The household must apply in the county of residence (see Chapter 523). 7 CFR § 273.2(c)(2)(ii)
The CAO in the county of residence takes applications. If a household contacts the wrong CAO, that CAO must take the following actions: 7 CFR § 273.2(c)(2)(ii)
Give the household the address and telephone number of the correct CAO.
Encourage the household to apply in the correct county as soon as possible.
Offer to send the application to the correct county the same day.
Send a mailed-in, faxed, or online electronic application to the correct county on the same day the CAO receives it.
Explain that the application will not be considered filed and the processing standards will not begin until the correct CAO receives the application.
A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) household may apply for SNAP benefits at the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office if the household: 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)
Consists only of SSI applicants or recipients;
Has not applied for SNAP benefits in the past 30 days; and
Does not have an application for SNAP benefits pending at the CAO.
If the SSA takes an SSI application or renewal by telephone, the SSA may complete a SNAP application during the telephone interview. SSA must mail the application to the household to be signed and returned to the SSA or CAO. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(L)
An application signed by a household member or AR is considered filed when the SSA receives it. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(F)
The SSA must refer each non-SSI household to the correct CAO. The CAO must consider a signed application from such a household as filed on the date the CAO receives it. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(H)
On the day the SSA receives an application, the SSA must review it for expedited services and mark "EXPEDITED PROCESSING" on the first page if the household appears entitled to it. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(I)
The SSA must inform a household appearing to meet the criteria for expedited service that benefits may start sooner if the household applies directly at the CAO.
A person may apply for SSI and SNAP benefits before release or discharge from an institution. The SSA must identify these applications by writing "PRERELEASE" in large red letters across the top of the application form. SSA must send the application to the CAO and notify the CAO of the applicant’s release date. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(F)
When the CAO receives an application from the SSA, it must take the following actions: 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(J) and (K)
Review the application for entitlement to expedited service on the day it gets the application.
Figure out whether any members of the SSI household are already getting SNAP benefits.
Make sure necessary information on the application is verified.
Make an eligibility determination and authorize benefits according to normal or expedited procedures (see Chapter 506).
Use the applicant’s release or discharge date as the application date on a “prerelease” application.
Notify eligible applicants that they must go to the CAO to receive their Pennsylvania EBT ACCESS card and choose a personal identification number (PIN).
Households in which all members are applying for or receiving SSI are not required to see a CAO eligibility worker or have a CAO interview in addition to the SSA interview. 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(G)
The CAO must not contact the household to get information for certification of SNAP benefits unless:
The application is improperly completed;
Other information is necessary for case record recording;
Required proof is missing; or
Certain information on the application is questionable.
Reissued March 1, 2012, replacing March 26, 2004