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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES EXPEDITED SERVICES

10/24 VOLUME V, PART V, PAGE 1

A. ENTITLEMENT TO EXPEDITED SERVICE (7 CFR 273.2(i)(1))

The following households are entitled to expedited services:

1. Households with less than $150 in countable monthly gross income, provided their countable liquid resources (e.g. cash on hand, checking and savings accounts, savings certificates, and lump sum payments as described in Part IX.C) do not exceed $100.

2. Migrant or seasonal farm worker households who are destitute, as defined in Part V.F, provided their liquid resources do not exceed $100.

3. Households whose combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household's incurred monthly rent or mortgage, and utilities, regardless of how or if the household pays the expenses. If the household indicates it incurs separate heating or cooling costs or that it receives Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits, the BPS should use the utility standard, unless the household chooses to use actual costs.

Do not consider exempted resources or excluded income in making the expedited determination. The penalty PA income for noncompliance and income that has been averaged, such as self-employment, contract, etc., will count however.

Expedited services processing will apply at initial application, reapplication or for households that file recertification applications during the month after the certification period expires.

B. IDENTIFYING HOUSEHOLDS NEEDING EXPEDITED SERVICE

The local department of social services must design its application procedures to identify households eligible for expedited service once the household files an application. The local department must screen all applications except recertification applications that are filed timely. The local department must designate personnel to screen applicants as they contact the local department to request assistance or to review applications for entitlement if the applicant is not in the office to allow the screening. If the applicant is not in the office and the applicant failed to complete the application sufficiently for the local department to screen successfully, the local department must attempt to contact the household by telephone or e-mail if such contact information is on the application.

If the BPS discovers that a household is entitled to expedited service after the initial screening failed to identify entitlement, the BPS must provide expedited service to the household within the processing standards described in Part V.C. The BPS must document expedited screening results for all applications except recertification applications that are filed timely. Methods to document the screening include: the Expedited Service Checklist, case narrative comments screens, or the expedited section of the Application for Benefits.

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