An individual may apply for food stamp benefits in an SSA office if a member of a food stamp household consisting only of SSI applicants or recipients. This applies to individuals not participating in the Food Stamp Program, who have not applied for food stamp benefits in the 30 preceding days, and who do not have applications pending. (If a household consists only of SSI applicants or recipients, apply categorical eligibility verification guidelines and benefit levels.)
SSA takes applications for SSI prior to release of persons from institutions and takes a food stamp application for these persons. SSA forwards the application to the county office to be processed. The application contains information based on the situation anticipated upon release from the institution.
The application is registered upon receipt using the date the application was taken. Determine eligibility for the month the applicant is released from the institution. Verify expenses as soon as SSA notifies the county office the applicant is released from the institution. Usually resource verification is not needed, as the applicant is categorically eligible. Obtain any further information needed to process the case from the applicant.
If the case is approved for FS, change the application date to the date the applicant is released from the institution. Screen for expedited benefits from the date of release. If the application is rejected because they are denied release or do not meet other eligibility criteria, adjust the application date to the date of ineligibility.
NOTE: If three months have elapsed since the application was registered and SSA staff have not contacted the county office, contact SSA to verify the applicant’s circumstances. If, for some reason SSA failed to timely notify the State of an individual’s release from an institution, restore benefits back to the date of release.