FOOD STAMP MANUAL REVISION #11:

   1135.000.00, page 1135-1
   1135.005.05, page 1135-1
   1135.005.10, page 1135-1-2
   1135.005.15, page 1135-2
   1135.005.15.05, page 1135-3
   1135.005.15.10, page 1135-4
   1135.005.15.15, page 1135-4
   1135.005.15.20, page 1135-4-5
   1135.005.15.25, page 1135-5
   1135.005.20, page 1135-5
   1135.005.25, page 1135-6
   1135.005.25.05, page 1135-7-8
   1135.005.25.10, page 1135-8
   1135.005.25.15, page 1135-8-9
   1135.005.25.25, page 1135-9
   1135.005.30, page 1135-10
   1135.005.35.05, page 1135-11
   1135.005.35.10, page 1135-11-12
   1135.005.35.15, page 1135-12
   1135.005.35.20, page 1135-12
   1135.010.00, page 1135-12-13
   1135.010.05, page 1135-13-14
   1135.015.00, page 1135-14
   1135.015.05, page 1135-14-15
   1135.015.10, page 1135-15
   1135.015.15, page 1135-15
   1135.020.00, page 1135-16
   1135.020.05, page 1135-16-18
   1135.020.10, page 1135-18-19
   1135.020.15, page 1135-19-20
   1135.020.20, page 1135-20
   1135.020.30, page 1135-20
   1135.025.00, page 1135-20a

Counties with drug and alcohol treatment centers may want to review sections 1135.005.15 - 1135.005.15.25 to determine if correct policy is being followed.  Send any questions through the appropriate supervisory channels.

Review this memorandum and policy revision with all appropriate staff.

 

File the policy revision in to Food Stamp Manual.

Additions or exceptions to eligibility procedures exist for households with special circumstances.  Special circumstances include special meal programs, strikers, disaster assistance, SSI/food stamp joint applications, students, sponsored immigrants, and categorical eligibility.
 

1135.005.00    SPECIAL MEAL PROGRAMS

Special meal programs include delivered meal service, communal dining, addict and alcoholic rehabilitation centers (for residents and non-residents), group living arrangements, homeless meal providers, and shelters for battered women and children.
 

1135.005.05    DELIVERED MEAL SERVICE
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Households may use food stamp benefits to purchase meals prepared for and delivered to them by a non-profit meal delivery service authorized by FNS.

An individual may be approved to purchase meals from a non-profit meal delivery service if the individual is 60 years of age or older, or the individual is housebound, physically handicapped, or otherwise disabled to the extent that the individual is unable to adequately prepare all meals.  The spouse may also purchase meals from a non-profit meal delivery service regardless of age or disability.

In determining eligibility for delivered meal service, complete an investigation as with any other application.

Receipt of disability payments qualifying the individual for elderly/disabled status verifies a participant's disability.  If the payments are not received and the disability is obvious, record how the decision was made.  If the disability is not obvious, obtain a doctor's statement to show the claimant cannot adequately prepare meals.
 

1135.005.10    COMMUNAL DINING
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Communal dining facilities include senior citizens' centers, apartment buildings occupied primarily by elderly persons, any public non-profit private school (tax exempt) that prepares meals especially for elderly persons during special hours, and certain other public or non-profit private establishments (tax exempt) that prepare and serve meals for the elderly.  Also included are private establishments under contract

with a state or local agency to offer, at concessional prices, meals prepared especially for the elderly.  Such facilities may accept food stamp benefits only after authorization by FNS.

An individual may be approved to purchase meals prepared at a communal dining facility if that individual is:

 1. 60 years of age or older, or

 2. a recipient of SSI, and

 3. not a resident of an institution or a commercial boarding house.

In determining eligibility for communal dining, complete an investigation as with any other application.
 

1135.005.15    ADDICT AND ALCOHOLIC RESIDENTS IN REHABILITATION
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Narcotic addicts or alcoholics regularly participating in a drug addiction and alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program on a resident basis may use food stamp benefits to purchase food prepared for them and their children who reside with them during the course of such a program. 

The facility must meet 1 or 2 below for the residents to receive food stamp benefits.

1. The drug or alcohol treatment program must:

•  be administered by a private, non-profit organization or institution, or a publicly operated community mental health center,

and

•  the facility must meet the criteria to be eligible to receive funds in Missouri under Part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act.  The facility does not have to actually receive the funds but must be certified by the Department of Mental Health to meet the eligibility criteria.  (See EMAIL bulletin board for a list of the certified facilities.)

2. The facility must be approved by FNS as a retailer.  Facilities must contact FNS regional offices to be approved as a retailer.

1135.005.15.05        Eligibility Determination
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

An addict or alcoholic participating in a long-term (30 days or more) treatment program may be receiving food stamp benefits when entering the program or may be determined eligible while participating in the program.  Determine whether the addict or alcoholic and his/her children reside at the treatment center.

 1. If residing at the treatment center, the addict or alcoholic(resident) must:

  a. meet the same income and resource requirements as other households,

  b. include as household members his/her children living with him/her at the treatment center, and

  c. permit the non-profit, private organization or institution operating the center to function as the authorized representative to apply for food stamp benefits.

  The resident is exempt from work registration requirements.  Explore work registration for other individuals included in the household.

 2. Complete a full investigation as for any other application.  The authorized representative for application purposes must be the administrator of the treatment center or written designate, be present at the interview, and sign the statement of eligibility.  Record the authorized representative's name and address on the eligibility statement.

  Inform the authorized representative of the following:

  a. The Benefit Security Card and PIN are mailed in the resident's name to the center.

  b. The center does not receive its own Benefit Security Card or PIN.

  c. The resident is entitled to food stamp benefits upon leaving the center.

  d. Residents of drug and alcohol treatment centers receive monthly benefits in two equal amounts, on the 1st and 15th of month.

1135.005.15.10        Center Responsibilities When Resident Leaves
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. When the resident leaves the center, the center:

 a. returns the Benefit Security Card to the resident if it was held for safekeeping;

 b. ensures the center no longer acts as authorized representative by contacting the county DFS office;

 c. provides the resident with a change report form and advises the resident to report to the county office within 10 days;

 d. returns to the county office or mails to the residents new address, an inactive Benefit Security Card that is received by the center after the resident leaves; and

 e. contacts the county DFS office to have a card canceled when the resident leaves an active card at the center.

1135.005.15.15        Responsibility for Reporting Changes
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. As for any other household, the resident must report changes in income and household circumstances.  In addition, the organization or institution acting as the authorized representative to make application for resident households is responsible for notifying the caseworker of any changes in resident household income or circumstances, including when a resident leaves the center.

2. The center provides the county on a monthly or semi-monthly basis with a certified list of currently participating residents.

3. The center is responsible for any overissuances caused by misrepresentation or fraud committed in the certification of center residents and assumes total liability for food stamp benefits/Benefit Security Cards held by request of resident households.
 

1135.005.15.20        DFS Review
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The county conducts periodic on-site visits to drug and alcohol treatment facilities.  During the visits, the county must advise the

facility of its responsibilities to:

1. designate an authorized representative to make application for the resident;

2. submit a monthly or semi-monthly list of participating residents in their facility signed by a facility official attesting to its accuracy;

3. allow DFS to visit periodically to assure the list of participating residents is accurate and the agency's records are consistent and up-to-date;

4. review the household's circumstances with the resident prior to applying on his/her behalf;

5. report all changes in the resident's situation, including when a resident leaves the facility.

The treatment facility must be made aware they are liable for any overpayments made to residents while living at their facility as well as any intentional program violations committed by the authorized representative.

Discuss with the authorized representative the procedures for Benefit Security Card when the resident leaves before the card can be given to him/her.
 

1135.005.15.25        Participation/Disqualification of Treatment Center
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The center may be penalized or disqualified if it is determined administratively or judicially that food stamp benefits were misappropriated or used for purchases that did not contribute to a certified household's meals.  FNS must approve penalties and/or disqualification.  DFS promptly notifies FNS when it has reason to believe center is misusing food stamp benefits.

Approval to participate in the addict or alcoholic provisions is automatically withdrawn once funding under Part B of Title XIX is discontinued.
 

1135.005.20    ADDICT/ALCOHOLIC RESIDING OUTSIDE TREATMENT CENTER
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

When the addict or alcoholic does not reside at the treatment center, but participates in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program, complete a full investigation as for any other application except exempt the addict or alcoholic from work registration.

1135.005.25    GROUP LIVING ARRANGEMENT
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Group living arrangement is defined as a public or private non-
profit setting that:

 1. serves 16 residents or less, this applies to the individual site rather than all locations of a particular organization;

 2. and is licensed by the Division of Aging under section 1616(e) of the Social Security Act or comparable standards.  (This is the RCF-I and RCF-II level of care licensed by the Division of Aging; a Group Home or the Child Care Agency  with 13 to 16 residents licensed by the Division of Family Services; or Residential Facilities licensed by the Department of Mental Health.  Call IM Program and Policy about any other licensed group living arrangements not listed above.)

 3. to be eligible for food stamps benefits, a resident of a group living arrangement must be blind or disabled per the food stamp definition of disabled.

 NOTE:  The elderly participant must also meet the disabled criteria to qualify for food stamp benefits in the group home.

Following are the different methods of preparing and serving meals in the group living arrangement.

 1. Meals may be prepared and served at a common eating area for residents.  The group living arrangement uses food stamp benefits to purchase food for communal meals.

 2. Meals may be prepared centrally and distributed to residents individually.  The home must ensure each resident's food stamp benefits are used for his/her meals.

 3. Residents keeping the food stamp benefits for their own use may use the benefits to buy prepared meals from the group living arrangement or purchase their own food.

1135.005.25.05        Eligibility Determination
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The group living arrangement determines if any resident may apply for food stamp benefits on his/her own behalf.  Determination is based on the resident's physical and mental ability to handle his/her own affairs.  Encourage the group living arrangement to consult with other state agencies providing other services to individual residents prior to determination.

1. If residents apply through the facility's authorized representative, the resident must:

 a. meet the same income and resource requirements as other households, 

 b. be certified as a one-person household, and

 c. permit the non-profit organization operating the facility to function as the resident's authorized representative to apply for food stamp benefits.

 a. The authorized representative must be the administrator of the group facility or written designate, be present at the interview, and sign the statement of eligibility.

 b. Record the authorized representative's name and address on the eligibility statement.

 c. Inform the authorized representative of the following.

  (1) The Benefit Security Card and PIN are mailed in the resident's name.

  (2) The authorized representative does not receive a Benefit Security Card or PIN.

  (3) The authorized representative does not hold the card for the resident, except by request of the resident for safekeeping.  At no time should the PIN be given to the authorized representative.

 d. The resident is exempt from work registration.

 purchase food to prepare meals for their own consumption.

 a. Complete a full investigation as for any other application except exempt the eligible resident from work registration.

 b. If residents purchase and/or prepare food for home consumption, as opposed to communal dining, the group living arrangement ensures that each resident's food stamp benefits are used for meals intended for that resident.

1135.005.25.10        Household Leaves Facility
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. When residents applying through the facility's authorized representative leave the facility, the facility:

 a. returns the Benefit Security Card to the resident if it was held for safekeeping;

 b. ensures the group living arrangement no longer acts as authorized representative by contacting the county DFS office;

 c. provides the resident with a change report form and advises the resident to report to the county office within 10 days; 

 d. returns to the county office any Benefit Security Cards that are received by the group living arrangement after the resident leaves; and

 e. contacts the county DFS office to have a card canceled when the resident leaves an active card at the center.

1135.005.25.15        Responsibility for Reporting Changes
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. As for any other household, the resident of a group living arrangement must report changes in income and household circumstances.  In addition, the organization or institution acting as the authorized representative for resident households is responsible for notifying the caseworker of any changes in resident household income or circumstances, including when a resident leaves the facility.

 If the resident applied on his/her own behalf, the resident is responsible for reporting changes.

2. The group living arrangement provides the county on a monthly or semi-monthly basis with a certified list of currently participating residents.  This list includes a signed statement by a responsible center official attesting to the validity of the list.

3. The organization or institution, if acting as authorized representative, is responsible for any overissuances caused by misrepresentation or fraud committed in the certification of center residents and assumes total liability for food stamp benefits/Benefit Security Cards held by request of resident households.  If the resident applies on his/her own behalf, the resident is liable for any overissuances.
 

1135.005.25.20        DFS Review

The county conducts periodic random on-site visits to group living arrangements to ensure accuracy of certified listings provided by the facility and that county records are up to date.
 

1135.005.25.25        Disqualification of Group Living Arrangements
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The organization or institution may be penalized or disqualified if it is determined administratively or judicially that food stamp benefits were misappropriated or used for purchases that did not contribute to a certified household's meals.  FNS must approve penalties and/or disqualification.  DFS promptly notifies FNS when it has reason to believe that an organization or institution is misusing food stamp benefits.

DFS establishes a claim for overissuances of food stamp benefits held on behalf of residents if any overissuances are discovered during an investigation or hearing procedure for redemption violations and the center acted as the authorized representative.  If FNS disqualifies an organization or institution as an authorized retail food store, State Office notifies the county office to suspend the authorized representative status of the facility.

If the treatment center loses its authorization from FNS to accept food stamp benefits, or is no longer certified by the State, its residents are no longer eligible to participate.  Residents are not entitled to a notice of adverse action but receive a written notice explaining the termination and when it becomes effective.

NOTE:  If FNS suspends the group living arrangement's status as an authorized representative, residents applying on their own behalf remain able to participate if otherwise eligible.

1135.005.30    HOMELESS MEAL PROVIDERS
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Public or private non-profit organizations serving meals to the homeless residents or non-residents may be authorized through FNS to accept food stamp benefits from homeless participants.  The benefits can be used to purchase food from authorized retailers and wholesalers.

Refer any homeless meal provider requesting FNS authorization to the FNS field office serving the appropriate county.

In order to be approved, the meal provider must:

 1. apply with the appropriate FNS field office;

 2. provide FNS with a letter from the local county office verifying that the establishment does serve meals to the homeless (the County Director or designee conducts a brief on-site visit to verify this information); and

 3. provide FNS with any other needed verification for eligibility, such as non-profit status.

 1. not serve as authorized representatives for those participants for whom they provide meals,

 2. only accept voluntary donations from food stamp participants,

 3. not give cash change or credit slips to participants,

 4. include food purchased by the meal provider (meals served must not consist entirely of donated foods), and

 5. provide homeless individuals the same options in paying for meals as non-food stamp individuals (the amount of benefits requested from homeless food stamp participants may not exceed the average cost of the food contained in a meal).

 NOTE:  FNS field office staff are responsible for informing the provider of restrictions applying to participation as a meal provider.  However, if county staff become aware that an authorized establishment stops serving meals to the homeless or otherwise becomes ineligible for homeless meal provider status, inform the local FNS field office.

1135.005.35    Shelters for BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Shelters for battered women and children include public or private non-profit residential facilities serving battered women and their children.  If such a facility serves other individuals, a portion of the facility must be set aside on a long-term basis to serve only battered women and children.
 

1135.005.35.05        Eligibility Requirements
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Prior to certifying residents in these shelters, determine the shelter for battered women and children meets the definition above.  Consider shelters having FNS authorization to use food stamp benefits at wholesalers as meeting the definition; no further determination is required.

Many shelter residents recently left a household containing the person who abused them.  Their former household may be receiving food stamp benefits, and its certification may be based on a household size that includes the woman and children who left.

 1. Shelter residents included in such households may apply for, and if otherwise eligible, be certified for, food stamp benefits as separate households if the previously certified household that includes them is the household containing the person who subjected them to abuse.

 2. Shelter residents included in such certified households may receive an additional allotment as a separate household only once a month.

Residents of shelters for battered women and children must meet the eligibility requirements with the necessary verification and recording for citizenship, residency, household determination, resources, income and expenses, work registration, and expedited service.  Consider resources inaccessible to persons residing in shelters for battered women and children if:

• resources are jointly owned by such persons and by members of their former household, and

 
• shelter resident's access to the value of the resources  is dependent on the agreement of a joint owner still residing in the former household.

Certify shelter residents applying as separate households solely on the basis of income and expenses for which they are responsible.  Certify without regard to income, resources, and expenses of their former household.  Consider room payments to the shelter as shelter expenses.

For residents of shelters for battered women and children entitled to expedited service, ensure benefits are available to the participant no later than the seventh calendar day following the date the application was filed.
 

1135.005.35.15        Changes in Circumstances
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Take prompt action to ensure that the former household's eligibility or allotment reflects the change in the household's composition, including:

• send a notice of expiration of certification to the household and shorten the certification period, or
• send the household a notice of adverse action and act upon the change in accordance with changes in circumstance.

Residents of shelters for battered women and children may use their food stamp benefits to purchase meals prepared especially for them at a shelter which is authorized by FNS to redeem at wholesalers.

For a shelter not authorized by FNS as a retailer to use the benefits on behalf of the household, an employee of the shelter must be shown as the authorized representative for the household.
 

1135.010.00    APPLICATION BY STRIKERS
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

A striker is defined as anyone involved in a strike or concerted stoppage of work by employees (including a stoppage due to expiration of a collective bargaining agreement) and any concerted slowdown or other concerted interruption of operations by employees.  Any employee engaged in a lockout, however, is not deemed a striker.  Further, an individual exempt from work registration the day before the strike, other than those exempt solely on the grounds that they are employed, who may go on strike are not deemed a striker.

Examples of non-strikers eligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program include, but are not limited to, employees:

 1. whose work place is closed by an employer in order to resist demands of employees (e.g., a lockout);

 2. unable to work as a result of striking employees (e.g., truck drivers not working because striking newspaper pressmen prevent the newspaper from being printed);

 3. not part of the bargaining unit on strike who do not want to cross a picket line due to fear of personal injury or death; or

 4. exempt from work registration for reasons other than employment on the day before the strike.

1135.010.05    Eligibility Guidelines for All Striker Households
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. Households with striking members are ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program unless the household was eligible the day prior to the strike and is otherwise eligible at the time of application.

 a. Determine pre-strike eligibility by considering the day prior to the strike as the day of application and assuming the strike did not occur.

 b. For applicant households, complete an investigation to determine whether the household is eligible based on circumstance including income and resources prior to the strike.  Determine eligibility at time of application by comparing the striking member's income before the strike to the striker's current income and adding the higher of the two to the current income of non-striking members during the month of application.  To determine benefits (and eligibility for households subject to the net income eligibility standard), calculate deductions for the month of application as for any other household.  Whether the striker's pre-strike earnings or current income are used, allow the earnings deduction if appropriate.

3. Consider income a striker receives from the union or other strike-related source as unearned income.  Do not allow the 20 percent earned income deduction even though the striker may be working on a picket line or conducting other union business

 during the strike.

4. Do not consider a company pension plan a resource, even if the company indicates it will make it available.

 NOTE:  These provisions do not apply to households containing a person fired or permanently replaced while on strike.

1135.010.10    Changes

If other changes occur (for example, a change in household size, or income from strike benefits or from other non-strike related employment), adjust household benefits using normal procedures.

However, the household does not receive an increased allotment as a result of a decrease in income of the striking household members.
 

1135.015.00    FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE IN DISASTERS
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Do not use these instructions unless first authorized by FNS and implemented by State Office.  Emergency food stamp assistance is authorized by FNS as a result of a major disaster.  FNS may determine the following to be disasters:  any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, or other catastrophe determined to be a major disaster by the President.  Emergency food stamp assistance may also be authorized by FNS as a result of a lesser disaster, i.e., a temporary emergency, even if the affected area has not been declared a major disaster.  Regulations require that the emergency resulted from either natural or human occurrences, disrupting commercial channels of food distribution.  FNS determines the nature and extent of the disaster.  It authorizes the State Office to use certification and issuance procedures described.

In case of a disaster declared by FNS in a food stamp project area (county), the State Office assumes direct supervision of the certification of affected households according to pertinent FNS instructions.
 

1135.015.05    Application
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The application for emergency food stamp assistance includes:

 1. name of the head of the household and household members,

 2. permanent and temporary address of the household,

 3. number of household members already certified for the ongoing Food Stamp Program, and

 4. a statement of need signed by the head of the household, spouse, or authorized representative.

1135.015.10    Eligibility Determination
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Certify an applicant household for assistance if:

• the household resides, either temporarily or permanently, within the geographical limits of the disaster area; and

 
• the county office determines that the household is in need of emergency food stamp assistance due to a reduction in or inaccessibility of income or cash resources as a result of the disaster.

1135.015.15    Benefit Security Card and Benefit Issuance
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Issue a Benefit Security Card to each household certified as eligible to receive emergency food stamp assistance.

Determine basis of benefit issuance as follows.

 1. If the emergency authorization period is extended, certified households already receiving emergency benefits may be issued additional benefits during this period if they remain eligible.

 2. If a household was previously certified to participate in the ongoing Food Stamp Program and obtained food stamp benefits during the month in which the disaster occurs, a second issuance may be authorized if the household lost stocks of food purchased with food stamp benefits.

 3. No emergency food stamp benefits are authorized or issued after the expiration of the designated emergency period authorized by FNS.

1135.020.00    SSI/Food Stamp JOINT APPLICATION PROCESSING
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

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.
 

1135.020.05    Filing an Application
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

1. Whenever a member of a household consisting only of SSI applicants and recipients transacts business at an SSA office, SSA informs the household of its right to apply for food stamp benefits at the SSA office without going to the DFS office and its right to apply at a DFS office if it chooses.

2. SSA completes the application at the SSA Office.

 a. SSA forwards the completed forms to the appropriate DFS County with a transmittal form, the SSA-4233.  SSA also

 forwards the verification information the applicant presented at the initial interview that may be relevant to processing the food stamp application.

 b. If SSA takes an SSI application or redetermination on the telephone from a member of a pure SSI household, the Tele-Claim and the application are also completed during the telephone interview.  In these cases, the food stamp application is mailed to the applicant for signature for return to the county DFS office.

 c. DFS may not require the household to be interviewed again in a DFS office.  The household is not contacted further in order to obtain information for certification for food stamp benefits except if:

  (1) the application is improperly completed,

  (2) mandatory verification required is missing, or

  (3) DFS determines that certain information on the application is questionable.

  In no event is the applicant required to appear at the DFS office to finalize the eligibility determination.  Contact relating to items described above does not constitute a second food stamp interview.

 d. Consider applications filed for normal processing purposes when the signed application is received by SSA.  Food stamp applications and supporting documents sent to an incorrect county office are sent by the receiving county office to the correct county office within one working day.

 e. SSA pre-screens all applications for entitlement to expedited services on the day the application is received at the SSA office.  Expedited processing is indicated on the first page of the application for a household that appears entitled to expedited processing.

  (1) SSA informs households that appear to meet the criteria for expedited service that benefits may be issued a few days sooner if the household applies directly to the county office.

  (2) The household may take the application, with a transmittal from SSA, to the county office for screening, an interview, and processing.

  (3) Expedited processing standards begin on the date the county office receives a food stamp application.

  NOTE:  Since SSA pre-screening does not constitute a determination that a household is eligible for expedited processing, screen all applications for expedited service, not just those that SSA indicates as probably eligible.

 f. For SSI recipients redetermined for SSI by mail, SSA informs them of the right to file a food stamp application at the SSA office (if members of a pure SSI household) or at the local county office.  SSA also informs them of the right to an out-of-office or telephone interview by the county office if the household is unable to appoint an authorized representative.

 g. The county office determines if households are already participating in the Food Stamp Program.

 a. Consider applications from such households filed on the date the signed application is taken at the correct county office.

 b. Expedited processing time standards begin on the date the application is received in the county office.

 c. Normal processing time standards begin on the date the application is signed.

1135.020.10    SSA Food Stamp Application Process
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

As part of each SSI redetermination and initial application interview, SSA representatives perform the following.

 1. Conduct a pre-application interview.

  a. Determine whether the individual is currently receiving food stamp benefits or applied for them in the previous 30 days and does not have an application pending.

  b. Determine if the individual wishes to apply for food stamp benefits.

  c. Determine if the individual lives in a pure SSI household.

 2. Complete the application.

 3. Screen for expedited services.

 4. Explain applicant's filing options.

 5. Obtain available evidence (including identity and residence if potential expedited service exists).

  a. Obtain available information housed on SSA records.

  b. Request evidence available at the time of the interview for income, liquid resources, amount of non-reimbursable medical expenses for the month of application for household members age 60 or over or receiving SSI or OASDI.

 6. Prepare transmittal form (SSA-4233).

  a. Summarize on the transmittal sheet which food stamp eligibility factors were verified and which remain to be verified.

  b. Include photocopies of information verified for the Food Stamp Program not retained in SSI files or SSA systems.

  c. Describe any contradictions or discrepancies that remain to be resolved for continued development by the county office.

 7. Complete fraud forms and provide copies to the applicant.

 8. Assemble the food stamp application package (containing the application, relevant evidence, and completed transmittal form) and mail before the close of business the next federal working day after the date the food stamp application was taken by SSA.

 SSA staff advise the applicant that SSA does not retain records of the food stamp application and all further contacts relevant to the food stamp application are to be directed to the local  DFS office.

1135.020.15    Work Registration Requirements
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

The work registration requirement is waived for household members applying for SSI and food stamp benefits under joint application processing until:

 1. they are determined eligible for SSI and thereby become exempt from work registration, or

 2. they are determined ineligible for SSI and where applicable,

  work registration status is determined through    recertification procedures.

1135.020.20    Certification Periods
IM-#53  March 23, 2000 
 

Assign the initial certification period up to 12 months or 24 months.

In cases jointly processed in which SSI determination results in denial, and the caseworker believes that food stamp eligibility or benefit levels may be affected, notify the household of expiration of food stamp benefits and include:

 1. the date the certification period ends (the end of the month
  following the month the notice is sent),

 2. reapplication must be made if the household wishes to continue to participate,

 3. the household's certification is expiring because of changes in circumstances that may affect food stamp eligibility or benefit levels,

 4. the household's right to file an application by mail,

 5. the household's right to file an application through an authorized representative, and

 6. the household's right to an out-of-office or telephone interview.

1135.020.25    Changes in Circumstances

1. Households are required to report changes in income and household circumstances.

2. Monitor the results of SSI determination.

1135.020.30    Recertification
IM-#53  March 23, 2000

Jointly processed households receiving a food stamp notice of expiration, and going to an SSA office for an SSI redetermination, may timely apply for food stamp recertification at the SSA office.  Follow the same procedures as initial applications.

1135.025.00    STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Eligible student:  A household member enrolled in an institution of higher education (requiring a high school diploma or equivalent) must meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria in order to be included in the FS household:

 1. employed and paid for a minimum of 20 hours per week, or self-employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week and receive weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours (in-kind income does not qualify as wages);

 2. participate in a state or federally financed work study program or a work incentive program under Title IV of the Social Security Act (AFDC) or its successor program (for example, FUTURES) during the regular school year;

 3. responsible for the physical care of a dependent household