Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 475 - SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › Chapter 4 - BENEFITS › Section 475-4-002 - CERTIFICATION PERIODS

Current through June 17, 2024
The Department will determine a definite period of time for which a
	 household is eligible to receive benefits. At the expiration of the
	 certification period, the household loses its entitlement to Supplemental
	 Nutrition Assistance Program benefits until it is recertified based on a new
	 application, an interview if required, and providing the required
	 verifications. Under no circumstances will the Department continue benefits
	 beyond the end of a certification period without a new determination of
	 eligibility.
002.01
CALENDAR MONTHS.
The Department sets the certification
  period to conform to calendar months. For the initial certification, the
  Department uses the month of application, if eligible, as the first month in
  the certification period, even if the household's eligibility is not determined
  until a later month. For recertification, the certification period will begin
  the month following the last month of the previous certification
  period.
002.02
LENGTH
  OF CERTIFICATION PERIODS.
The length of the certification period
  assigned to a household is determined by the household's reporting category and
  circumstances. If the household is ineligible for the application month and
  eligible for the month following the application month, the certification
  period begins with the first month the household is eligible for Supplemental
  Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
002.02(A)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS
  FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN SIMPLIFIED REPORTING.
When the Supplemental
  Nutrition Assistance Program household is assigned to Simplified Reporting at
  initial determination of eligibility or at recertification and all adult
  members are elderly or disabled with no earned income, the household will be
  given a 12 month certification period. All other households assigned to
  Simplified Reporting at initial determination of eligibility or at
  recertification will be given a six month certification period.
002.02(B)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS
  FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN TRANSITIONAL BENEFIT REPORTING.
The household is
  assigned to the Transitional Benefit Reporting category during an existing
  certification period from the Simplified Reporting category. When a Simplified
  Reporting household is assigned to the Transitional Benefit Reporting category,
  the end date of the current certification period is extended, if applicable, to
  give the household five months of benefits in the Transitional Benefit
  Reporting category. The household cannot be assigned to Transitional Benefit
  Reporting at initial determination of eligibility or at
  recertification.
002.02(C)
CERTIFICATION PERIODS FOR EXPEDITED SERVICES.
A
  certification period is assigned based on the household's circumstances and
  reporting category. The household may provide all verifications or postpone
  verifications other than the identity of the head of the household and
  authorized representative, if appropriate, for the first two months' issuance.
  When the household has postponed verifications and provides, at a minimum,
  verification of the identity of the head of the household and authorized
  representative, if appropriate:
(1) The
  Department issues benefits only for the application month when the household
  applies before the 16th of the month; or
(2) The Department issues benefits for the
  application month and the second month together when the household applies on
  or after the 16th of the month.
002.02(C)(i)
EXPEDITED SERVICES
  AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION.
When an expedited household applies
  before the 16th of the month and provides the
  minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two, the Department will,
  within seven days from the date the application is filed, issue to the
  household prorated benefits for the month of application.
002.02(C)(i)(1)
EXPEDITED
  VERIFICATION.
If the household fails to provide the required
  postponed verification(s) by the end of the expedited issuance benefit month,
  the benefits for the second issuance will not be issued. If the household
  provides the required postponed verification(s) before the end of the second
  month of the certification period, the benefits will be provided for the second
  month and for the remainder of the original certification period without a new
  application. Benefits will not be prorated.
002.02(C)(i)(2)
EXPEDITED
  ELIGIBILITY.
There is no limit to the number of times a household
  can be certified under expedited processes as long as the household has
  completed the verification requirements or was certified under normal
  processing standards since the last expedited certification.
002.02(C)(i)(3)
AGGREGATE
  ALLOTMENTS AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION.
When an expedited household
  applies on or after the 16th of the month and
  provides the minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two, the
  Department will, within seven days from the date the application is filed,
  issue to the household an aggregate allotment of the prorated benefits for the
  month of application and the full second month.
002.02(C)(i)(3)(a)
AGGREGATE
  EXPEDITED VERIFICATION.
If the household fails to provide the
  required postponed verification(s) by the end of the second month of the
  certification period, the benefits for the third month, which would be the
  second issuance, will not be issued. If the household provides the required
  postponed verification(s) before the end of the third month of the
  certification period, the benefits will be provided for the third month and for
  the remainder of the original certification period without a new application.
  Benefits will not be prorated.
002.02(D)
REINSTATEMENT DURING
  THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD.
A household in the Simplified Reporting
  category may be eligible for reinstatement during the remaining months of the
  certification period if household circumstances change.
002.02(D)(i)
REINSTATEMENT
  ELIGIBILITY.
During the initial 30 days following the close
  effective date, the household may be reinstated if a change in circumstances is
  reported and verified by the household that re-establishes the household's
  eligibility, or if the missing verification is provided. The household is not
  required to file a new application. If eligible, the benefits are prorated from
  the date of report if verified in ten days or from the date all information to
  re-establish eligibility is received if more than ten days. If the reason for
  closure was missing verification, benefits are prorated from the date the
  verifications are provided.
002.02(D)(ii)
REINSTATEMENT AFTER
  CERTIFICATION PERIOD ENDS.
If the certification period has ended a
  new application must be submitted to continue eligibility.