FOOD STAMP MANUAL REVISION # 6
SECTION 1105.040.10

• Review this memorandum with staff.

 
• File the revised manual page in the hard copy of the Food Stamp Manual.

A participant who again loses his/her job after regaining eligibility may only receive for one 3-month period while not meeting the 18 to 50 year old work requirement.  This 3-month period runs consecutively beginning when the participant reports the loss of employment (after meeting regaining criteria of working 80 hours in a 30-day period).

 1. The three-month period runs consecutively regardless of whether:

  a. An individual does or does not receive food stamp benefits during the additional three-month period (i.e. a job quit situation).

  b. An individual does or does not meet the work requirements during the additional three-month period (i.e. an individual obtains new employment in the second or third month).

 2. Start the second three consecutive month period with any month during which the individual receives food stamps after losing employment.  This occurs whether or not the loss of employment is reported timely.  Establish a claim for any months beyond the three consecutive months in which the participant was not eligible.

  EXAMPLE:  Mr. S. is subject to the work requirement.  He has regained food stamp eligibility by working 80 hours in a 30-day period.  Several months later, Mr. S's employment is terminated.  Mr. S. does not report the loss of employment for three months.  After reviewing Mr. S's work hours, it is determined that he received food stamps for four consecutive months while not meeting the work requirement.  Three of the four months are counted as eligible months.  (This can occur only one time in the 36-month period.)  A claim is established for the month in which the participant received food stamps while not meeting the work requirement.

 3. Individuals working 80 hours in 30 days, must have his/her eligibility explored at the time of reapplication.  If it is determined eligibility has been regained and the individual meets all other points of eligibility, s/he is again eligible for one three consecutive month period of food stamps while not meeting the work requirement.

  EXAMPLE:  Ms. W. is subject to but did not meet the work requirement for five months while receiving food stamps.  She is no longer receiving food stamps when she obtains full-time employment working 40 hours per week.  Ms. W.

works for 11 months and is terminated.  At that time, she reapplies for food stamps.  A review of Ms. W's work hours shows that she regained eligibility for food stamp benefits as she worked over 80 hours in the first 30 days when her employment began 11 months earlier.  Ms. W. is eligible to receive three consecutive months of food stamps while not meeting the work requirement.  Since she has not been receiving food stamps, her three months will start with her current application assuming all other eligibility criteria are met.  (A pro-rated month will not count as one of the three months.) 

 4. Following the additional 3-month period, if the otherwise eligible individual meets the 18 to 50 year old work requirement each month, s/he is eligible to receive food stamp benefits.

 5. The "Job Quit" policy takes precedence over the 18 to 50 year old work requirement provision.  Anyone determined to have intentionally quit a job without good cause is subject to the policy regarding applicable sanctions. 

1105.040.00    SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS

Refer to the General Information Manual for additional procedures and information pertaining to SSNs.  Any household applying for or participating in the Food Stamp Program must provide the SSN of each household member or apply for one before certification.  Refusal or failure without good cause to provide or apply for an SSN results in disqualification of the individual for whom an SSN is not provided.

NOTE:  Households that are expedited eligible do not have to comply with SSN requirements before receiving benefits for the first month of the certification period.  The household must comply before receiving any additional benefits.
 

1105.040.05      Providing and Verifying SSNs

If an individual has more than one SSN, the applicant must provide all the numbers.  If a household member does not have a number or cannot verify his/her number, explain the SSN application or replacement procedures to the applicant.  Do not delay the certification process pending SSN verification.
 

1105.040.10      Social Security Number Application 
IM-# 22  January 27, 2000

Persons without an SSN must complete an application for an SSN prior to approval for food stamps.  Once an application for an SSN has been

filed, the household member may participate pending notification of the SSN from the household or SSA.

The Social Security Application Referral is verification that the claimant has applied for an SSN.  Persons listed on the referral cannot receive food stamps until verification is received that they have completed an application for an SSN, unless they have good cause.  Persons must apply for an SSN by the date specified on the referral.  Provide the applicant 15 days to apply for an SSN.
 

1105.040.10.05        Failure to Comply

If a household member refuses or fails, without good cause, to provide or apply for an SSN, that individual is disqualified from participation in the Food Stamp Program.  Disqualify only the individual for whom the SSN requirement is not met, not the entire household.

Count the disqualified individual's earned and unearned income, less a prorated share, as unearned income to the remaining household members.

Count the disqualified individual's resources in their entirety as resources for the remaining household members.

Always explore good cause before disqualifying a household member.
 

1105.040.10.10        Determining Good Cause

In determining whether good cause exists, consider information from the household member and SSA, and case information.  Documentary evidence or collateral information that the household member has made every effort to provide the necessary information (such as proof of birth) to complete an application for an SSN is good cause.  Make every effort to assist the individual in obtaining these documents.

NOTE:  Good cause does NOT include delays due to illness, lack of transportation, or temporary absences for persons able to mail the SSN application.  Good cause does include illness and lack of transportation if the person must apply in person.

Record the good cause decision.
 

1105.040.10.15        Action After Good Cause Determination 
If the entire household refuses to provide SSNs or fails to complete SSN applications determine:

 1. If good cause is established, authorize benefits for the month of application and the following month.  In order to 

continue receiving benefits, the household must show good cause for each month until the SSN is provided or the application is completed.  Set a priority to investigate good cause each month until the SSNs are provided, the application is completed, or until good cause no longer exists.

If after approval, good cause no longer exists, send a notice of adverse action.  If the household does not request a hearing, close the case the next work day after the notice expires.

 2. If good cause does not exist, assess whether the application can be rejected.  (Refer to Delays in Processing.)

If an individual household member refused to provide an SSN or failed to complete the SSN application:

 1. If good cause is established, approve all the household members for the month of application and the following month.  In order for the household member who refused to provide an SSN or failed to complete the SSN application to continue to receive benefits, the member must show good cause each month until the SSN is provided or the SSN application completed.  Set a priority to investigate good cause each month until the SSN is provided, the SSN application is completed, or good cause no longer exists.

  If after approval, good cause no longer exists, disqualify the individual and send a Notice of Adverse Action.

 2. If good cause does not exist, approve the household, but disqualify the household member who refused to provide an SSN or failed to complete the SSN application.

If good cause does not exist, send a notice to inform the household who did not apply for or provide an SSN.  The notice must contain the following information:

 1. name of the disqualified person,
 2. reason for disqualification, 
 3. eligibility and benefit level for the remaining household members, and
 4. action the household must take to end the disqualification.

provide or apply for SSNs, they may become eligible for participation in the Food Stamp Program.  Begin eligibility with the date of the notification of compliance.