3110 Expedited Application Processing

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
SNAP Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Expedited Application Processing

Effective Date:

May 2024

Chapter:

3100

Policy Number:

3110

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT-75

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-77

Requirements

All Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications must be screened for expedited services. An assistance unit (AU) entitled to expedited services must be able to participate by the 7th calendar day following the date of application or the date eligibility for expedited services is discovered.

Basic Considerations

AUs are entitled to expedited services if one of the following criteria is met in the month of application:

  • The AU has less than $150 in monthly gross countable income and liquid resources that do not exceed $100.

  • The AU has monthly shelter and utility expenses (based on the standard utility deduction) that exceed their monthly gross countable income and liquid resources.

  • The AU has a destitute migrant or seasonal farm worker with liquid resources that do not exceed $100. Only migrant or seasonal farm worker AUs may be considered destitute.

    Refer to Chapter 3235, Seasonal Farm Workers (migrant or non-migrant) for additional information.

An AU may be identified as eligible for expedited service but ineligible to receive benefits.

There is no limit to the number of times an AU can be certified under expedited procedures as long as prior to each expedited certification the household either completes the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited certification (as long as these requirements are still applicable) or was certified under normal processing standards since the last expedited certification.

These AUs must receive their benefits by the 7th day following the date of application. If the seventh calendar day falls on a weekend or holiday, the application must be processed in sufficient time to allow the AU to participate by the 7th day. The AU must receive the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, the Personal Identification Number (PIN) and benefits must be available in the AU’s EBT account by the 7th day following the date of application.

Screening Applications

All applications received by the agency must be screened for expedited services.

Applications received through Gateway are automatically screened for expedited services and have met all screening requirements.

Applications received by mail, facsimile or dropped off at a county DFCS office must be screened for expedited services. Use the expedited screening tool (Form 296) to determine if expedited services should be provided to the AU.

Interviewing Requirements

After an application has been screened for expedited services, schedule an interview for all applicants who are not interviewed on the day they submit their applications.

The agency must make all attempts with the AU to complete the interview in order to meet expedited processing standards. All attempts to contact the AU should be documented in the case.

The interview for expedited applications may be a telephone interview unless the applicant requests a face-to-face interview. Document the type of interview conducted.

Screening and Referral to SNAP Employment and Training (E&T)

The eligibility worker is required to screen all AU members that meet the following criteria during the interview to determine if a referral is appropriate to the SNAP E&T Program, also known as SNAP Works:

  • are at least 16 or 17 years of age or older and the head of household

  • are at least 18 years or older

  • are not receiving TANF benefits

  • are fit for employment

Form 864 must be completed for each AU member that meets the criteria when the screening is conducted even if they are not available during the interview.

The head of household (PI) can respond for other AU members that need to be screened if they wish to do so.

If the PI states during the interview they don’t know if the other AU members would want to be referred the eligibility worker should make an attempt to screen all AU members to determine appropriateness to be referred to SNAP Works.

If the PI provides screening information for other AU members but is unsure if they are ready to volunteer to be referred, then the eligibility worker should document accordingly.

If the PI states that they do not feel comfortable answering for other AU members regarding a referral, eligibility workers should try to complete the screening and referral process and document accordingly.

If the screening and referral process is not completed at application or recertification for absent AU members, then that should also be documented. In that case, those AU members would need to go through the screening and referral process at the next application or recertification, even if the next recertification is an alternate renewal.

Verification

For expedited cases, identity is the only verification required before benefits are issued and must be issued by the 6th day. Reasonable efforts should be taken to verify all eligibility factors within the expedited time standard, but certification is not delayed beyond the expedited processing standard.

If the applicant is work sanctioned, has served the appropriate minimum sanction period, is not exempt from work registration, and is not exempt from employment and training (E&T) participation, then the applicant must first comply with E&T. If the applicant is an ABAWD subject to the time limits, the ABAWD must regain eligibility prior to certification of benefits. Refer to Section 3355, Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) and Section 3380, Failure to Comply With E&T Work Requirements.
If an applicant has been identified as a mandatory registrant and has a face-to- face interview, then the applicant must be work registered before certification of benefits.

Verify identity through readily available documentary evidence or a collateral contact. The agency must check for proof of identity for the head of household or authorized representative in the current case files if applicable. Refer to Section 3335-Identity.

If no other identity verification is available, workers are to ensure that a collateral contact is offered at the interview and that this offer has been documented in the case.

When the AU does not provide verification of identity or a collateral contact or complete the interview within the expedited services timeframe, the case reverts to the 30-day processing standard. The household also loses the right to postponed verification of other eligibility factors and the right to the special income exclusions for destitute households. If the required verification is later provided, process the case within 30 days from the date of application.

The AU must provide all postponed verification by the end of the first or second month of the certification period in order to receive benefits for the remaining months in the certification period.

Certification Period

Applications screened, identified, and approved for expedited services may receive benefits for one or two months.

If the applicant is able to verify the required points of eligibility prior to the Standard of Promptness (SOP), then assign a normal certification period. If verification of a deduction is the only required information, assign a normal certification period without allowing the deduction. Notify the AU that the deduction may be allowed when the requested verification has been provided. Refer to Chart 3105.1, Assigning Certification Periods, for normal certification periods.

If the applicant is not able to verify the required points of eligibility prior to the SOP, assign the certification period in one of the following ways:

  1. If the date of application is on or before the 15th of the month, certify the application for one month. Advise the AU that it has until the end of the first month to provide the postponed verification.

  2. If the date of application is after the 15th of the month, certify the application for two months. Advise the AU that it has until the end of the second month to provide the postponed verification.

Households that receive expedited benefits with postponed verification cannot receive benefits beyond the initial first or second month of the certification period if postponed verification is not returned by the end of the first or second month. If the AU reports a change during this time period, allow the case to close at the end of the expedited certification period.

Assign a normal certification period if all required verification is returned.

Changes Reported During Expedited Processing

If postponed verification has been returned and the AU reports a change, follow the policy in 3715 Interim Changes, to process the application. Assign a normal certification period.

Notifications

Notify households of SNAP eligibility.

The Notice of Approval should contain the following information:

  • The month(s) in which the initial first or second month of benefits will be issued.

  • The verification(s) that has been postponed and the deadline for providing information.

  • The correct certification period if the postponed verification is provided.

  • The requirement that the benefit period will end after the first or second month and that no additional months will be issued if the postponed verification is not returned.