The CAO will transfer the case record when a household reports a permanent move to another county within Pennsylvania
The household’s certification and benefits will continue without interruption. A new application is not required in the gaining county.
The losing CAO will send a Confirming Notice.
An identical SNAP budget will be opened in the gaining county.
Exceptions: The losing CAO will not transfer cases when:
An application, SAR review, or renewal is pending;
The certification period has expired or will expire within the month and the renewal has not been completed;
The case is in suspension;
NOTE: The CAO will resolve the issues related to the suspension before transferring the case.
The case receives Extended SNAP.
NOTE: The CAO will not transfer the case until Extended SNAP ends, a review is completed, and the household is found eligible to continue to receive SNAP benefits.
The case is open in the Pennsylvania Combined Application Project (PA CAP) (see Operations Memoranda 070104).
The losing CAO will take the following actions to process a SNAP intercounty transfer:
Data-enter the new address immediately.
NOTE: The CAO must inquire about shelter or utility obligations and request verification if any are questionable. If the household does not provide the requested verification, the CAO will follow the procedures in Section 570.4.
Discuss eligibility of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) eligibility, if there are any in the household. (See Section 575.24 for the ABAWD policy.)
Clear any IEVS dispositions.
Take action to process any changes that are required prior to the transfer and any other changes the household reports.
Review the case record to ensure that documents are properly filed.
Notify the gaining CAO of the case circumstances. The recommended method of contact is email. The caseworker must include all information provided by the recipient and any other relevant case or budget information, including the renewal due date.
Transfer the case record to the new CAO within five days after the move is reported and case requirements are completed.
Narrate the reason for transfer and any actions taken.
Send the client a confirming notice (reason code 099, option 3) that includes the following information:
Losing county name
Gaining county name
Effective date of the transfer
Date the benefits will open in the gaining county
Renewal date
Address and phone number of the new CAO
The gaining CAO will take the following actions when notified of the intercounty transfer:
Enter the case into Application Processing;
Open all budget group members for the remainder of the certification period. (There must be no lapse in benefits.);
Review ABAWD status, if applicable;.
Determine through system inquiry the date the transfer will be effective;
Request the transfer of case file material;
Narrate receipt of the case and any relevant information relating to the transfer; and
Ensure that duplicate participation does not occur.
NOTE: Expedited service procedures do not apply in an intercounty transfer, as there is no break in the household’s receipt of benefits.
NOTE: Any appeal will be heard in the new county of residence.
The move to a new county does not affect the recipient’s access to any benefits remaining in the EBT account. The primary account number (PAN), which is based on the recipient’s eCIS individual number, does not change because of an intercounty move as benefits are posted to the existing account.
The recipient can continue to use the PA EBT ACCESS card that the original CAO issued. The new CAO will issue replacement cards as needed.
7 CFR § 273.3
Reissued, March 1, 2012 replacing April 27, 2009