The CAO must send each household a completed Notice of Eligibility whenever: 7 CFR § 273.10(g)(1)
An application is approved;
An application is denied;
An application is pending CAO action (see Section 577.23); or
A new certification period is set.
The notice must be mailed no later than 30 days after the application date.
When an application is approved, the notice of eligibility must include the following: 7 CFR § 273.10(g)(1)(i)
The benefit amount
The beginning and ending dates of the certification period
An explanation of benefits, if the first issuance covers more than one month
The name and telephone number of the person or office to contact for more information or to ask for a fair hearing
An explanation of the benefit that will be issued during the certification period, when changes are anticipated
The CAO may also include the following in the notice:
A reminder of the household's obligation to report changes
A reminder of the need to reapply at the end of the certification period
Any other useful information
When a household is eligible for expedited service but must give verification to qualify for benefits beyond the first month, the notice must also contain a statement that the CAO will not issue the second month's benefits until verification is provided. If verification is not provided within 60 days after receipt of the application, benefits will end and the household must reapply.
If a household is assigned a limited certification period, the CAO must include a Notice of Expiration (PA 10-SFSP) with the eligibility notice. 7 CFR § 273.14(b)
When an application is denied, the notice must contain the following: 7 CFR § 273.10(g)(1)(ii)
An explanation of the reason for the denial, including the regulations on which the denial was based and the federal or state citation for those regulations
The name and telephone number of the person or office to contact for more information or to ask for a fair hearing
If a household is denied benefits because it failed to complete the application process, the CAO must send the denial notice on the 30th day. The 30-day count begins the day after the application is received. The denial notice must have the following information in addition to the information listed above:
A statement that the case will be authorized without a new application if the client provides the needed verification within 30 days of the denial notice mailing date
A statement that a new application will be required if the household does not provide the requested additional information by the end of the 30-day period
The CAO must give the household at least 10 days from the initial request date to provide verification. The 10 days may exceed the 30-day period.
If a household is denied benefits because it refused to provide required information or verification, the denial notice must have the following information in addition to the information listed above:
A statement of what information or verification the household did not provide
A statement of what action the household did not take
The federal or state citation for the regulation that requires the information
If applicable, a statement of what the worker did to help the household get the information
When an application is held because of a CAO delay, the notice must contain an explanation of the pending status. It must be sent by the 30th day. 7 CFR § 273.10(g)(1)(iii)
When an application is held because of a CAO delay and some action is needed by the household, the notice must contain the following:
The needed action
A statement that failure to comply with the action within 60 days of the application filing date will result in denial of the application
See Chapter 504 to determine the difference between CAO delay requiring a pending notice and household delay requiring a denial notice.
The CAO must send a notice when a new certification period is set. The CAO must send the eligibility or denial notice by the end of the certification period if the application for certification is filed by the 15th day of the last month of the certification period. 55 Pa. Code § 501.9(j)
The CAO must give a notice of eligibility or denial no later than 30 days after the last benefit to any household that received a PA 10-SFSP at renewal time and reapplied timely.
The CAO must not use the PA 10-SFSP to shorten a household’s current certification period.
Reissued March 1, 2012, replacing October 25, 2008