2.1.2 Application Processing Time frame

2.1.2.1 Application Processing 30 Day Time Frame

7 CFRCode of Federal Regulations 273.2(c); 7 CFR 273.2(g); 7 CFR 273.2(h)(2)(i)(A)

OM 14-48

The application process must be completed 30 days from the initial filing date, unless the applicant is eligible for expedited services (2.1.4). Day 1 of the application processing period is the day after the filing date. The time frame for processing an application is the filing date +30 days.

If the 30th day falls on a weekend or postal holiday :

For denials - the action to deny should be taken the next business day.
For approvals - the approval must be processed no later than the 30th day. Waiting until the next business day or later to process an application for an eligible household is untimely and therefore not allowable.

Applicants are required to cooperate with the completion of this process. Local agencies are required to assist the applicant in the completion of the application process if the applicant requests such assistance.

Late Verifications

At application, when a FS household fails to submit required verification by the 30th day following the filing date, the application should be denied. The household has an additional 30 days from the date of a timely denial, or 60 days from the filing date, to submit the required verification and open FS without requiring a new application or interview (i.e. required verifications are received during the period on or after the 31st day but no later than the 60th day from the filing date). Benefits should be prorated from the date all required verifications were submitted. The initial month of application should be denied.

Example 1: Jane applies on January 5, and her application is considered a regular 30 day application. Her verification checklist is mailed on January 6 with a due date of February 5. Jane fails to submit the required verifications by February 5. Her case is denied for lack of verification on the 30th day. The notice will inform Jane that she will have until March 9 (60 days from the filing date including extension for weekends) to submit the required verification without needing to reapply. If verifications are not submitted by this date, Jane will need to reapply and complete a new interview in order to have her eligibility determined.

Note: If verifications are submitted any time after February 5 but by March 9, issue prorated benefits from the date all verifications were submitted.

See 1.2.1.2 for details on verification time frames.

2.1.2.2 Late Expedited Determinations

7 CFRCode of Federal Regulations 273.2(i)(3)(iv)

A late determination of expedited benefits happens when an application is submitted as a non-Priority Service application, but found to be eligible for expedited benefits during the interview or at any other time during eligibility determination process. Once the agency is aware that the household is eligible for expedited benefits, benefits must be made available to the household within 7 calendar days from the date of discovery. The application is no longer considered a 30 day application, but an expedited eligible case and must be processed as such.

Example 2: An ACCESS application is submitted on January 18 and the information provided on the application indicates that applicant household does not qualify for priority service. The interview is scheduled and held on January 28. During the interview the worker determines that the applicant is eligible for expedited issuance. There could have been a change in the household’s circumstances or the Priority Services screen could have been filled out incorrectly. The FS benefits must now be confirmed on or before February 4 to be considered timely. If the FS benefits are confirmed any later than February 4 they will be untimely. In this situation the worker does not have until February 18 to make a final determination as they originally had when this was a 30 day application.

This page last updated in Release Number: 15-02

Release Date: 04/30/2015

Effective Date: 04/30/2015