A new application (paper or electronic) is not required when benefits are closed because the household did not submit a renewal form or complete the renewal process and the household reapplies within 30 days of the closing.
NOTE: When benefits are closed because the household did not submit a renewal form, a new application (paper or electronic) is not needed but the household must submit the renewal form.
7CFR 273.14(e)
The household may reapply by:
Requesting benefits be reopened,
Asking for a new application or renewal form, and/or
submitting verification or documents.
If the renewal form was not already submitted, give the household a renewal form and have them complete and submit it.
When the household reapplies within 30 days of benefits closure, the CAO must:
Reopen the case without requiring a new application or renewal form if already submitted,
Process continued eligibility using the verification documents, and information in the case record on the date benefits were closed plus any verification, documents, or information the household submitted after benefits were closed.
If eligible, open benefits effective either:
The date the renewal process is completed and all eligibility factors are verified, OR
The date the benefits were closed if the benefits closure was due to administrative error.
Administrative error includes, but is not limited to the following:
The CAO did not offer the household help to complete an incomplete application or renewal or to obtain needed verification,
The CAO did not provide the household with written notice of the required verification needed to complete an application or renewal or verify continued eligibility,
The CAO did not provide the household with at least 10 days from the date of the notice of required verification to provide the verification,
The CAO did not give the household a notice of missed interview (NOMI) if a required interview was missed,
The CAO did not call the household to complete the phone interview, was not available when the household called the CAO to conduct a phone interview during the scheduled interview time, or did not respond to the household's request to reschedule an interview,
The CAO did not timely process an application, renewal application, or documentation the household submitted.
Generally, a second interview is not required if the household already completed the interview during the renewal process. The CAO may determine that a second interview is needed by considering the following:
The reasons for the denial,
The period of time that has gone by since the interview,
Whether new verification is required or needs to be updated.
The CAO may have the person complete a new application when it would expedite benefit delivery.
Example: Getting a new application may benefit the person if there are delays in locating or transferring previously completed documents from district to district or from county to county.
NOTE: A household may file an appeal as well as having a case reopened. Filing an appeal does not preclude reopening a case. Reopening a case does not preclude an appeal.
If a SNAP renewal form has been received before the end of the household's certification and SNAP benefits have closed a new application (paper or electronic) is not required. The CAO must register a non-application in eCIS when the person asks for SNAP to be opened, asks for a new application, and/or submits required verification.
When the person asks for SNAP to be open, asks for a new application and/or submits the required verification and/or the renewal form after their certification period ends, the CAO must register an application in eCIS and review for expedited service.
NOTE: If the person provides some but not all of the pending information, the CAO should work with the person in an effort to get the required information.
Reissued October 2, 2015, replacing September 22, 2015