NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
July 27, 2009

IM 5074

TO:		County Social Service Directors
Economic Assistance Policy Regional Representatives
Economic Assistance Policy Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Tove Mandigo, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	Expedited Service at Recertification		 

PROGRAMS:	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

EFFECTIVE:	Immediately

RETENTION: 	Until Manualized

SECTIONS 	
AFFECTED:	430-05-35-20-25 – Recertifications Received After Expiration of the Certification Period
		430-05-35-25 – Expedited Service at Recertification

Recertifications Received after Expiration of Certification Period 430-05-35-20-25
 
If a household files a recertification application the month following the last month of the certification period, it is considered an application for recertification; however, benefits must be prorated.  If the household is entitled to expedited services, processing at 430-05-35-25 – Expedited Services at Recertification must be followed.  

If the household is not entitled to expedited services or entitled to expedited services and certified with no postponed information/verification, notice F104 – SNAP Recert – After Cert Expired must be sent to the household.
 
Example:

A household's certification period expired on June 30 and the household did not file a recertification application in the last month of their certification period (June). The household files a recertification application on July 9. The recertification application is used and benefits are prorated from July 9. A new Application for Assistance, SFN 405, is not required. 

The worker must revert the case to open, NEXT to CLIR and use function number 3, enter the case number, office, unit and caseload number and enter off the screen. On the REAP screen, the worker must enter the date the recertification application was received on the Application Received line.

Expedited Service at Recertification 430-05-35-25

Expedited service does not apply at recertification unless the household files a recertification application after the end of its current certification period. 

If a household files a recertification application after the end of its current certification period and an interview is required, Expedited Processing Standards at 430-05-20-50-15 apply.  

If a household files a recertification application after the end of its current certification period and no interview is required, the following procedures apply.

County procedures must be designed to identify households eligible for expedited service at the time of recertification after expiration of the certification period when no interview is required by conducting a pre-screening.  The recertification application must be used to screen for expedited services.  If the household completes the SFN 405 - Application for Assistance instead of the recertification application, it must be accepted in place of the SFN 407 and Section 1 is used to screen for expedite.  A household cannot waive its right to expedited service.  

The recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 will be considered a completed recertification if the household is entitled to expedited service and it contains the applicant’s name, address, household composition, income, assets and the signature of the applicant, a responsible household member or authorized representative.  If the shelter/utility cost questions are not completed, it is still considered complete.  

If the recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 is not considered complete, the worker must attempt to contact the household to complete the screening.  If the county is not able to complete the screening, the pending notice is sent for completion of the recertification application or the SFN 405.  

If the household is entitled to expedited service, the completed recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 must be registered.  An interview IS NOT required to process the recertification.  The recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 is processed within the expedited processing standard using the information and verifications provided at the time of filing.  Verifications not provided at the time of filing must be postponed in order to meet the expedited timeframe.

When the remainder of the recertification application or SFN 405 and verifications are postponed, the household must be certified for one or two months as follows:
1.	If the household filed their recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 on or before the 15th of the month, the household must be certified for that month only.
When certified only for one month, the worker must send notices F101 - Expedited SNAP Application Waived Verification, F802 - SNAP 1 or 2 Month Certification Expiration Notice, and provide the household with SFN 407 - Recertification for SNAP.  The household must complete the recertification form and provide all necessary verifications in order to continue to be eligible.   
2.	If the household filed their recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 on the 16th of the month or later, the household must be certified for the month of recertification and the following month. Benefits for the second month must not be issued until the remainder of the recertification application or SFN 405 and all postponed verifications have been provided. 
Exception:
If expenses were postponed and not provided, the second benefit month is issued without allowing unverified expenses.
Benefits for the second month must be issued no later than the 5th working day from the date the remainder of the recertification application or SFN 405 - Section 1 and verifications are received, or the 1st of the second month, whichever is later.
When certified for the month of recertification and the following month, the worker must send notices F101 - Expedited SNAP Waived Verification and F802 - SNAP 1 or 2 Month Certification Expiration Notice .  If the recertification is processed after the 25th day of the recertification month, the worker must also provide the household with form SFN 407 - Recertification for SNAP.  The household must complete the recertification form and provide all necessary verifications in order to continue to be eligible.   

If you have questions, please contact your Regional Representative.