The Cash Assistance /SNAP Semiannual Reporting System (CFSAR) controls benefit issuance to budget groups enrolled in SAR. The system issues a SAR form to each budget group according to the case issuance cycle. The CAO data enters information into the system showing the SAR form as complete or incomplete. Updating of the system is called tracking.
If the SAR form is not tracked, or tracked as incomplete, the system sends a Late/Incomplete Notice (L/IN) to the recipient. The L/IN informs the recipient of the missing information. The recipient must return the information to the CAO no later than the Sanction Override Deadline in order to prevent the budget(s) from being terminated, and no later than Extended Due Date to prevent the budget(s) from being closed. See Appendix D.
The system will discontinue benefits when the recipient does not submit a SAR form or L/IN on or before the Extended Due Date.
NOTE: A completed SAR form is not necessary if the renewal and the SAR review are due in the same month. The renewal serves as the six-month review.
Benefits remain terminated until the budget group’s benefit is reinstated or closed. The CAO reinstates benefits without an application if the recipient returns the SAR form or L/IN by the Extended Due Date. If the CAO receives a completed SAR form or L/IN after the Extended Due Date, no application is required to reinstate benefits if good cause is established.
The SAR system provides two on-line reports for the CAO:
SAR Form Generation List
Caseload Summary Report
The CAO should review these reports and take the appropriate action. The SAR system also prepares a Monthly Statistical Report for Headquarters use.
When the recipient is enrolled in SAR, the CAO must give the recipient the following:
An explanation of the purpose of SAR.
An explanation of the reason the recipient must report semiannually.
A copy of the SAR form.
An explanation of how to complete and submit the form.
An explanation of what information the recipient must verify and how it must be verified.
A telephone number the recipient may call to ask questions or to get help in completing the form.
A written explanation of the above information.
The CAO must assist an individual who asks for help completing and filing the SAR form when the budget group’s adult members have intellectual disabilities, physical handicaps, are non-English-speaking, or lack reading or writing skills.
The CAO must confirm enrollment in the SAR system at one of the following times:
At application, when the applicant meets one of the requirements of Section 171.11.
At renewal
The CAO must complete appropriate data entry to begin enrollment in the SAR System. All cases that meet requirements of Section 171.11 require the following code:
1—Must be enrolled in SAR.
When a SNAP household enrolled in SAR applies for and is authorized for TANF or Medical Assistance using an application form that includes SNAP (PA 600 or 600R), the CAO may choose to complete a SNAP renewal interview. The CAO can shorten the current SNAP certification period and establish a new SNAP certification period to align with the Medical Assistance or TANF certification period. See Appendix A.
NOTE: If it is to the recipient’s benefit, the CAO should complete the SNAP renewal interview at the time of the TANF or Medical Assistance application.
Example: A parent and two children receive SNAP and are participating in SAR, with a March SAR due date. In January, the parent’s work hours are reduced and they apply for Cash Assistance. TANF is authorized. A July SAR due date for the Cash Assistance budget is set. SNAP benefits are recertified in January, setting a new SAR due date of July to align with the cash SAR due date.
NOTE: The SAR due dates for Extended Medical Care may not be changed to align with any other SAR due date. An MNO budget with a patient pay liability cannot be aligned with any other SAR budgets in the record until the patient pay liability period has ended.
The CAO must keep the Semiannual Reporting forms, Late/Incomplete Notices, and data entry documents for six years. Failure to keep these forms in the case record can result in a Quality Control error and make the budget ineligible. The CAO must also keep any documents used to establish good cause, such as postmarked envelopes.
NOTE: Generated SAR and L/IN notices are kept in eCIS for 125 days. The CAO may regenerate a prepopulated form using the Correspondence tab in eCIS. See Section 171.37.
Updated September 23, 2026, replacing September 18, 2012