assess the returned Interim Report form for completeness and use the information submitted on the report to determine the household’s continued eligibility. If the household fails to submit a completed Interim Report or fails to submit required verification or information, the household’s case will automatically close at the end of the 13th month of the certification period unless the BPS takes action to close the case earlier based on the information presented on the Interim Report. See Part XIV.C for a discussion of the Interim Report process.

D. CHANGING THE LENGTH OF THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD

1. Shortening Certification Periods

Once the BPS determines that a household is eligible for benefits, the BPS must establish the number of months the household may receive benefits before the household must file another application and have the eligibility process begin again. A certification period may range from one month to 24 months in length, except for households certified for the VaCAP and ESAP components. Once the BPS establishes the certification period, the BPS may not shorten the period to initiate the recertification process. The BPS may shorten the certification period only for households due Transitional Benefits. TRANSMITTAL #35