State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 24-02 August 22, 2024

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2.2.1 Certification Periods (Renewals)

7 CFR 273.14(a); 7 CFR 273.10(f)

The certification period for FoodShare eligibility for most food units is 12 months. A certification period should never exceed 12 months. Food units where all members are homelessAn individual who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence or an individual whose primary nighttime residence is: 1) A supervised shelter designed to provide temporary accommodations (such as a welfare hotel or congregate shelter), 2) A halfway house or similar institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, 3) A temporary accommodation for not more than 90 days in the residence of another individual, or 4) A place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (for example, a hallway, bus station, a lobby, or similar places). and food units that include a migrantany person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residence outside of his state and comes to this state for not more than 10 months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state or seasonal farm worker have a six-month certification period. Members must complete an interview (see Section 2.1.3 Interviews) and verify current household information in the last month of the certification period in order to be recertified and continue receiving FoodShare benefits. This is called a renewal.

Note

When a food unit moves into a Transitional FoodShare (TFS) certification period, their regular certification period will end early. The TFS certification period will begin the following month and will end five months later (see Section 5.1.1 Transitional FoodShare Benefits (TFS)). The food unit must complete a renewal in the last month of the certification period the same as other FoodShare households.

FoodShare assistance groups with zero FoodShare benefits in their initial benefit month (pro-rated benefits) and a FoodShare allotment greater than zero in the second month, will be certified for six or 12 months (depending on their household composition) beginning with the application month. If FoodShare eligibility is denied in the month of application for any other reason, and eligibility begins the following month, the six- or 12-month certification period begins in the month following the application month. If the benefit calculation is zero for the first two months, the case will be denied.

Example 1

Barry applied for FoodShare in August after he lost his job. In the FoodShare benefit determination for August and September, Barry received zero for August due to pro-rated benefits and $98 in September. His certification period starts in August.

 

Example 2

Barry's VQT sanction ends August 8. He reapplies and re-requests FoodShare on August 25. He is ineligible in August and eligible for $141 in September. Barry's 12-month certification period begins September 1.

 

Example 3

Barry applied for FoodShare November 29 after his unemployment compensation ended. Barry reports during the application that he is homeless. Barry received his full unemployment benefit in his final month, so he is not eligible for FoodShare in November because his income was over the gross income limit, but he is eligible in December. Barry’s six-month certification period begins December 1.

2.2.1.1 Six Month Reviews

The certification period of the following food units is six months:

1. Food units that include a migrant of seasonal farm worker, or

2. Food units where all members are homeless (not including EBD no earnings food units), or

3. Food units for which action is taken in CARESClient Assistance for Reemployment and Economic Support to indicate homelessness or a migrant food unit member prior to adverse action in month four of the certification period.

Note

Once a six-month certification period has been established the renewal may remain due in month six even if the homeless food unit secures housing or the migrant worker leaves the food unit prior to the renewal month, depending on when the change is reported (see Section 6.1.3.7 Change Impact Matrix).

2.2.1.2 Shortening a Certification Period

7 CFR 273.10(f)(4) Waiver approval

Agencies may not end a certification period earlier than the assigned termination date, unless the agency receives information that the food unit has become ineligible, or the food unit does not cooperate in clarifying its circumstances. Loss of W-2 or a change in employment is not sufficient in and of itself to meet the criteria necessary for shortening certification periods.

A certification period may be shortened only in the circumstances described below:

• There is a new request for health care or child care (Wisconsin Shares), or
• A health care or child care renewal is due prior to the FoodShare renewal, and
• The food unit has stated they want to complete a FoodShare renewal at the same time they are applying for or recertifying health care or child care.

2.2.1.3 Completing a Renewal

 7 CFR 273.14(b)

There are several steps to completing a renewal for FoodShare cases:

1. Notification must be sent to the member informing them that the certification period is ending and an interview (see Section 2.1.3 Interviews) must be conducted if benefits are to continue.
2. An interview must be conducted, and the member must be notified of verifications required to determine continued eligibility for the program.
3. A new electronic, telephonic, or written signature must be collected.
4. Certain information gathered at the interview must be verified (see Section 1.2.1 Verification Introduction).
5. Resolve any identified EPPError Prone Profiles (see Process Help, Section 70.1 Error Prone profile (EPP)).
6. Benefit eligibility must be confirmed in CWWCARES Worker Web (see Section 2.1.7 Confirming the FoodShare Eligibility Determination in CARES) in order for the review or renewal to be considered complete.

2.2.1.4 Renewal Processing Time Frame

The 30-day processing time frame for a renewal is not the same as it is for applications. The 30-day renewal processing time frame refers to the renewal month. In other words, a renewal must be processed and confirmed by the last day of the renewal month, with two exceptions:

1. The IM agency is unable to complete the interview by the last day of the renewal month and delays the interview once.
2. There is an agency-caused delay (for example, allowing 20 days for verification).

When there is an agency-caused delay, the IM worker must document in CWW the reason for the late renewal and set the FoodShare program request date for the first of the month so that benefits are not prorated.

The FoodShare case will close effective the last day of the renewal month at adverse action of the renewal month if renewal is not completed, including confirmation. The local agency and the FoodShare member have until the end of the renewal month to complete renewal.

FoodShare that closes at renewal may reopen without requiring a new application under specific conditions. Allow FoodShare to reopen at renewal if the requested action to resolve ineligibility is completed in the month following the end of the current certification period, as long as the interview was timely.

• An interview must be completed within the renewal month of the current certification period to be considered timely. If the food unit fails to complete a timely interview, FoodShare will close effective the last day of the renewal month at adverse action and a new FoodShare application is required.
• If FoodShare closes for lack of verification after a timely renewal and the food unit takes the required action within the calendar month following the certification period, the agency shall reopen FoodShare and prorate benefits from the date the food unit took the required action. The new certification period will begin the month after the month the renewal was due. 
  • The food unit must be allowed 20 days to provide verifications. If the verification due date is in the month following the renewal month, IM workers should identify whether the closed FoodShare case may be reopened or a new application is needed (see Process Help, Section 3.13.4 Break in Service at Renewal).
• If FoodShare closes for lack of signature after a timely renewal and the food unit returns the signature page within the calendar month following the certification period, the agency shall reopen FoodShare and prorate benefits from the date the food unit returns the signature page. The new certification period will begin the month after the month the renewal was due.
• If FoodShare closes due to agency delay in completing the interview or the food unit contacts the agency within the renewal month and is not available to complete the interview until after the renewal month, benefits shall be restored back to the first of the month to ensure ongoing benefits, as long as verification is timely.

Example 4

Holly completes a timely FoodShare renewal on July 9 but does not have verification of her wages from Marigold’s. Verification of her earned income is requested. Holly fails to provide verification and her case closes effective July 31. On August 5, Holly provides verification of her wages. She regains eligibility under a FoodShare break in service as of August 5 and is issued prorated benefits from August 5 through August 31. Holly’s FoodShare new certification period remains unchanged. If Holly had responded timely to the request for verification and submitted her verification in July, but the verifications were not processed  until August, benefits would have been issued back to August 1 due to agency delay.

 

Example 5

Tom's FoodShare renewal is due by June 30. He completes his interview on June 27 and has verification due July 17. Tom provides the requested verification on July 15. Although Tom's case closed effective June 30 due to lack of completed renew/verification, his FoodShare case is reopened with a certification period beginning July 1 because he completed the interview in the renewal month and provided the requested verification by the due date. Benefits are not prorated, and he is not required to submit a new application.

 

Example 6

Ruby calls her IM worker on August 21 to schedule a FoodShare renewal due by August 30, but the only appointment available is not until September 4. Ruby completes her renewal on September 4 but does not have verification of her wages from Sunny’s Craft House. Verification of earned income is requested with a verification due date of September 24. Ruby submits the necessary verification on September 20. Because Ruby submitted her verification timely (within 20 days) and because the agency was unable to complete the interview in August, Kim issues benefits to Ruby back to September 1. Had Ruby submitted the necessary verification after September 24, but before September 30, Kim would not issue benefits back to the first but only to the date verification was submitted.

 

Example 7

Tricia’s FoodShare assistance group has a FoodShare certification period ending June 30. Tricia completed a telephone interview on June 17 and the case pends for a signature. The signature page is not returned and FoodShare close June 30. Tricia returns the signature page on July 14. FoodShare reopens without requiring a new FoodShare application. Benefits are prorated from July 14, with a new certification period from July 14 to June 30.

2.2.1.5 Eligibility Reviews for Other Programs and Their Impact on the FoodShare Certification Period

7 CFR 273.10(f)(4) Waiver approval

Renewals completed for other assistance programs do not automatically count as a renewal for FoodShare and will not change the FoodShare certification period. A FoodShare certification period may be changed to align with that of another program only if the member has stated their consent to complete a FoodShare renewal in order to align its FoodShare certification period with the certification period of another program.

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Publication Number: P-16001