10 Colo. Code Regs. § 2506-1-4.609

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 22, November 25, 2024
Section 10 CCR 2506-1-4.609 - TRANSITIONAL SNAP (T-SNAP)
4.609.1GENERAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
A. Households that receive SNAP and Colorado Works (CW) basic cash assistance that become ineligible for continued receipt of CW basic cash assistance because of changes in household income are eligible to receive T-SNAP, as provided for within this section. CW diversion payments are not considered basic cash assistance. CW basic cash assistance is defined in CDHS regulations at 9 CCR 2503-6.
B. Households that are eligible to receive T-SNAP will have the SNAP allotment continued for five (5) months. The household's SNAP allotment will be continued in an amount based on what the household received prior to when the household's income made them ineligible for CW basic cash assistance. Only the following four (4) changes will be acted upon when determining the SNAP allotment that is to be continued.
1. The loss of the CW cash grant;
2. Changes in household composition that result in a household member leaving and applying for SNAP in another household;
3. Updates to the SNAP eligibility standards that change each October 1 because of the annual cost-of-living adjustments (see Section 4.607); and,
4. Imposing an IPV disqualification.
C. When the SNAP allotment is continued, the household's existing certification period shall end, and the household shall be assigned a new five (5) month certification period. The recertification requirements that would normally apply when the household's certification period ends must be postponed until the end of the five (5) month transitional certification period.
D. Households who are denied or not eligible for T-SNAP must have continued eligibility and benefit level determined in accordance with Section 4.604.
E. The following households are not eligible to receive T-SNAP:
1. Households leaving the CW program due to a CW sanction; or,
2. Households that are ineligible to receive SNAP because all individuals in the household meet one of the following criteria:
a. Disqualified for IPV;
b. Ineligible for failure to comply with a work requirement;
c. Ineligible student;
d. Ineligible non-citizen;
e. Disqualified for failing to provide information necessary for making a determination of eligibility or for completing any subsequent review of its eligibility;
f. Disqualified for receiving SNAP benefits in more than one household in the same month;
g. Disqualified for being a fleeing felon; or
h. ABAWDs who fail to comply with the requirements of Section 4.310.
4.609.2HOUSEHOLD CHANGES DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD [Rev. eff. 2/1/16]
A. The household is not required to report any changes during the five (5) month transitional period, including changes that put the household over one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
4.609.3CLOSING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD [Rev. eff. 2/1/16]

In the final month of the transitional period, the household must undergo the recertification process to determine the household's continued eligibility and benefit amount.

4.609.4HOUSEHOLDS WHO RETURN TO COLORADO WORKS (CW) DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

If a household receiving T-SNAP returns to CW during the transitional period, the local office shall complete the recertification process for SNAP to determine the household's continued eligibility and benefit amount. If the household remains eligible for SNAP, the household shall be assigned a new certification period.

4.609.5HOUSEHOLDS WHO REAPPLY FOR SNAP DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD [Rev. eff. 2/1/16]
A. At any time during the transitional period, the household may apply for recertification to determine if the household is eligible for a higher SNAP allotment. In determining if the household is eligible for a higher allotment, all changes in household circumstances shall be acted upon.
1. If the household is determined eligible for a benefit lower than its transitional benefit, the local office shall encourage the household to withdraw its application for recertification and continue to receive transitional benefits. If the household chooses not to withdraw its application, the local office shall deny the application and allow the transitional period to run its course.
2. If the household is eligible for benefits higher than its transitional benefit amount, the increased benefits shall take effect with the first day of the month following the month in which the reapplication was received. The transitional certification period shall be ended, and the household shall be assigned a new certification period that begins with the first day of the month following the month in which the household submitted the application for recertification.
B. If a household applies for recertification during its transitional period, the local office shall observe the following procedures:
1. The local office must schedule and complete an interview if one has not been completed within the previous 12 months.
2. The local office must provide the household with a notice of required verification and provide the household a minimum of ten (10) calendar days to provide the required verification.
3. Households shall be notified of their eligibility or ineligibility as soon as possible, but no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the date the application was filed.
a. If the local office does not determine a household's eligibility within thirty (30) calendar days following the application date, then the local office shall continue processing the application while continuing the household's transitional benefits.
b. If the application process cannot be completed because the household failed to take a required action, the local office may deny the application at that time or at the end of the thirty (30) calendar days.
c. If the household is determined to be ineligible, the local office shall deny the household's application for recertification and continue the household's transitional benefits to the end of the transitional benefit period, at which time the local office shall recertify the household in accordance with Section 4.209.
4.609.6TRANSITIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

When a household is approved for T-SNAP, the household shall be notified of the following information:

A. A statement informing the household that it will be receiving transitional benefits and the length of its transitional period;
B. A statement informing the household that it has the option of applying for recertification at any time during the transitional period. The household must be informed that if it does not apply for recertification during the transitional period, then at the end of the transitional period the household must undergo the recertification process;
C. A statement that if the household returns to CW during its T-SNAP period, the household must undergo the recertification process to determine the household's continued eligibility and new SNAP allotment;
D. A statement explaining any changes in the household's benefit amount due to the loss of Colorado Works basic cash assistance or due to changes outlined in Section 4.609.1, B and C;
E. A statement informing the household that it is not required to report and provide verification for any changes in household circumstances until the household completes the recertification process; and,
F. A statement informing the household that the local office will not act on changes that the household reports during the transitional period and that if the household experiences a decrease in income or an increase in expenses or household size prior to that deadline, the household should apply for recertification.

10 CCR 2506-1-4.609

37 CR 15, August 10, 2014, effective 9/1/2014
37 CR 21, November 10,2014, effective 12/1/2014
38 CR 23, December 10, 2015, effective 1/1/2016
39 CR 01, January 10, 2016, effective 2/1/2016
39 CR 05, March 10, 2016, effective 4/1/2016
39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/2016
39 CR 15, August 10, 2016, effective 9/1/2016
39 CR 17, September 10, 2016, effective 10/1/2016
39 CR 19, October 10, 2016, effective 11/1/2016
39 CR 23, December 10, 2016, effective 1/1/2017
40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 7/1/2017
40 CR 17, September 10, 2017, effective 10/1/2017
41 CR 15, August 10, 2018, effective 9/1/2018
40 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/30/2018
42 CR 01, January 10, 2019, effective 2/1/2019
42 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/15/2019
42 CR 17, September 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019
42 CR 18, October 10, 2019, effective 10/1/2019
42 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 12/30/2019
43 CR 01, January 10, 2020, effective 1/30/2020
43 CR 05, March 10, 2020, effective 2/7/2020
43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020
43 CR 21, November 10, 2020, effective 11/30/2020
44 CR 21, November 10, 2021, effective 11/30/2021
45 CR 05, March 10, 2022, effective 3/30/2022
45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 10/1/2022
45 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 11/1/2022
45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022
46 CR 17, September 10, 2023, effective 9/30/2023