reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.180 - Handling Applications for Expedited Service Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Each office shall designate staff to identify households
				eligible for expedited certification and issuance. The designated staff shall
				screen applications as they are filed or as individuals come into the office to
				apply.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.190 - Handling Applications of SSI Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Households of only SSI applicants or recipients may, if they
				choose, apply for SNAP benefits at a Social Security Administration (SSA)
				office. SSA shall handle applications of SSI households that have not applied
				for SNAP benefits in the previous 30 days and that do not have SNAP
				applications pending.
SSA shall inform SSI applicants and recipients of the
				availability of benefits under the SNAP and the availability of a SNAP
				application at SSA offices whenever SSI applicants or recipients conduct
				business at an SSA office. An SSA office is not required to accept SNAP
				applications or to conduct interviews for SSI applicants or recipients who are
				not members of households in which all members are SSI applicants or
				recipients. SSA shall refer non-SSI households to the Department.
SSA shall accept and complete SNAP applications filed at the
				SSA office by SSI households and shall forward them to the Department within
				one working day after receipt of the signed applications. On a form attached to
				the application, SSA will indicate required verifications that are on file at
				the SSA office. Items verified and on file at the SSA office are considered
				verified for SNAP purposes. An application shall be considered filed for normal
				processing standards on the date the identifiable application is received by
				the SSA office. For expedited service, processing time standards begin the date
				the Department receives the application. SNAP eligibility shall be based solely
				on SNAP eligibility criteria.
At initial application, SSI households that have applied at the
				SSA office shall not be subject to an additional interview at the Department.
				The worker shall not contact the household to obtain information for
				certification for SNAP benefits, unless the application is improperly
				completed, mandatory verification is missing, or the worker determines certain
				information on the application is questionable. In no event shall the applicant
				be required to appear at the local office to finalize the eligibility
				determination.
SSI households are considered categorically eligible for SNAP
				benefits in accordance with
				106 CMR
				365.180:
Categorically Eligible
				Assistance Units
.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.200 - Household Concept/Definition

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A SNAP household is defined as:
(1) an individual who lives alone;
(2) an individual living with others who
			 purchases food and prepares meals separately; or
(3) a group of individuals living together
			 who purchase food and prepare meals together.
(A) The following individuals living with
			 others or groups of individuals living together shall be considered as
			 purchasing food and preparing meals together even if they do not do so unless
			 an exception applies:
(1)
Spouse
			 Rule
. An individual living with his or her spouse must be in the
			 same SNAP household as the spouse. Spouses shall not be granted separate
			 household status.
Spouse is defined as either of two individuals who are legally
				married to one another, or who are living together and holding themselves out
				to the community as husband and wife by representing themselves as spouses to
				relatives, friends, neighbors, or tradespeople;
(2)
Parental Control
			 Rule
. A child younger than 18 years old, except for a foster care
			 child (as defined in
			 106 CMR 361.240(F)
			  ), who is living with an adult household
			 member (not the child's parent) and under the parental control of the adult
			 household member, must be in the same SNAP household as the adult household
			 member.
Parental control means providing financial support or
				supervision, or both, to an individual younger than 18 years old;
				and
(3)
Parent/Child Rule
. A child younger than 22 years old
			 living with his or her natural, adopted or stepparent(s) must be in the same
			 SNAP household as the parent(s).
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.230 - Nonhousehold Members

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
In some cases individuals residing within a household cannot be
				considered SNAP household members. Such persons are termed nonhousehold
				members. Except for disqualified individuals described in 106 CMR 361.230(D),
				the nonhousehold member's income and resources shall not be considered in
				determining the household's eligibility and benefit level. Nonhousehold members
				who are otherwise eligible may participate in the program as separate
				households. Nonhousehold members include:
(A)
Roomers
. Roomers
			 are individuals to whom the household furnishes lodging, but not meals, for
			 compensation.
(B)
Live-in Attendants
. Individuals who reside with a
			 household to provide medical, housekeeping, child care, or other similar
			 personal services to household members.
(C)
Students
.
			 Individuals enrolled in an institution of higher education who are ineligible
			 because they fail to meet the eligibility criteria found at
			 106 CMR 362.400:
Student Status
.
(D)
Disqualified
			 Individuals
. Disqualified individuals are people who have been
			 disqualified for any of the reasons described in
			 106 CMR
			 367.800:
Disqualification Penalties
or other sections specified in 106 CMR 361.230(D)(1) through (4):
(1) because they failed to comply with the
			 SNAP Work Program;
(2) because they
			 failed to comply with the requirement to provide and verify a Social Security
			 number at
			 106 CMR
			 362.500:
Social Security
			 Numbers
;
(3) because they
			 have an undetermined noncitizen status, nonimmigrant noncitizen status, or
			 illegally residing noncitizen status as described in
			 106 CMR 362.220:
Noncitizens
; or
(4) because they are legal noncitizens
			 ineligible for federal SNAP benefits as described in
			 106 CMR 362.220:
Noncitizens
.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.240 - Ineligible Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Residents of Commercial Boarding Houses
. Residents of
			 commercial boarding houses are not eligible to participate in the Supplemental
			 Nutrition Assistance Program. A commercial boarding house shall be defined as
			 an establishment that is licensed as a commercial enterprise, and offers meals
			 and lodging for compensation. In cities and towns without licensing
			 requirements, a commercial boarding house shall be defined as a commercial
			 establishment that offers meals and lodging for compensation with the intent of
			 making a profit. The number of boarders residing in a boarding house shall not
			 be used to determine if a boarding house is a commercial enterprise. The
			 household of the owner of a boarding house may participate in SNAP as a
			 household separate and apart from the residents of the boarding house, if the
			 owner's household meets all SNAP eligibility requirements.
(B)
Residents of
			 Institutions
. Individuals shall be considered residents of
			 institutions when the institution provides them with the majority of their
			 meals as part of normal services. A majority of meals is over 50% of three
			 meals daily. Residents of institutions are not eligible for participation in
			 SNAP, with the following five exceptions:
(1)
			 Residents of federally subsidized housing for the elderly built under either
			 Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 or Section 236 of the National Housing
			 Act. Eligible residents do not have to be elderly to receive SNAP
			 benefits;
(2) Residents, with or
			 without their children, of a drug or alcohol treatment center as defined in
			 106 CMR
			 365.610:
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
			 Centers
;
(3) Residents of
			 a group living arrangement (
see
106 CMR
			 365.620:
Group Living
			 Arrangements
) who are blind or disabled and receiving benefits under
			 Title I, Title II, Title X, Title XIV, or Title XVI of the Social Security Act
			 (
see
106 CMR
			 361.210) ;
(4) Residents of shelters for battered
			 individuals and their children as defined in
			 106
			 CMR 365.550:
Residents of Shelters
			 for Battered Women and Their Children
; and
(5) Residents of public and private nonprofit
			 homeless shelters, if otherwise eligible.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.300 - Authorized Representatives

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
			 An authorized representative is someone designated by the head of a household,
			 spouse or other responsible household member to act on behalf of the household
			 in applying for SNAP, obtaining SNAP benefits and/or purchasing food. An
			 organization or institution conducting a drug addiction or alcohol treatment
			 and rehabilitation center in accordance with
			 106 CMR
			 365.610:
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
			 Centers
or nonprofit group living arrangements may also serve in this
			 capacity.
(B) An authorized
			 representative is designated to enable a household to participate in SNAP when
			 the head of the household, spouse or other household member is unable to make
			 an application to obtain SNAP benefits, maintain SNAP benefits and/or purchase
			 food.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.310 - Authorized Representative to Make Application

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
When the head of household, spouse or other household member
				cannot apply for the household, an authorized representative may be designated
				for that purpose.
(A)
Requirements
. The authorized representative must be:
(1) Designated in writing by the head of the
			 household, the spouse, or other responsible household member; and
(2) An adult who is sufficiently aware of
			 relevant household circumstances to represent the household.
Exception
: In the event the only adult
				member of a household is classified as a non-household member (
see
106 CMR
				361.230 ), that person may be designated as
				the authorized representative for household members who are
				minors.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.320 - Authorized Representative to Obtain SNAP Benefits

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The designation of an authorized representative shall be made
				at any time during the application process or certification period. The
				authorized representative shall be named on the Mass EBT Card. The authorized
				representative designated to obtain the SNAP benefits may be the same
				individual designated to make an application for the household or may be
				another individual. Even if a household member is able to make application and
				obtain SNAP benefits, the household should be encouraged to name an authorized
				representative for obtaining SNAP benefits in case of illness or other
				circumstances that may result in the household to be unable to obtain SNAP
				benefits.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.330 - Authorized Representative to Purchase Food

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The authorized representative may use SNAP benefits to purchase
				food for the household's consumption with the full knowledge and consent of the
				household. The authorized representative must have a Mass EBT Card in his or
				her own name when purchasing food with SNAP benefits.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.350 - Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers and Group Living Arrangements as Authorized Representatives

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A designated employee of a drug and alcohol treatment center or
				group living arrangement may act as the authorized representative for residents
				of the facility (
see
106 CMR
				365.600:
Residents of Drug and
				Alcohol Treatment Centers
).
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.360 - Restrictions on Authorized Representatives

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) Department employees involved in the
			 certification or issuance processes and retailers authorized to accept SNAP
			 benefits may act as authorized representatives only with the written approval
			 of the Local Office Director when s/he determines that no one else is available
			 to serve.
(B) Individuals
			 disqualified for fraud shall not act as authorized representatives during the
			 period of disqualification, unless he or she is the only adult member of the
			 household able to act on its behalf and the worker has determined that no one
			 else is available to serve. The worker shall separately determine whether the
			 disqualified person is needed to apply for SNAP on behalf of the household, to
			 obtain SNAP benefits, and to purchase food. For example, the household may have
			 an authorized representative who is not able to purchase food regularly with
			 the SNAP benefits. If the worker cannot locate anyone else to serve as an
			 authorized representative to purchase food regularly with the SNAP benefits,
			 the disqualified member shall be allowed to do so.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.370 - Documentation and Control of Authorized Representatives

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The worker shall ensure that authorized representatives are
				properly designated. The name of the authorized representative shall be
				contained in the household's case file. Limits shall not be placed on the
				number of households an authorized representative may represent. In the event
				that a single authorized representative has access to a large number of SNAP
				benefits, such as an employer of migrant or seasonal farm workers who is
				designated as an authorized representative for several households, the worker
				should exercise caution that:
(A) The
			 household has freely requested the assistance of the authorized
			 representative;
(B) The household's
			 circumstances are correctly represented and the household is receiving the
			 correct amount of SNAP benefits; and
(C) The authorized representative is properly
			 using the SNAP benefits. Except in cases of drug and alcohol treatment centers
			 and group homes, the Department may disqualify the authorized representative
			 from participating as an authorized representative for up to one year if the
			 Department has obtained evidence that the authorized representative has
			 misrepresented a household's circumstances and has knowingly provided false
			 information about the household, or has made improper use of SNAP benefits. The
			 Department shall notify the household and the authorized representative in
			 writing 30 days before disqualification. The notice shall include the proposed
			 action; the reason for the proposed action; the household's right to request a
			 fair hearing; and the appropriate Department telephone number; and the name of
			 the person to contact for additional information.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.400 - Household Refusal to Cooperate

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
To determine eligibility, the information on the application
				must be complete and the application signed, the household or its authorized
				representative must be interviewed, and certain information on the application
				must be verified. If the household refuses to cooperate with the worker in
				completing this process, the application shall be denied at the time of
				refusal.
For a determination of refusal to be made, the household must
				be able to cooperate, but clearly demonstrate that it will not take actions
				that it can take and that are required to complete the application process. For
				example, refusal to be interviewed shall result in a denial; failure to keep an
				appointment for an interview shall not automatically result in a denial. If
				there is any question as to whether the household has merely failed to
				cooperate as opposed to refused to cooperate, the household shall not be
				denied.
The household shall also be determined ineligible if it refuses
				to cooperate in any subsequent review of its eligibility, including reviews
				generated by reported changes, recertifications, or as part of a Quality
				Control review.
Once denied or terminated for refusal to cooperate, the
				household may reapply but shall not be determined eligible until it
				cooperates.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.500 - Interviewing Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
At initial certification, an interview shall not be conducted
				with SSI households that have filed an application at an SSA office.
				(
See
106 CMR
				361.190.)
All other applicant households, including those submitting
				applications by mail, fax or through the online application shall be scheduled
				for a face-to-face interview in the local office unless the office interview
				requirement is waived as provided in
				106 CMR
				361.510. The applicant household must be
				notified of the date and time when the original interview appointment is
				scheduled. If the household does not appear for the interview appointment, the
				worker must notify the household that it missed a scheduled interview and that
				it is the household's responsibility to contact the local office to reschedule
				a missed interview. The interview shall be conducted by the worker prior to
				initial certification and at all recertifications. The individual interviewed
				may be the head of household, spouse, other responsible member of the
				household, or the household's authorized representative. The applicant may
				bring any individuals s/he chooses to the interview.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.510 - Waiver of the Office Interview

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The households in 106 CMR 361.510(A) and (B) shall not be
				required to complete a face-to-face interview in the local office. For these
				households the interview must be conducted by telephone or home visit. However,
				home visits shall be used only if the time of the visit is scheduled in advance
				with the household. Households who have been certified for 24 months shall have
				a telephone interview at the end of the 24-month period. (
See
106 CMR
				366.920:
Regular SSI/SNAP
				Households
.)
(A)
Waiver Granted upon Request
. Any household which is
			 unable to appoint an authorized representative and has no household member able
			 to come into the office because they are elderly or disabled as defined in
			 106 CMR
			 361.210 shall be granted a waiver of the
			 office interview.
(B)
Waiver Granted on Case-by-case Basis
. A waiver of the
			 office interview requirement shall be granted on a case-by-case basis to any
			 household which is unable to appoint an authorized representative and has no
			 household member able to come into the office because of transportation
			 difficulties or similar hardships. Hardship conditions include, but are not
			 limited to: illness; care of a household member; prolonged severe weather; or
			 work hours which preclude an office interview. Mere inconvenience
			 (
i.e
., for the client, it is easier to be interviewed by
			 telephone or to have the worker make a home visit than to go to the office) is
			 not sufficient reason to waive the office interview. The worker shall determine
			 if the transportation difficulty or other hardship reported by the client
			 warrants a waiver of the office interview requirement and shall fully document
			 in the case record why a request for a waiver was granted or denied.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.520 - Verification When Office Interview Is Waived

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Waiver of the office interview does not exempt the household
				from the verification requirements described in
				106 CMR 361.600
				through
				361.660.
				However, special procedures may also be used to permit the household to provide
				verification and thus obtain its benefits in a timely manner. For example, the
				worker may substitute a collateral contact in instances where documentary
				evidence would normally be provided.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.530 - Length of Certification When Office Interview Is Waived

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Waiver of the office interview shall not affect the length of
				the household's certification period.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.540 - Scheduling Interviews

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The worker shall schedule face-to-face or out-of-office
				interviews as promptly as possible to ensure that eligible households are able
				to obtain SNAP benefits within 30 calendar days following the date the
				application is filed. If a household fails to appear for the first interview,
				the worker must notify the household that it missed the interview appointment
				and that it is the household's responsibility to contact the Department to
				reschedule the missed interview. The household may reschedule a missed
				interview without providing good cause for failing to appear for the first
				interview.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.550 - Content of Interviews

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The interview is an official and confidential discussion of
				household circumstances with the applicant. The applicant should be made to
				feel at ease during the interview and the confidentiality of the information
				provided by the applicant must be protected. The scope of the interview may not
				extend beyond an examination of household circumstances which directly relate
				to the determination of household eligibility and benefit level.
The purpose of the interview is to establish to the
				satisfaction of the worker that the actual facts of the case are consistent
				with the information on the application or on previous applications and with
				other information known to the worker concerning household income and
				circumstances and to establish, subject to subsequent verification, whether or
				not the household is eligible for SNAP assistance. To accomplish this purpose,
				the worker shall use interview techniques that explore and resolve with the
				household unclear and incomplete information. Merely reviewing the application
				for completeness is no substitute for a complete interview.
During the interview, the worker shall fully advise the
				household of its rights and responsibilities, including an explanation of the
				application processing standards and the household's responsibility to report
				changes.
At the interview an applying household must report changes
				related to eligibility which have occurred since the application was filed.
				Changes listed in
				106 CMR
				366.110:
Household Reporting
				Responsibilities
which occur after the interview but before the date
				of the notice of eligibility must be reported within ten days of the date of
				the notice.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.600 - Verification

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Verification is the use of third-party information or
				documentation to establish the accuracy of the information provided by the
				applicant. 106 CMR 361.600 through
				361.660
				describe the requirements for verification. Application of these requirements
				to each eligibility factor is discussed in the sections dealing with the
				particular eligibility factor. (
See
106 CMR
				365.180:
Categorically Eligible
				Assistance Units
for verification of factors that are deemed for
				categorically eligible households.)
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.620 - Questionable Information

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
To be considered questionable, the information on the
				application must be inconsistent with statements made by the applicant,
				inconsistent with other information on the application or previous
				applications, or inconsistent with other information known or reported to the
				Department. When determining if information is questionable, the worker must
				review each household's individual circumstances. For example, if a household
				reports expenses that exceed income, the worker may determine that further
				verification is required. This circumstance is not, in and of itself, grounds
				for denial. Instead, the worker must explore with the household how it is
				managing its finances, whether the household has resources or excluded income
				and how long the household has managed under these circumstances.
No group shall be required to provide more intensive
				verification of questionable information due to their race, religion, ethnic
				background, or national origin, such as, but not limited to, migrant
				farmworkers, American Indians or sponsored noncitizens.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.630 - Contradictory Information

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
When information from another source or on the application
				contradicts statements made by the household, either orally or in writing, the
				worker must give the household a reasonable opportunity to resolve the
				discrepancy before making an eligibility determination.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.640 - Sources of Verification

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Sources of verification include documentary evidence,
				collateral contacts or home visits. In all cases the source of the verification
				must be documented in the case record.
(A)
Documentary
			 Evidence
. Workers shall use documentary evidence as the primary
			 source of verification for all items except household size which may be
			 verified by collateral contact. Documentary evidence consists of a written
			 confirmation of a household's circumstances. Examples of documentary evidence
			 shall include: wage stubs, SDX data, and utility bills. Although documentary
			 evidence shall be the primary source of verification, acceptable verification
			 shall not be limited to any specific type of document and may be obtained
			 through the household or other source. Workers shall use an alternate source of
			 verification such as collateral contact or home visit, when documentary
			 evidence cannot be obtained or is insufficient to make a firm determination of
			 eligibility or benefit level.
When the verification is an original document, a photocopy of
				the document must be made, if possible. If circumstances prevent the
				photocopying of a document and a copy is not available, the worker must record
				the source and date of the document. The household must be permitted to keep
				the original document.
(B)
Collateral Contact
. A collateral contact is a verbal
			 confirmation of a household's circumstances by a person outside of the
			 household. The collateral contact may be made either in person or over the
			 telephone. The acceptability of a collateral contact shall not be restricted to
			 a particular individual but may be anyone who can be expected to provide
			 accurate third-party verification of the household's statements. Examples of
			 acceptable collateral contacts are employers, landlords, social service
			 agencies, migrant service agencies, and neighbors of the household. The worker
			 shall rely on the household to provide the name of any collateral contact. The
			 household may request assistance in designating a collateral contact. The
			 worker is responsible for obtaining verification from acceptable collateral
			 contacts and is not required to use a collateral contact designated by the
			 household if it cannot be expected to provide accurate third-party
			 verification. When the collateral contact is unacceptable, the worker shall
			 either ask the household to designate another collateral contact or substitute
			 a home visit.
SDX documents are not considered collateral contacts and
				therefore need not be designated by the household.
(C)
Home Visit
. Home
			 visits shall be used as verification only if documentary evidence cannot be
			 obtained or is insufficient to make a determination of eligibility or benefit
			 level, and the visit is scheduled in advance with the household.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.650 - Responsibility for Obtaining Verification

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The household has primary responsibility for providing
				documentary evidence to support its income statements and to resolve any
				questionable information, provided that nothing in 106 CMR 361.650 shall limit
				the ability of the Department to verify information from other government
				agencies or from banks. Households may supply documentary evidence in person,
				through the mail, or through an authorized representative. The worker shall
				consider any reasonable documentary evidence provided by the household and
				shall be primarily concerned with how adequately the verification proves the
				statements on the application. If it would be difficult or impossible for the
				household to obtain the documentary evidence in a timely manner, or the
				household has presented insufficient documentation, the worker shall either
				offer assistance to the household in obtaining the documentary evidence, except
				when verification of shelter or utility costs for unoccupied homes would have
				to be obtained from a source outside the State, or shall use a collateral
				contact or home visit. The worker shall not require the household to present
				verification in person at the local office.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.660 - Documenting Verification

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Case records must be documented to support eligibility,
				ineligibility, and benefit level determinations. The documentation shall be in
				sufficient detail to permit a Quality Control reviewer to determine the
				reasonableness and accuracy of the determination. If verification was required
				to resolve questionable information, the worker shall document why the
				information was considered questionable and what documentation was used to
				resolve the questionable information. The worker shall also document the reason
				why an alternate source of verification, such as a collateral contact or home
				visit, was needed and the reason a collateral contact was rejected and an
				alternate requested.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.700 - Timeliness Standards for Processing

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The worker shall determine the household's eligibility as soon
				as possible after the household or its authorized representative files the
				application. An application is filed the day the Department, or in the case of
				certain SSI households, the date the SSA office, receives an application
				containing the applicant's name and address, which is signed by either a
				responsible member of the household or the household's authorized
				representative in accordance with
				106 CMR
				361.120.
See
106 CMR
				365.180:
Categorically Eligible
				Assistance Units
for processing standards for categorically eligible
				households and
				106 CMR
				365.120:
Determining Eligibility and
				Benefit Level
for processing standards for PA households.
(A)
Eligible Assistance
			 Units
. Households that are found to be eligible must be provided
			 an opportunity to participate within 30 calendar days following the date of
			 application. An opportunity to participate consists of the Department's issuing
			 SNAP benefits
via
the EBT system before the 30-day processing
			 standard expires. When the Department misses this timeliness standard and the
			 household is eligible for SNAP benefits in the month of application, SNAP
			 benefits must be provided retroactive to the date of application.
(B)
Denying the
			 Application
. Households found ineligible shall be sent a Notice of
			 Denial as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the application was
			 filed.
(1) If the household fails to appear
			 for one scheduled interview, the worker must notify the household that it
			 missed a scheduled interview appointment and that it is the household's
			 responsibility to reschedule that interview. If the household makes no
			 subsequent contact with the Department to reschedule the missed interview, the
			 application shall be denied no later than 30 days after the application was
			 filed. When an application is denied for this reason, the household must file a
			 new application to participate in the program.
(2) In cases where the interview was
			 conducted and all necessary verification was requested on the same day the
			 application was completed, a notice of denial may be sent no sooner than the
			 tenth day nor later than the 30th day if the
			 household did not provide the requested verification as long as:
(a) the household received a statement of
			 required verification and was notified of the date they must be submitted;
			 and
(b) the Department offered to
			 help the household obtain needed verification as required in
			 106 CMR
			 361.650.
If the household complies after the tenth day but before the
				30th day, benefits must be provided back to the date
				of application for eligible households. Delays beyond 30 days must be handled
				in accordance with
				106 CMR
				361.900.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.800 - Expedited Processing

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Applicant households identified in the application screening
				process as eligible for expedited service shall be provided expedited service
				in accordance with
				106 CMR
				365.800:
Expedited
				Service
.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.900 - Delays in Processing

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
If an eligible household is not provided an opportunity to
				participate within 30 days or an ineligible household is not denied within 30
				days, the worker must determine the cause of the delay. In
				106 CMR
				361.910 through
				361.960,
				the word "fault" is used as an administrative term to establish the household's
				entitlement to retroactive benefits.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.910 - Household Caused Delay

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A delay is considered the fault of the household if the
				household has failed to complete the application process even though the worker
				has taken all the action required to assist the household. The worker must have
				taken the actions in
				106 CMR
				361.920 before a delay can be considered the
				fault of the household.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.920 - Department Caused Delay

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A delay shall be considered the fault of the Department if the
				household has met all its obligations in a timely manner, but the worker has
				failed to complete the application process in the appropriate time frames, or
				when the worker has failed to take the following actions:
(A) For households that have failed to
			 complete the application form, the worker must have offered or attempted to
			 offer the household help in completing it.
(B) If one or more members of the household
			 have failed to register for work (
see
106 CMR
			 362.300:
Work Requirements
),
			 the worker must inform the household of the need to register for work and give
			 the household at least ten days from the date of notification to register these
			 members.
(C) In cases where
			 verification is incomplete, the worker must have provided assistance when
			 required in
			 106 CMR
			 361.650 and allowed the household sufficient
			 time to provide the missing verification. Assistance includes informing the
			 household of all the verifications required as well as the alternative forms of
			 verification accepted and assisting the household in obtaining these
			 verifications. Sufficient time is at least ten days from the date of the
			 initial request for the particular verification that was missing.
(D) For households that have failed to appear
			 for the first interview but have contacted the worker to reschedule the missed
			 interview, the worker must have attempted to reschedule the interview within 30
			 calendar days following the date the application was filed. However, if the
			 household has failed to appear for the first interview and a subsequent
			 interview is postponed at the household's request or cannot otherwise be
			 rescheduled until after the 20th day but before the
			 30th day following the date the application was
			 filed, the household must appear for the interview, bring verification, and
			 register members for work by the 30th day;
			 otherwise, the delay shall be the fault of the household. If the household
			 failed to appear for the first interview and a subsequent interview is
			 postponed at the household's request until after the
			 30th day following the date the application was
			 filed, the delay shall be the fault of the household. If the household has
			 missed both scheduled interviews and requests another interview, any delay
			 shall be the fault of the household.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.930 - Notification of Pending Status

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
If the worker cannot make an eligibility determination within
				30 calendar days as specified in
				106 CMR
				361.700, he or she shall send the household a
				Notice of Pending Status on the 30th day. The Notice
				of Pending Status will inform the household that its application has not been
				completed and is being processed. If some action by the worker is needed to
				complete the application process, he or she shall take immediate corrective
				action.
If some action by the household is needed to complete the
				application process, the notice shall also explain what action the household
				must take and that its application will be denied if the required action is not
				taken within 60 calendar days following the date the application was filed. If
				the pending status is the result of lack of verifications needed to make a
				determination of eligibility, the written notice must also contain a statement
				advising the household of the missing verification(s) and the option to contact
				the worker for assistance. The worker shall inform the household of the
				alternative verifications that are acceptable and the time frame for submitting
				the verifications. No further action is required by the worker after the Notice
				of Pending Status is sent if the household fails to take the required action
				within 60 calendar days following the date the application was
				filed.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.940 - Providing Benefits to Eligible Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
If the delay in the first 30-day period is considered to be the
				fault of the Department and the household was eligible for the month of
				application, benefits will be provided retroactively to the date of
				application. If the delay in the first 30-day period is considered to be the
				fault of the household, benefits are provided beginning with the month in which
				the household completes the application process.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.950 - Notice of Denial to Ineligible Households

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
If the household is found ineligible during the second 30-day
				period, the worker shall send a Notice of Denial to the household. If the
				denial is a result of lack of verifications needed to make a determination of
				eligibility, the written notice shall inform the household of their right to
				reapply at any time and shall also contain a statement advising the household
				of the missing verifications and the option to contact the Department for
				help.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 361.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): application process › Section 361.960 - Delays Beyond 60 Days

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
If an eligibility determination is not made by the
				60th day following the date the application was
				filed, the worker must ensure that the application process is completed.
(A)
Case Information and
			 Verification Complete
. When the worker has received all needed
			 case information and verifications, the household has met all its obligations.
			 The worker must continue to process the application until the household is
			 found eligible or ineligible:.
(1)
			 Retroactive benefits are provided to eligible households in accordance with the
			 provisions of
			 106 CMR
			 361.940.
(2) If the household is found ineligible, the
			 worker must send a Notice of Denial to the household.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 362.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards › Section 362.050 - Introduction

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
106 CMR 362.000 describes
				the nonfinancial eligibility standards that must be met by SNAP applicants and
				clients. Nonfinancial eligibility standards are residency, citizenship, alien
				status, student eligibility, and work registration. These eligibility standards
				must be met by all household members before a household's financial eligibility
				is determined.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 362.000 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards › Section 362.100 - Residency

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A household must be living in the state in which it files an
				application. In any month no individual may participate as a member of more
				than one household nor may any household participate in more than one state.
				The only individuals exempt from these dual participation restrictions are
				certain residents of shelters for battered women and their children as defined
				in
				106
				CMR 365.550:
Residents of Shelters
				for Battered Women and Their Children.
There is no durational
				residency or fixed residency requirement. For example, migrant campsites
				satisfy the residency requirement. Residency does not require an intent to live
				in the area permanently. However, individuals in an area solely for vacation
				purposes are not considered residents. An otherwise eligible household is not
				required to live in a permanent dwelling or have a fixed mailing address as a
				condition of eligibility.