The CAO must authorize SNAP benefits as either noncontinuous eligibility (NCE) or ongoing. The “Using CIS” manual has complete data-entry instructions for the opening process. 7 CFR § 274.1(a)
The opening is the only process requiring data entry of one of the following suffix codes:
S—At least one household member does not receive cash or SSI benefits
H—All household members receive SSI benefits
X—All household members receive cash assistance, Family Works (except WIA Youth Development Program), or SSI benefits
Once the SNAP budget is open, the system updates suffix codes monthly. The CAO cannot change the suffix codes.
The SNAP open date will usually be the same date as the date on which the application was received. The system will not accept an open date before the application-received date. If the household is ineligible for the application month or the first month of a new certification period but is eligible for future months, the open date is the first day of the first month of eligibility.
The system will not accept an open date of more than 60 days before the data-entry date.
For the first month of benefits, the system will automatically prorate benefits from the open date through the last day of the month. CAO workers can use the proration table in Chapter 568, Appendix D to calculate the amount. An application turned in on the 31st is treated as if it were turned in on the 30th. 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1)(ii)(A)
The CAO must give benefits for a full month to the following households if they received benefits the previous month:
Households that timely reapply for certification
Households that receive the Notice of Expiration of Certification (PA 10-SP) late if the deadline for timely renewal filing falls after the certification period ends
Households whose verification deadline falls after the end of the certification period
Migrant or seasonal farm worker households that participated in SNAP in Pennsylvania or in another state within 30 days before the application date
Households transferring from another county if the application is filed no later than the month after the final issuance from the former county
No benefit can be issued if the prorated benefit for the first month is less than $10.
For households of three or more members not entitled to benefits but with an open case in CIS with a zero benefit, the CAO must reject the application, because net income is more than the level at which benefits are issued. Because the notice for the income test (612) does not cover these situations; the CAO must send a manual notice to the household. 7 CFR § 273.10(e)(2)(iii)(A)
The noncontinuous eligibility (NCE) transaction is a limited-period benefit issued to cover one, two, or three months of eligibility. The NCE transaction opens the budget, issues the benefit, and closes the budget in one action. The CAO must use NCE when the household is not eligible for ongoing benefits and to issue the first month’s expedited service benefit when there is postponed verification. The CAO must use action code "N" for the NCE transaction. 7 CFR § 274.1(a)
An ongoing opening enters the household into the recurring benefit cycle. Same-day data entry allows the CAO to open the case with a prorated one-time issuance (OTI) for the first month and a regular issuance for the second month. The OTI is issued centrally. If the application is turned in after the 15th, the system issues a prorated OTI for both the first month and the first full month's benefit.
Reissued March 1, 2012, replacing July 18, 2008