Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Hurricanes Irma and Maria Guidance; PFS 18760-504 (Published December 4, 2017)
SNAP Eligibility for Puerto Rico Evacuees; PFS 18713-504 (Published October 16, 2017)
e-Signatures and Community Partners; PFS-17644-503 (Revised August 6, 2015)
The application process starts when a household files an identifiable application in the correct CAO. The CAO must accept and process any identifiable application that has all of the following information:
A name
An address
A signature
The application form may be filed by any of the following methods:
In person
Through an AR
By fax
By mail
By completing a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Application for Social Services (COMPASS) online electronic application.
The application may be filed by anyone, whether or not that person is applying for benefits.
The CAO must date-stamp the application on the day of receipt and authorize SNAP benefits retroactively to the application date if the household is eligible in the application month.
If the CAO learns during an interview for cash assistance that the household wants to apply for SNAP benefits, the CAO may use the same application to decide whether the household is eligible for SNAP benefits.
The eligibility date depends on when the CAO became aware of the household’s request.
If the CAO is aware of the request within 30 days from the date of the application, the CAO must use the date it received the application.
If the CAO is not aware of the request until after 30 days, the household is eligible for SNAP benefits from the date of the request.
If the applicant applied only for Medical Assistance using a PA 600CH, PA 600M, or COMPASS, he or she must turn in a second application for SNAP benefits. The date of the second application is the application date.
A new application is not required if a SNAP application is denied or SNAP benefits close and the household reapplies within 30 days of the denial or closing, see Chapter 579. If the household submits a new application, the CAO must review it for expedited service.
The following persons may apply:
The head of household
The spouse of the head of household
Any other responsible household member
A designated AR (see Chapter 505)
A responsible member of the household must prepare or review the application even when an AR submits the application and does the interview. The CAO must give the household a toll-free telephone number or a number that accepts collect calls so that the household can get help with the form and ask questions. The CAO must explain that the household is responsible for any incorrect information the AR gives.
For the CAO to decide on eligibility, a household must:
Submit an identifiable application to the CAO that can be mailed or faxed with a signature page or can be completed online and signed by e-Signature;
Have an interview to give additional information; and
7 CFR § 273.2(d)(1)
Give proof of certain information.
The e-Signature
The following rules apply when an e-Signature is used:
The applicant does not have to turn in a signed signature page to the CAO.
The CAO must see the e-Signature designator on CAPWEB, showing an “E” behind the print status for all e-Signature applications.
The initials of the person e-signing and the COMPASS submission date must show in the signature block on the COMPASS signature page.
The e-signature information must also be on page 1 of the PA 600 summary.
The applicant must mail or fax all proof to the CAO.
CAO Duties
The CAO will take the following actions:
Complete a preliminary review for expedited services (see Chapter 506).
7 CFR § 273.2(i)(2)
Conduct an application interview separately or at the same time as the preliminary review (see Section 504.4).
Give each applicant household a copy of the Appointment Notice and Verification Checklist (PA 253).
7 CFR § 273.2(c)(5)
Help the household complete the application and get verification information (see Chapter 578).
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(5)(i) and 7 CFR § 273.2(e)
Verify certain information.
Approve or reject the application.
The CAO must reject an application if the household is able to take actions required to complete the application but refuses to do so.
The CAO must not deny an application if the household merely failed to cooperate rather than refused to cooperate. For example, to be denied for refusal to cooperate, a household must refuse to be interviewed, not merely fail to appear for the interview.
NOTE: Once it is denied SNAP benefits for refusing to cooperate, a household may reapply, but it is not eligible until it cooperates.
The CAO must not find the household ineligible when a person outside the household fails to cooperate with a request for verification. Persons who live in the home but are not household members or are ineligible members are not considered as "outside the household." Examples of such persons include:
Ineligible students
Ineligible noncitizens
Persons disqualified for intentional program violation or noncompliance with work requirements
Persons disqualified for failure to provide a Social Security number
Persons who fail to declare whether they are citizens or not
Every household must cooperate with state and federal quality control (QC) reviews. A household that does not cooperate with QC reviews is ineligible for SNAP benefits.
QC must give the CAO written notice that the household did not cooperate. The CAO must then notify the household of the proposed end of benefits using an Advance Notice of Adverse Action.
If the household cooperates with the QC review after it receives the notice, either before or after benefits stop, there is no penalty period.
If the household does not cooperate, there is a time penalty before the household may be eligible to participate again.
State quality control
For state QC, the household is ineligible through the remainder of the current annual review period (October 1 through September 30) and until January 4 of the following calendar year.
Examples:
On December 1, 2008, Mr. B. refused to cooperate with the state quality control reviewer. Effective January 1, 2009, the household's SNAP benefits ended. Mr. B. reapplied on March 1, 2009. The household was ineligible because the review period had not ended. Mr. B. remained ineligible until January 4, 2010.
On May 1, 2009, Mrs. K. refused to cooperate with the state quality control reviewer. Effective June 1, 2009, the household's SNAP benefits ended. Mrs. K. reapplied on January 4, 2010. The household was then eligible, because the penalty period ended January 3, 2010.
Federal quality control
For federal QC, the household is ineligible through the rest of the current annual review period (October 1 to September 30) and until May 1 of the following calendar year.
Examples:
On August 1, 2009, Mrs. S. refused to cooperate with the federal QC reviewer. Effective September 1, 2009, the CAO stopped the household's SNAP benefits. Mrs. S. reapplied on February 2, 2010. She was not eligible until May 1, 2010.
On March 3, 2008, Mr. W. refused to cooperate with the federal QC reviewer. Effective April 1, 2008, the CAO stopped the household's benefits. Mr. W. reapplied on May 1, 2009. The household was eligible, because the penalty period ended April 30, 2009.
If a household’s benefits are ended for refusal to cooperate, the household may reapply, but it may not be found eligible until the household cooperates with the QC reviewer or the penalty period ends.
In cases where the household refused to cooperate and there was a penalty period, the household must verify all factors of eligibility before it is eligible to participate.
A household may voluntarily withdraw its application anytime prior to the eligibility determination. If the household indicates they no longer wish to pursue the bene fit the CAO must take the following actions:
Advise the household of its right to reapply at any time.
Reject the application in e-CIS using reason code 063.
Send a Notice of Ineligibility to inform the household that the application was denied because of the withdrawal request and that it has the right to appeal.
For mixed (Cash and SNAP or MA and SNAP) applications, a signed Voluntary Withdrawal Form (PA 1829) is necessary.
NOTE: The PA 1829 is preferred but a written statement from the applicant is sufficient if the following items are included:
List of person(s) in the household and the programs from which they are withdrawing.
Reason for withdrawal.
Applicant's signature and date.
For SNAP-only applications, the client's statement is sufficient.
Narrate the contact with the household and the reason for withdrawal.
Do not use reason code 063 if the household is determined ineligible for other reasons. For example, if the household is over the income limit, process the case with the stated or verified income to initiate sending a proper notice.
The month of application for all households turning in a first-time application is the calendar month in which the household filed its application.
Usually, the month of application is the first month of the household’s first certification period. The CAO must decide if the household is eligible during the month of application based on circumstances for the entire calendar month, even if the household filed its application on the last day of that calendar month.
7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1)(ii)
The CAO must prorate the benefits for the month of application using the number of days remaining from the date of application to the end of the month.
Migrant or seasonal farm workers are an exception and may receive a full opening month's benefit if they participated in the SNAP program in another county or state within 30 days before the date of application.
The CAO must use SNAP eligibility criteria to decide whether a household applying for benefits is eligible and the amount they can get. The CAO must decide eligibility based on the following:
Household composition (see Chapter 510)
Identity (see Chapter 520)
Citizenship (see Chapter 522)
Residence (see Chapter 523)
Enumeration (see Supplemental Handbook, Chapter 950)
Employment and training requirements (see Chapter 535)
Resources (see Chapter 540)
Income (see Chapter 550)
Income deductions (see Chapter 560)
An inquiry is a face-to-face, written, or telephone request by a person for information only, not for benefits.
When an inquiry is made, the CAO must take the following actions:
Make sure the inquiring household gets a PA 600 application form.
Encourage the household to file an application the same day it contacts the CAO.
Tell the household it does not have to be interviewed before filing the application.
The CAO must put up signs in offices explaining the processing standards and the right to file an application on the day the household first contacts the CAO.
When it gets an inquiry by telephone, the CAO must take the following actions:
Encourage the caller to apply for SNAP benefits at the CAO on the day of the telephone call or to apply by online electronic application (COMPASS).
Explain expedited service and decide on the household's possible eligibility.
Explain that SNAP benefits are available to an eligible household within five days after it turns in the application.
Mail a PA 600 and related forms on the day of the inquiry if the household cannot or does not want to apply online with a COMPASS electronic application or come to the CAO in person.
The CAO must mail the application and related forms, including information on expedited SNAP benefits, on the day of the inquiry.
When a person asks about SNAP benefits at the CAO, the CAO must take the following actions:
Give the person an application.
Encourage the person to file that same day.
Explain expedited service and decide on the household's possible eligibility.
Explain that SNAP benefits are available to an eligible household within five days after it turns in the application.
The CAO must provide appropriate language assistance, such as bilingual staff, interpreters, and written translations.
Updated December 4, 2017, replacing June 14, 2016