Pennsylvania Code › Title 55 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part II - Public Assistance Manual › Subpart L - Food Stamp Program › Chapter 501 - FOOD STAMP DISCRETIONARY PROVISIONS › Section 501.9 - Certification

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Determination of benefit levels of application-
				  7 CFR
				  273.10(a)(1)(ii).
A
				  household's benefit level for the initial month of certification will be based
				  on the day of the month it applies for benefits. Using a 30-day calendar,
				  households will receive benefits prorated from the day of application to the
				  end of the month. A household which applies on the 31st of a month will be
				  treated as though it applied on the 30th of the month. Applications for
				  recertification will be processed in accordance with
				  7 CFR
				  273.10(a)(2) (relating to
				  determining household eligibility and benefit levels).
(b)
Proration of a household's
				  benefits- 7 CFR
				  273.10(a)(1)(iii)(A) and
				  (C).
To determine the amount of the
				  prorated allotment, the CAO will use either the food stamp allotment proration
				  table that is provided to the state agencies or use a 30-day calendar formula
				  as follows: when the date of application for someone applying is on the 31st of
				  a month, the 30th is the date of application. Using the preceding calendar
				  formula in the determination of a prorated allotment, round the product down to
				  the nearest lower whole dollar. If the resultant allotment is less than $10, no
				  issuance will be made for the initial month.
(c)
Calculating net monthly income:
				  Rounding down and rounding up allotment amounts-
				  7 CFR
				  273.10(e)(1)(ii)(A).
In calculating net monthly income, the county worker will round down in each
				  income and allotment calculation that ends in 1¢ through 49¢ and
				  round up each calculation that ends in 50¢ through 99¢. This rounding
				  procedure will be applied to all calculations including shelter and medical
				  computations.
(d)
Calculating the household's monthly allotment-
				  7 CFR
				  273.10(e)(2)(ii)(A)(1).
The monthly allotment of the household will be equal to the Thrifty Food Plan
				  for the size of the household reduced by 30% of the net monthly income of the
				  household. If 30% of the household's net income ends in cents, the CAO will
				  round the 30% of net income up to the nearest higher dollar.
(e)
Net income exceeds the level for
				  which benefits are issued- 7
				  CFR
				  273.10(e)(2)(iii)(A).
For eligible households with three or more members which are entitled to no
				  benefits-except those households entitled to no benefits as a result of
				  proration and the provision precluding issuance of less than $10 in an initial
				  month-the CAO will deny the household's participation on the grounds that its
				  net income exceeds the level for which benefits are issued.
(f)
Certification period for
				  expedited service households- 7 CFR 273.10(f)(4)(i) and (ii) and
				  (g)(1)(i)(B).
When a household's
				  application is approved on an expedited basis without verification, in
				  accordance with 7 CFR
				  273.2(i) (relating to
				  application processing), and the application indicates the household is
				  eligible in subsequent months, the longest certification period possible will
				  be assigned based on the predictability of the household's circumstances.
				  Normal certification periods may vary from 3 to 12 months. The initial
				  certification period for expedited service households may be 1 or 2
				  months.
(g)
Certification
				  period for monthly reporting household-
				  7 CFR
				  273.10(f)(8) and
				  273.21(a)(3).
A participant required to submit the monthly reporting form shall be assigned a
				  12-month certification period, which is to be effective with the initial month
				  of certification. To provide for the timely receipt of benefits, reapplication
				  is required in the 12th month of the certification period by the monthly
				  reporting form due date.
(h)
Adequate notice period; adverse action-
				  7 CFR
				  273.13(a)(1).
Prior
				  to an action to reduce or terminate a household's food stamp benefits within
				  the certification period, the CAO will provide the household with timely and
				  adequate notice before the adverse action is taken. The adverse action notice
				  will be sent at least 10 days before the proposed effective date of the action
				  so that the change is effective with the first issuance after the expiration of
				  the advance notice period.
(i)
Time frame to submit required verifications at recertification-
				  7 CFR
				  273.14(c)(3).
To
				  ensure its rights to uninterrupted benefits, the household will be allowed to
				  submit required verification requested at the interview within 30 calendar days
				  from the date of the CAO's initial request for the particular verification that
				  is missing. The CAO will ensure that a household which timely reapplies under
				  7 CFR
				  273.14(c)(1) (relating to
				  recertification) does not lose its right to uninterrupted benefits for failure
				  to submit requested verification prior to the date the household submits a
				  timely application for recertification, and that the household is adequately
				  informed of this procedure.
(j)
Opportunity to participate by normal issuance cycle-
				  7 CFR
				  273.14(a)(2).
An
				  eligible household shall be provided an opportunity to participate by the
				  household's normal issuance cycle in the month following the end of its current
				  certification period. However, the household shall lose its right to
				  uninterrupted benefits for failure to attend an interview scheduled on or after
				  the deadline for timely filing of the application for recertification or
				  failure to submit necessary verification within the time frame established as
				  long as the time frame elapses after the deadline for filing a timely
				  application for recertification. Although a household loses its right to
				  uninterrupted benefits for these failures, the household may not be denied at
				  that time, unless it refused to cooperate or the certification period has
				  lapsed.
(k)
Households
				  certified under the normal processing time frames-
				  7 CFR
				  274.2(b)(2).
The
				  CAO will issue benefits for the first 2 months of eligibility for applications
				  received after the 15th of the month if the household has completed the
				  application and if all required verification within 30 days of the date of
				  application and has been determined eligible to receive benefits for the
				  initial month of application and the subsequent month.