Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 301 - SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RULES › FS-700's › 700 - ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES › Section 144-301-700-FS 777-5 - Notices

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
GENERAL RULE
- Whenever the agency takes an
						action affecting the household's eligibility or benefits, an adequate notice
						shall be provided (FS 999-1).
EXCEPTION:
No notice is required when the
						entire household dies or moves out of State.
NOTE:
The Department will use the same
						procedure when mailing documents or an EBT card to the designated address of a
						participant in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). The administrators of
						the Address Confidentiality Program will then forward the mail to the ACP
						participant. Therefore, the ACP participant will experience delays in receiving
						mail.
APPLICATION NOTICES
- Applicant households
						shall be mailed an adequate notice of the agency's action within thirty days of
						the application date. The notice shall contain the following:
1. The amount of benefits, including any
					 retroactive payment and the period covered;
2. length of certification.
REDETERMINATION NOTICES
- Participating
						households which meet the "timely redetermination" time standards listed at FS
						666-9 shall be mailed an adequate notice of the agency action by the end of the
						household's current certification period.
Participating households which do not meet the timely
						redetermination time standards shall be mailed an adequate notice of agency
						action within 30 days after the date the redetermination form was filed.
ADVANCE NOTICE RESULTING FROM REPORTED CHANGES AND
						COMPUTER MATCHES OTHER THAN BEERS or IRS
- When a change results in a
						decrease, closure, or suspension, the household shall be mailed an adequate
						notice at least twelve days in advance of the effective date of the
						action.
EXCEPTIONS:
Advance notice is not required
						for the following instances:
- the household's address is unknown and mail directed to
						it has been returned by the post office indicating no known forwarding address,
						and there has been an attempt to contact the household by phone. If household
						contacts the Department within 30 days of closure date, benefits can be
						reinstated.
- a mass change which is not based upon a computer to
						computer match with Federal records;
- the decrease or closure is solely due to written
						information provided and signed by a responsible member of the household which
						includes a request that the action take effect immediately;
- the household voluntarily requests, in writing or
						verbally to a case worker, that its participation be terminated. If the request
						is verbal, the caseworker shall send the household a letter confirming the
						voluntary withdrawal.
- mandatory allotment reduction;
- the household has been receiving restored benefits in
						installments and the restoration has been completed;
- the decrease or closure is the result of a
						disqualification for an intentional program violation.
NOTE
: Adequate notice of the agency action
						shall be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the normal issuance
						date.
ADVANCE NOTICE RESULTING FROM COMPUTER TO COMPUTER
						MATCHES WITH BEERS or IRS RECORDS
When an adverse action is the result
						of a computer to computer match involving automated BEERS or IRS records, the
						household shall be mailed an adequate notice at least 30 days in advance of the
						effective date of the action.
OTHER CHANGE NOTICES
When a reported change
						results in an increase or the benefit remains the same, the household will be
						mailed an adequate notice at least five days prior to the normal issuance
						date.