218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-1.7

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 218-RICR-20-00-1.7 - Recertification

A. The agency must complete the recertification process if the household meets all requirements and finishes the necessary processing steps, and approve or deny timely applications for recertification prior to the end of the household's current certification period. Any eligible household must be provided an opportunity to participate by its normal issuance cycle in the month following the end of its current certification period.

1. The household loses its right to uninterrupted benefits for failure either to attend any interview scheduled on or after the deadline for timely filing of the application for recertification, or to submit all necessary verification within the timeframe established by the agency as long as the timeframe elapses after the deadline for filing a timely application for recertification.

a. Although a household loses its right to uninterrupted benefits for such failures, the household must not be denied at that time, unless it refused to cooperate, or the certification period has lapsed.

b. If the household loses its right to uninterrupted benefits due to such failures but is otherwise eligible after correcting such failures, the agency must, at a minimum, provide benefits within thirty (30) days after the date the application was filed.

(1) The agency may, at its option, either provide benefits by the household's next normal issuance date or provide uninterrupted benefits to a household determined eligible despite such failures.

(2) If the household submits an application for recertification prior to the end of its current certification period and is found eligible for the first (1st) month following the end of the certification period, then that month is not an initial month.

c. Denials, including those for failure to complete the interview or provide missing verification, must be completed either by the end of the current certification period or within thirty (30) days after the date the application was filed as long as the household has had adequate time for providing the missing verification.

d. The agency must not continue benefits to the household beyond the end of the certification period unless the household has been recertified.

e. The joint processing requirements in § 1.5.1 of this Part, for RI Works and GPA households continue to apply to applications for recertification.

2. If an application for recertification is submitted after the household's certification period has expired, that application is considered an initial application and benefits for that month must be pro-rated.

a. Any household that receives the notice of expiration at the time of certification and is otherwise eligible must not have benefits for the first (1st) month of the new certification period pro-rated if it files an application by the filing deadline contained in the notice of expiration.

3. If the household submits an application for recertification prior to the end of its current certification period but is found ineligible for the first (1st) month following the end of the certification period, then the first (1st) month of any subsequent participation is considered an initial month.

a. The agency must ensure that any eligible household that did not submit a timely application for recertification is provided an opportunity to participate within thirty (30) calendar days after the application is filed.

b. If the agency is unable to provide an eligible household with an opportunity to participate within thirty (30) calendar days after the date the application was filed due to the time period allowed for submitting any missing verification, the agency must provide the household an opportunity to participate within five (5) working days after the date the household supplies the missing verification.

c. Households that have filed an application by the fifteenth (15th) of the last month of their certification period will receive either a notice of eligibility or a notice of denial by the end of the current certification period.

B. Eligibility at recertification must be determined based on circumstances anticipated for the new certification period starting with the month following the expiration of the current certification period. The level of benefits at recertification must be based on the same anticipated circumstances.

C. Notice Requirements

1. A household will receive a notice of expiration at the end of its certification prior to the start of the last month of the household's certification period.

2. RI Works and GPA households whose applications were jointly processed for SNAP benefits and RI Works or GPA benefits in need will not receive a notice of expiration if they are recertified for SNAP at the same time as their RI Works or GPA redetermination.

3. Households with members who are migrant seasonal farmworkers will be sent a Mid-Certification Reminder Letter on or about the fifteenth (15th) day of the twelfth (12th) month of its certification. The letter reminds the household of its responsibility to report any changes within ten (10) days.

4. ESAP households will be sent a combined expiration notice and recertification notice with specialized language within sixty (60) days prior to redetermination due date (See § 1.23.9 of this Part).

D. Interview and Verification Requirements

1. All households must participate in an interview in order to retain its right to uninterrupted benefits, with the exception of ESAP eligible households who may have a waived interview in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 1.23.4 of this Part.

a. An interview may be scheduled by the agency on or after the date the recertification application is timely filed, prior to the date of the scheduled interview at the household's request, or when the household contacts the agency to complete its recertification interview without returning the competed application for recertification by utilizing the option of a telephonic signature. If the household does not avail itself for any interview scheduled in accordance with this Section, the agency need not initiate any further action.

(1) A household which fails to participate in an interview in accordance with the requirements in this Part or to submit any missing verification loses its right to uninterrupted benefits as long as such failures occur after the deadline for filing a timely application for recertification.

(2) Households which refuse to cooperate in providing required information must be denied.

2. At recertification, all income documentation shall be considered outdated and will require updated verification to determine the accuracy of information as outlined in § 1.6 of this Part when determining continued eligibility of uninterrupted benefits.

a. Previously verified actual utility expenses that have not changed by more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) do not have to be verified.

3. A household which submits a timely application for recertification but is either interviewed and/or submits all verification in an untimely manner (but before the end of its current certification period) need not be provided uninterrupted benefits.

a. For eligible households under these circumstances, the agency must, at a minimum, provide the household an opportunity to participate within thirty (30) calendar days after the date the application was filed.

b. If the household takes the required action before the end of the certification period, the agency must reopen the case and provide a full month's benefits for the initial month of the new certification period.

c. If the household takes the required action after the end of the certification period but within thirty (30) days after the end of the certification period, the agency shall reopen the case and provide benefits retroactive to the date the household takes the required action.

d. If a household's application for recertification is delayed beyond the first (1st) of the month of what would have been its new certification period through the fault of the agency, the household's benefits for the new certification period shall be pro-rated based on the date of the new application, and the agency shall provide restored benefits to the household back to the date the household's certification period should have begun had the State agency not erred and the household been able to apply timely.

E. Right to Uninterrupted Benefits

1. The agency must act to provide uninterrupted benefits to any household determined eligible after the household has timely filed an application, attended an interview in accordance with the requirements in this Section, and submitted all necessary verification.

2. The agency must take action to provide uninterrupted benefits within the following time standards even if, to meet these standards, the agency must provide an opportunity to participate outside the normal issuance cycle:

a. For households that have met all the required application procedures, the agency must approve or deny the application and notify the household of its determination by the end of the current recertification period.

b. For households determined eligible, the agency must provide an opportunity to participate by the household's normal issuance cycle in the month following the end of its current certification period.

(1) Any household not determined eligible in sufficient time to provide for issuance in that timeframe due to a time period allowed for submitting any missing verification must receive an opportunity to participate, if eligible, within five (5) working days after the household supplies the missing verification.

(2) A household that has timely submitted an application for recertification or Interim Report Form but, due to agency error, is not determined eligible in sufficient time to provide for issuance by the household's next normal issuance cycle must receive an immediate opportunity to participate upon being determined eligible.

(3) Such households are entitled to restoration of lost benefits if, as a result of such error, the household was unable to participate for the month following the expiration of the Interim Report timeframes or certification period.

1.7.1Recertification for SSI Households

A. The agency must provide SSI households with a notice of expiration in accordance with this Part except that such notification should inform households consisting entirely of SSI recipients that they are required to have an interview prior to being certified and may have that interview in the office, face to face, or by telephone.

1. Pure SSI households which have received a SNAP notice of expiration are entitled to make a timely application for SNAP recertification at the SSA office.

a. SSA must accept the application of a pure SSI household and forward the completed application, transmittal form and any available verification to the SNAP office.

b. When SSA accepts and refers the application in such a situation, the household must not be required to appear at a second (2nd) office interview, although the agency representative may conduct an out-of-office interview by telephone, or face-to-face, if/as necessary.

c. In cases where pure SSI households apply for SNAP recertification at the SSA office, an application must be considered filed for normal processing purposes when the signed application is received by SSA.

218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-1.7

Amended effective 4/4/2019
Amended effective 12/24/2019
Amended effective 8/1/2021
Amended effective 9/23/2021
Amended Effective 12/4/2021
Amended effective 11/10/2022
Amended effective 1/1/2023
Amended effective 5/14/2023
Amended effective 10/1/2023
Amended effective 12/15/2023
Amended effective 9/22/2024
Amended effective 10/1/2024
Amended effective 10/24/2024