Hawaii Administrative Rules › Title 17 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Department of Human Services › Chapter 647 - APPLICATION PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS › Subchapter 4 - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR FOOD STAMPS › Section 17-647-35 - Actions on eligible households with unverified deductible expenses

Current through June, 2024
(a) If a household claims actual utility
				  expenses in excess of the utility standards and the expense would actually
				  result in a deduction, the expenses shall be verified.
(b) If the household's actual utility
				  expenses cannot be verified before the thirty days allowed to process the
				  application expire, the branch shall use the appropriate standard utility
				  allowances, provided the household shall be entitled to the use of these
				  standards.
(c) If the household
				  wishes to claim expenses for an unoccupied home, the branch shall verify the
				  household's actual utility expenses for the unoccupied home in every case and
				  shall not use any of the standard utility allowances.
(d) If a deductible expense must be verified
				  and obtaining the verification may delay the household's certification, the
				  branch shall advise the household that the household's eligibility and benefit
				  level shall be determined without providing a deduction for the claimed but
				  unverified expense. Medical and shelter costs shall be computed without
				  including the questionable and unverified components. The standard utility
				  allowances shall be used if the household is entitled to claim them and has not
				  verified higher actual costs.
(e)
				  If the expense cannot be verified within thirty days of the date of
				  application, the branch shall determine the household's eligibility and benefit
				  level without providing a deduction for the unverified expense.
(f) If the household subsequently provides
				  the missing verification, the branch shall determine the household's benefits
				  as follows:
(1) For prospectively budgeted
				  households as specified in chapter 17-681, the branch shall redetermine the
				  household's benefits and shall provide increased benefits, if any, in
				  accordance with the timeliness standards on reported changes provided in
				  chapter 17-655.
(2) For
				  retrospectively budgeted households as specified in chapter 17-681:
(A) If the household is in the first
				  beginning month (as defined in chapter 17-681), the expense shall be allowed
				  for the next prospectively budgeted month. If computer processing does not
				  allow for the change to be effective with the next allotment issued, the branch
				  shall supplement the household for any underpayment;
(B) If the household is in the second
				  beginning month, the expense shall be allowed for the second retrospective
				  month and the household supplemented any underpayment which occurs due to
				  computer processing deadline delays; or
(C) If the household is already in the
				  retrospective cycle, the household shall be allowed the expense in the
				  corresponding issuance month from the month that the expense is billed or
				  otherwise becomes due in accordance with chapter 17-681.