119.01 When Eligibility Is Uncertain SR 15-04, 05/15 (FSM-A)

When eligibility for public assistance or SSI is uncertain, determine Food Stamp eligibility first.

If the Food Stamp application is approved and the public assistance or SSI request is later approved, do all of the following:

. process the public assistance or SSI approval as a reported change;

. adjust the Food Stamp certification period, if necessary;

. notify the household of the changes; and

. if the individual's public assistance or SSI check is delayed beyond the first month of eligibility, disregard the retroactive portion of the first check as a lump sum payment.

If the Food Stamp application is approved and the public assistance or SSI request is later denied, continue Food Stamp eligibility based on the original application and reported changes.

If the individual meets Food Stamp eligibility requirements but is over the income or resource limits, hold the Food Stamp decision until the 30th day from the application date or the date the public assistance or SSI determination is made, whichever occurs first.

If the public assistance or SSI request is approved by the 30th day, determine whether the household is eligible for Food Stamps.

If the Food Stamp application is denied due to excess income or resources prior to the public assistance or SSI determination (because of the 30-day application processing time frame), do all of the following:

. determine Food Stamp eligibility via the categorical eligibility criteria. If eligible, open the Food Stamp case using the original application and any updated information;

. if the household is not eligible via the categorical eligibility criteria:

- determine Food Stamp eligibility via the expanded categorical eligibility criteria. If eligible, open the Food Stamp case using the original application and any updated information;

. if the household is not eligible via the expanded categorical eligibility criteria:

- determine Food Stamp eligibility for regular Food Stamp benefits.

. if the household is not eligible via the regular Food Stamp eligibility criteria:

- issue a Notice of Decision which informs the household of the denial;

- if the household is denied pending an SSI decision, send the household a manual Notice of Decision informing them of the denial. Advise individuals that if they become eligible for SSI, they may become eligible for Food Stamps;

- keep the application easily retrievable;

- contact the household and update the information without requiring a new interview, if the public assistance or SSI request is later approved;

- if eligible, open the Food Stamp case using the original application and any updated information; and

- prorate Food Stamps from the beginning of the period for which public assistance or SSI benefits are authorized (or would have been paid, for a case subject to the $*16 minimum grant requirement), or the original application date, whichever is later.

References: RSA 167:4,I(a), RSA 167:7,IV, 7 USC 2014, 7 USC 2017