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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 1

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 53 Chapter 1 Application/Redetermination Process

• Homeless meal providers may not act as authorized representatives for homeless SNAP clients. • Individual disqualified for an Intentional Program violation cannot act as an authorized representative during the disqualification period unless it has been determined no one else can serve as an authorized representative. • Retailers accepting SNAP cannot act as authorized representatives. • DOHS employees or contractors involved in certification or issuance processes may not act as authorized representatives without written approval from the Community Services Manager (CSM) or Regional Director (RD) and there is no one else can serve as an authorized representative. 1.4.6 WHO MUST SIGN More than one signature is never required for a SNAP application. If an applicant for, or recipient of WV WORKS is applying for SNAP benefits, the SNAP benefits cannot be denied solely because of the absence of the two signatures that may be required for WV WORKS. The rules governing who must sign are the same as below. Only an AG member or authorized representative may sign the application. 1.4.6.A Acceptable Signatures for SNAP • Handwritten signatures o If an individual is unable to write his or her own name, but the agency has verified the individual’s identity, the individual may sign with an “X.” An agency representative must witness and attest to this type of signature. This method of signature should be used to accommodate individuals who request to sign in this manner. The case record must indicate why an “X” was used for signature. • Electronic signatures o An approved electronic signature is one where the individual must accept terms and conditions to proceed with signing. Electronic signatures on PATH meet this definition. • NOTE: This does not include typing one’s own name onto an application or redetermination form. • Unwritten signatures