HouseholdClosed People who buy and prepare food together. Spouses, parents, and children who live together are usually counted as the same household. Composition

205 Group Homes

Overview

Residents of group homes who are blind or disabledClosed A member of a household who meets one of the following criteria: 1.Eligible to receive SSI benefits, including presumptive SSI payments, or is eligible as a 1619B under SSI criteria. 2.Is determined disabled by SSA and in receipt of disability payments. 3.Is a recipient of disability related medical assistance under Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act). Eligibility to receive these benefits must be based on disability or blindness criteria, which is at least as stringent as SSI regulations. 4.Is in receipt of disability retirement benefits from a government agency because of a disability considered permanent under Social Security disability criteria. 5.Is a veteran with a service connected or non-service connected disability. 6.Is a veteran considered by the VA in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently house bound under Title 38 of the United States Code. 7.Is a surviving spouse of a veteran and considered by the VA in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently house bound or a surviving child of a veteran and considered by the VA as permanently incapable of self-support under Title 38 of the United States Code. 8.Is a surviving spouse or surviving child of a veteran and considered by the VA entitled to compensation for a service-connected death or pension benefits for a non-service-connected death under Title 38 of the United States Code and has a disability considered permanent. Entitled refers to a surviving spouse and surviving children who are receiving the compensation or pension benefits stated or have been approved for such payments but are not yet receiving them. 9.Is in receipt of a Railroad Retirement disability annuity and has been determined to qualify for Medicare. 10.Is in receipt of SSI optional or mandatory supplementation. (North Dakota does not have SSI optional or mandatory supplementation. However, someone moving to North Dakota may have received this benefit from another state.) 11. Is in receipt of disability-based State general assistance benefits, provided that the eligibility to receive any of these benefits is based upon disability or blindness criteria established by the state they receive the benefit from, which are at least as stringent as those used under SSI regulations. (North Dakota does not have disability-based State general assistance benefits. However, someone moving to North Dakota may have received this benefit from another state.) may be eligibleClosed Having met the qualifications to receive a SNAP benefit by meeting the specified nonfinancial and financial requirements of eligibility. to receive SNAP benefits. The group home must be a public or private nonprofit residential setting that serves no more than 16 residents. In order to certify residents of a group home to receive SNAP benefits the facility must provide evidence it is either:

  1. Authorized by FNS as a retailer ; or,

  2. Certified by the appropriate State agency, including the center is a non-profit organization; and,

  3. In compliance with SNAP regulations regarding authorized representativeClosed A responsible adult non-household member authorized in writing by the household to make application, receive SNAP benefits and/or purchase food for the household.; and,

  4. Serves no more than 16 residents.

     

Residents of group homes may apply either:

  1. On their own behalf (household size can include one or more members); or,

  2. With an authorized representative employed by and designated by the group home or chosen by the resident (household size is one).

     

  1. The group home staff determines when a resident requires an authorized representative. The determination is based on the resident’s physical and mental ability to handle his/her affairs.

  2. The group home, acting as the authorized representative for a resident who cannot apply on their own behalf, is responsible and liable for:

    1. reporting a changeClosed Information that is different from what is currently used to determine eligibility and/or benefits. according to the resident’s reporting requirements.

    2. any misrepresentation of information or Intentional Program Violation knowingly committed regarding the resident’s eligibility.

    3. loss or misuse of the resident’s SNAP benefits; and,

    4. all over-issuances occurring while serving as the resident’s authorized representative.

  3. Ensure the applicationClosed Filing a signed Application for Assistance via paper application or through the self-service portal of the eligibility system to establish eligibility and assign a review period. or reviewClosed Filing a signed Application for Review via paper review form or through the self-service portal of the eligibility system for SNAP eligibility with the human service zone to determine continuing eligibility and establish a new review period. form indicates the facility as the authorized representative if the group home staff determines a resident requires an authorized representative.

  4. The facility must provide the Human Service Zone a monthly SFN 202 listing current participating residents. The SFN 202 needs to include a statement signed by a responsible center official attesting to the validity of the list. The Human Service Zone must submit the completed SFN 202 forms to the State Office quarterly along with the SFN 788.

  5. The Human Service Zone must conduct periodic random on-site visits to ensure the accuracy of the lists and that the HSZ’s records are consistent and up to date. These reviews must be conducted at least annually using SFN 450, which is then sent to the State SNAP office.

  6. When a resident leaves the group home, the group home must provide the discharged resident with:

    • their North Dakota EBT cardClosed A North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services debit card issued to access SNAP benefits from EBT accounts. and personal identification number (PIN); and

    • the full monthly SNAP benefit (if no benefits were spent on the resident’s behalf) regardless of when the resident leaves the facility during the month; or

    • one-half of the resident’s monthly SNAP benefit amount if the resident leaves before the 16th of the month and some or all of the SNAP benefits have been spent; or

    • any of the resident’s remaining SNAP benefits if the resident leaves after the 16th of the month; and,

    • If the resident leaves the group home unannounced, the group home must return the individual’s EBT card and remaining benefits to the Zone Agency along with identifying information for the individual at the end of the month.

       

  1. The group home room expense that can be separately identified from other charges for meals or medical is the allowable shelter expense.

  2. If the group home room and meal expense cannot be separately identified, the amount of the payment that exceeds the Thrifty Food PlanClosed Diet required to feed a family in accordance with guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The cost of that diet is the basis for uniform allotments for all households. The thrifty food plan is based on 100% of the federal poverty level. for the number of person(s) in the household is the shelter expense.

     

References: 7 CFR 273.1(b), 273.11(f)

Revised: 5/16/2025