To align Semiannual Reporting (SAR) and renewal dates for all programs, the CAO may shorten the current SNAP certification period and set a new certification period for SNAP households enrolled in SAR who later apply for and receive TANF or Medical Assistance (MA).
When SAR began, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) granted DHS a two year waiver of 7 CFR 273.10(f)(4). This allowed DHS to shorten the SNAP certification period when a SNAP household applied for Cash Assistance (CA) or MA. The waiver was to aid in the transition to SAR. The waiver expired May 31, 2005, and was not renewed. FNS approved a new waiver to shorten SNAP certification periods. It includes certain conditions for client notices.
The CAO may complete a SNAP renewal interview when a SNAP household enrolled in SAR applies and is authorized for TANF or MA using an application form (PA600 or PA600R) that includes SNAP. The CAO must complete a SNAP renewal interview if it is best for the client.
When the CAO completes a SNAP renewal interview:
The current SNAP certification period is shortened.
A new certification period begins that aligns with the MA or TANF renewal period.
The CAO sends a Confirming Notice for the SNAP budget stating the benefit amount and new certification period.
NOTE: Use Reason Code 001 with Option Code 6 for the Confirming Notice. Send this notice regardless of whether the SNAP benefit amount has changed.
The CAO is not required to issue supplemental benefits or to complete overpayments when the SNAP renewal is completed. For example, if the client provides verification within 60 days instead of 30 or if the CAO does not process the TANF or MA budget timely, the CAO does not issue a supplemental SNAP benefit or complete an overpayment. A Quality Control error does not occur if the CAO chooses not to shorten the SNAP certification period.
If a household files a fair hearing request within 13 days of the Confirming Notice mailing date because the SNAP benefit amount decreased and chooses to continue receiving the original benefit rather than the proposed reduction, the CAO must continue the original benefit amount.
The CAO must explain the household’s right to receive the original amount instead of the proposed reduction. Continue the original benefit amount until the hearing decision, but no longer than through the end of the original certification period.
If a household appeals after 13 days but before 90 days, it will continue receiving benefits at the reduced amount until the hearing decision.
Reminder: Narrate all case actions.
When a Cash Assistance or Medical Assistance budget is being opened and the SNAP certification period is being shortened this is done in the following way-
1. Process the case as a Program Add and be sure to select the appropriate method of verification for each item. Enter all mandatory (*) fields on any additional screens that appear. Update any necessary Individual Non-Financial, Resource or Income information until you reach the Execute Eligibility screen. Click "Run Eligibility" button.
2. Proceed through the subsequent screens, at the SNAP Budget Authorization Screen amend the SAR Due Date and the Reapp Due Date fields in line with OPS Memo 11-07-01 and Cash Assistance Handbook Chapter 171 Appendix A guidelines.
3. At the Post Authorization/Client Notice screen ensure or change the FS 00 notice to Notice 001, Option 6.
4. Continue processing through the case and complete all mandatory (*) fields. Submit the case.
5. It should be noted that if the existing SNAP budget does not change as a result of the addition of the Cash or Medical Assistance budgets the system may not issue Notice 001. In this case the IMCW should issue a manual notice to advise the client of the revised certification period. A Program Change Request has been raised to address the missing notice.
6. Ensure comments are added to the case narrative to reflect the changed dates.
To update a reapplication or SAR date in eCIS-
1. On the Case Summary Screen, select "Maintenance" from the "What would you like to do today?" drop down and click the "Next" button.
2. On the Left-Hand Navigation bar, click on "Execute Eligibility".
3. This will bring you the Eligibility Result Summary screen. Click on "Run Eligibility".
4. After eligibility has run, click on the "Next" button.
5. The next screen will be the Eligibility Results screen. Ensure the benefits are correct and then click on the"Next" button.
6. For a SAR date change: On the Budget Authorization screen, click on the calendar or manually type in the SAR Due Date under SAR Due Date, then click on the "Next" button.
For a Reapplication Date change: Click on the calendar or manually type in the Reapplication Due Date under Reapp Due Date and then click on the "Next" button.
7. Continue through Case Processing, entering all relevant information to the case and completing all mandatory (*) fields through case commit.
Run a Partial Reapplication for SNAP ONLY to get the correct SAR due date.
Examples:
A SNAP-only SAR household has a September 2007 through August 2008 certification period. The household’s circumstances change. The household applies and is found eligible for MA in December 2007. The CAO completes the SNAP renewal interview at the MA interview. Because the SNAP-only SAR household is now eligible for MA, the new SNAP certification period is from December 2007 through November 2008. The SNAP and MA SAR review date is May 2008. If SNAP benefits stay the same, increase, or are reduced as a result of the client applying for MA for the household, the household is provided with the new benefit amount and a new certification period on a Confirming Notice using Option 6.
A SNAP-only SAR household has a July 2007 through June 2008 certification period. The household’s circumstances change. The household applies and is found ineligible for Cash Assistance. The SNAP certification period stays the same: July 2007 through June 2008.
A SNAP (SAR)/MA household has a July 2007 through June 2008 SNAP certification period. The household’s circumstances change. The household applies and is authorized for Cash Assistance from February 2008 to February 2009. The CAO completes a SNAP renewal at the Cash Assistance interview. The household’s new SNAP certification period will be March 2008 through February 2009.
A SNAP-only SAR household has a September 2007 through August 2008 certification period. The SNAP SAR due date is February 2008. The household applies for retroactive MA in December 2007. It is found eligible retroactively beginning in October 2007. It would not be to the household’s benefit to complete a renewal interview because the household would have an October 2007 to October 2008 MA certification period with an MA SAR due date of March 2008. If a SNAP renewal was completed, the household would have a January 2008 through December 2008 certification period with a SNAP SAR due in June 2008. This would not benefit the household. At the SNAP SAR review, the CAO aligns the SNAP and MA dates. This is more beneficial for the household.
A SNAP/MA household has an August 2007, through July 2008 certification period. The household applies for Cash Assistance on March 5, 2008, but does not provide verification within 30 days. The CAO denies the Cash Assistance application. The household provides all verification on April 12, 2008. The CAO authorizes Cash Assistance with a certification period of April 12, 2008, through April 11, 2009. The CAO completes a SNAP renewal and the new SNAP certification period is May 2008, through April 2009. The SNAP and Cash Assistance SAR due date is October 2008. No SNAP supplemental benefits will be issued or overpayments completed for April and May 2008.
Reissued September 18, 2012, replacing January 31, 2012