PM 02-08-01-b
Example: Mr. B files a SNAP application on 03/24/2021 for his family as a Program Add through ABE. On the expedited screening, income is reported as $4,188 for the month of application. Housing costs is $500 plus the Air Conditioning/Heating Standard. His Job ended and last pay received on 03/21/2021. The application is processed on 04/13/2021 and assigned a certification period 03/01/2021 through 02/28/2022. The household is eligible for $21 in March, the first month of its certification period.
In the above example, the household is not entitled to expedited service in the initial month of certification due to the income but is eligible for benefits. The application is processed under regular SNAP processing rules. The second month is not evaluated for expedited service.
Example 1: Mr. Z files a SNAP application on 03/27/2021 and includes a copy of his driver's license, pay stubs, and a rent receipt. He reported no income when answering the expedited screening questions in ABE. The case is routed to the expedited queue. While reviewing the application, the HSC learns that the Mr. Z was employed but his income ended on 03/26/2021. The HSC calls Mr. Z for an interview to discuss his job ending and financial management. During the interview, Mr. Z states that he lost his job and will be living off his savings until he is notified of his eligibility for unemployment benefits. When eligibility is run, it is determined that Mr. Z is ineligible in March for the SNAP program due to his income exceeding the gross income standard. Since Mr. Z is ineligible in the month of application, eligibility must be determined for the following month before a negative action can be taken to deny. IES evaluates April for expedited service and determines that benefits should be expedited. Benefits for April should be made available no later than the 5th calendar day from the date the application is filed or the 1st working day of the 2nd month, whichever is later. Mr. Z's certification period is 04/01/2021 through 03/31/2022.
If Mr. Z could not be reached by phone, then the HSC would send Appointment Notice (Form 267T) to schedule an interview within the expedited timeframe. If the household reschedules the interview or calls for an interview in time to meet the expedited timeframe, the interview must be completed, identity verified, and benefits must be available to the household by the 5th calendar day or the 1st working day of the 2nd month, whichever is later day. If the interview is not completed by the household in time to meet the 5-day timeframe, the household loses its entitlement to expedited service and the application is processed within the normal 30 days of the date of application.
If the household completes the interview and is found to be entitled to expedited service, the date of discovery is the date of the interview and benefits must be issued within 5 days.
Example 2: Ms. J loss her job and files a SNAP application on 03/26/2021. Ms. J was determined ineligible for March because her income for the month is over the gross income standard. Income of $313 projected for April and is less than her housing costs. Since Ms. J is ineligible for March, eligibility must be determined for April before a negative action can be taken to deny. IES evaluates April for expedited service and determines that benefits should be expedited. The certification period is 04/01/2021 through 03/31/2022.
In the above examples, the 2nd month is evaluated for expedited service because the household is ineligible for the month of application but eligible for the following month. The following month is the first month of the certification period. This can occur when the household has income over the standard in the initial month of application, but the job has ended. Eligibility must be determined for the second month before a negative action to deny can be taken.
Example: Ms. L files a SNAP application on 03/31/2021. Ms. L is eligible for program in the month of application however the benefit amount is prorated to zero based on the number of days left in the application month. Eligibility is determined for the second month but is not evaluated for expedited service because Ms. L is eligible in the application month but not entitled to benefit due to proration. The certification period is 03/01/2021 through 02/28/2022. The month of application is the first month of the certification period.
