Clarifying Information - WAC 388-406-0015

Gross monthly income: Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) defines “gross monthly income” as income before taxes less excluded income. We don't consider excluded income when determining expedited eligibility. See WAC 388-450-0015 for excludable income.

Resources We must consider countable liquid resources under WAC 388-470-0055 when determining eligibility for expedited services, even if the client is categorically eligible under WAC 388-414-0001 .

Request for Basic Food: Applicants request Basic Food by: Checking “Food” on the application; or Confirming the request for food assistance during client contact when an application is submitted without a program choice. See WAC 388-406-0010 for information on what constitutes an application.

Screening and determining eligibility for expedited service Households entitled to expedited services must be interviewed and receive benefits within seven calendar days of filing an application. If the seventh day falls on a day when the office is closed (holiday, weekend, or temporary layoff), benefits must be issued the working day prior to the office closure. To identify households entitled to expedited service, we review the application to determine whether the circumstances meet one of the expedited service criteria under WAC 388-406-0015 (2). We must consider the household’s circumstances at the time of application, including work registration sanctions or disqualifications, when we are making the determination. We screen for expedited service eligibility on the day we receive each application. If we receive an application outside of normal business hours, we screen for expedited service on the next business day. All applicants, not interviewed on the date they apply, are sent an Interview for Applicant Appointment letter (0011-01) after screening to contact us for an eligibility interview within seven days of the application date. We determine expedited service eligibility for all Basic Food applicants during the interview. Except for identification, verification that isn't available at the time of the interview is postponed (see Postponed Verification and Required Verification sections of this chapter for more information). A person who wasn't screened as expedited or who waives the expedited interview can be determined expedited at the interview and receive benefits within seven days. A person who was screened as expedited but is determined not to be expedited eligible at the interview must be processed under regular procedures.

If an ABAWD has non-qualifying months available, they can be considered for expedited services.

Clients who have been disqualified for Basic Food due to not meeting ABAWD participation requirements aren't eligible for expedited services until they have requalified.

Expedited cases can be approved with postponed verification for proof of out of state non-qualifying months.

Screening an institutionalized client for expedited service: Applications from persons living in an institution are denied unless the person will be released within 30 days of submitting the application. Use the date of release from the institution as the date of request and as the expedited service start date. If the applicant is eligible for expedited service, provide an interview within seven calendar days of the date of request; and If the client is eligible for Basic Food, issue benefits within seven calendar days of the date of request.

Destitute migrant or seasonal farm workers: To determine if a client is a destitute migrant or seasonal farm worker use WAC 388-406-0021 , then see WAC 388-450-0230 for information about budgeting income in the month of application.

Deny expedited service; and

Process the case using regular processing standards.

Denying expedited service: If at the interview we determine a household isn't eligible for expedited issuance and more information is needed to determine eligibility: Inform the client that they don't meet the criteria for expedited issuance with postponed verification; and Explain how to get a department review of the decision (see WAC 388-406-0015 (10)).

Required verification: Verification of identity of the applicant (and authorized representative if the head of household isn't at the interview) is the only required verification to issue benefits on an expedited case. All other verification can be postponed. Identity can be verified with available documents, through interfaces such as SOLQ, or through a collateral contact. Photo ID isn't required. Delay benefit issuance only when there is no means to establish identity. When all required verification to determine eligibility is available at the interview, issue benefits and establish an appropriate certification period (see WAC 388-416-0005 ).

Postponed Verification: Issue benefits as described in WAC 388-406-0015 (5) based on the information available when verification is postponed. Send a letter of limited approval and request the client provide the missing information for continued eligibility to be determined. The letter also functions as a denial notice should the client fail to provide all of the verification listed in the letter timely. Reconsider the denial of ongoing benefits if all of the required information is provided within the timeframes listed in WAC 388-406-0015(6) . The letter will reflect the correct timeframes. Don't send another request letter with a new timeframe if the client provides only part of the required verification.

When all postponed verification isn't received timely (within 30 days or by the end of the second month), the client isn't eligible for ongoing benefits without a break in benefits. If the client turns in the postponed verification untimely, but before the 60th day after the date of application, refer to WAC 388-406-0055 (4) (c) to determine the reconsideration date of benefits.

It is possible for a client to receive expedited benefits and not be eligible for on-going Basic Food when the postponed verification is provided. We must send clients a denial letter if we determine they are ineligible from the verification.

Applicants who meet expedited criteria and are eligible for Basic Food can get benefits even if they don't have all the necessary verification to determine eligibility. We must attempt to verify as much information as possible at the interview prior to postponing verification (see Verification ).

10. Expedited process vs. regular verification rules:

When the expedited approval process and regular verification rules are in conflict, the expedited approval process supersedes regular verification rules. Clients that meet the expedited approval criteria have emergent need and every effort must be made to approve benefits based on client statement and/or available information.