Certain eligible households are entitled to receive food stamp benefits within seven calendar days of application. Households entitled to expedited service are identified through a screening process.

The following section of policy identifies the households entitled to expedited service and describes the procedures under which applications from these households are processed.

Expedited application processing will be provided to:

1.      All households with $100 or less in countable liquid resources (i.e., cash on hand, checking or savings accounts, savings certificates, and lump sum payments) and less than $150 in gross monthly income; or

2.      Eligible households whose total combined gross monthly income and liquid resources are less than the amount incurred by the household for its utilities and rent or mortgage payment; or

3.      Destitute households with $100 or less in countable liquid resources (i.e., cash on hand, checking or savings accounts, savings certificates, and lump sum payments).  Only households that contain migrant or seasonal farm-worker members in the job stream may be considered to be destitute.  See FSC 9600 for a full explanation.

The expedited service requirement applies to the first month of the certification period.

Example 1:  A household applies for food stamp benefits on June 25.  The household reports that the only household member who works has been fired from his job.  He will receive three pay checks in June.  His gross income for June is $1,500.  The household’s total shelter costs are $750.  They expect no earned income or UI benefits in July. This household is not entitled to expedited service because they have too much income during the month of application.  Even though the household has very little income in the following month, the household must be certified under normal procedures specified in FSC 8500.

Example 2:  At the interview, the worker determines that a household is not eligible for the month of application but is eligible for expedited service for the following month.  The household must receive their first issuance of food stamp benefits within seven calendar days of the date of application or on the first day of the first month of eligibility, whichever is later.  In order to avoid an overdue application, the worker may deny the register number for the month of application and reregister the same application for the next month.

Any such household reapplying more than 95 days after the end of the annual QA review period has to provide verification of all eligibility requirements before certification. However, if the household is entitled to expedited service, only identity must be verified before the first month's benefits are issued. Before the second month's benefits are issued, the household must provide verification of all eligibility requirements.
 

There is no limit to the number of times a household may be certified under the expedited service provisions. However, prior to each subsequent expedited certification, the household must either complete the verification requirements that were postponed or be certified under normal processing standards. See FSC 9441.1 for additional information.

Each food stamp application received in the county office must be screened to determine if the household is entitled to expedited service if the household is not currently participating in the Food Stamp Program. This includes:

• Initial applications; and
• Applications for recertification received after the end of the household’s certification period but within 30 days of the last day of the household’s last month of certification.

Screening is accomplished by reviewing the application form to determine if the household meets the criteria in FSC 9200.

A currently certified household that submits an expedited application before the household's recertification is due may be attempting to report a change. If the applicant is still in the office, a county worker will interview the applicant to determine why an application was submitted. A Telephone Report (DCO-271) will be completed if necessary.

If the applicant has left the office, a worker will review the application in an attempt to determine if the household is trying to report a change. If the worker can tell that a change has occurred and can determine the extent of the change, the application will be handled as a reported change. See [FSC 11100]-11500. If not, a request for contact will be issued to the household. See [FSC 12400] for instructions

NOTE: Prior to certification, the county office worker must determine if the household's last application was certified under the expedited provisions with verification postponed. The household must either complete the verification requirements that were postponed or be certified under normal processing standards. See FSC 9441.1 for additional information.

I. Is the household’s total reported income less than $150? r YES r NO

(This is question 1 on the RFA.)

II. Are the household’s total reported resources $100 or less? r YES r NO

(This is question 2 on the RFA.)

If YES to both I and II above, the household is entitled to expedited service.

If NO, to either number I or II above, go to number III below.

III. Add together: RFA question 1 (total income) ___________

+ RFA question 2 (total liquid resources) ___________

Enter the result here $___________

Enter shelter cost from RFA question 3 $___________

Is the amount entered as shelter costs more than the household’s total income and resources? r YES r NO

If YES, the household is entitled to expedited service.

If NO, go to number IV below.

IV. If YES to RFA question 4 (migrant or seasonal farmworker), go to number V below.

If NO to question 4, the household is not entitled to expedited service. STOP HERE.

V. If "YES" to RFA question A and "NO" to RFA question "B", the household is entitled to expedited service.

If "YES" to RFA question A and "YES" to RFA question B, go to number VI below.

VI. If "YES" to RFA question A and "YES" to RFA question B,is total income (RFA question 1) $25.00 or less? r YES r NO

If YES, the household the household is entitled to expedited service.

If NO, the household is not entitled to expedited service. 

06/01/04

An individual requesting a food stamp application may verbally indicate that the household is in desperate need. These households will be encouraged to file an application immediately. (Upon request, the application form will be provided in an alternative format such as large print, etc.)

Assistance in completing the application form will be provided if requested.

When the application is submitted, a county office worker will immediately screen the application.  If the household appears to be entitled to expedited service, the household's application will be processed in accordance with the office's expedited procedures.  If the household does not appear to be entitled to expedited service, this will be noted in the "Screening Section" at the top of page 2 on the Request for Assistance (DCO-215.)  The application will be processed in accordance with the office's regular procedures.

The county should be sensitive to situations where the household may be in desperate need and yet not meet the expedited service criteria. For example, a household may move from one county to another resulting in a break in participation. Applications from participating households who reapply as a result of a move to or from another county will be processed, to the extent possible, so the household receives its benefits at the normal time. Verification will not be postponed.

When an applicant disagrees with a worker's decision not to expedite an application, a supervisor must review the application. The applicant may be interviewed to obtain additional information or to clarify inconsistent information. Based upon the application and/or additional information obtained, the supervisor will make a decision about the household's eligibility for expedited service.

Applications received by mail will be screened to see if the applicant has declared an immediate need for food stamp benefits. If, based upon the information on the application, the household is entitled to expedited service, the application will be processed under the local office's expedited service procedures. Lack of a telephone number on the application must not delay delivery of expedited service beyond mandated time frames.

NOTE: Applications received from the Social Security Administration (SSA) through the joint processing provisions ([FSC 8920]) must also be screened. Expedited applications received from SSA must be processed by the same guidelines.

When an expedited applicant has just moved to Arkansas, the worker must ask if the household is receiving food stamps in another state. If yes, the household will not be eligible to participate for the month of application. (The worker must notify the other state that the household has applied in Arkansas.)

If the household is eligible for the following month, the worker will use the same application to certify the household for the second month. If the household is entitled to expedited service in the second month, the application must be processed within seven calendar days of the date of application or the first working day of the following month, whichever is later.

An expedited applicant who has moved to Arkansas from another state will be asked to sign a statement that the household is not currently authorized to receive benefits in that state. Once the statement has been signed, the worker will contact the state where the applicant is certified to determine if benefits were authorized for the current month. If benefits were authorized, the worker will determine if the applicant may access those benefits in Arkansas with the EBT card issued by the other state. If the household's benefits for the current month have been authorized and the household can access those benefits in Arkansas with the EBT card issued by the other state, the household will not be certified in Arkansas for the current month.

Households disputing a county decision not to expedite a food stamp application will be offered an agency conference within two working days. The household may request the conference be scheduled at a later date. Households may orally decline an agency conference.

The household will be advised that the agency conference is optional and will in no way delay or replace an administrative hearing. Even though the agency conference may lead to an informal resolution of the dispute, any requested hearing must be held unless the household makes a written withdrawal of its request.

Agency conferences must be attended by a supervisor and by the household and/or its representative. The worker responsible for the decision to deny expedited service may attend the conference.

An expedited application is one where the approval or denial is an initial application or an application for recertification received after the end of the household’s certification period but within 30 days of the last day of the household’s last month of certification. Dispositions of expedited applications are reported on the FS-3095, Expedited Service Disposals. The expedited indicators are code "Y" or code "L." Code "Y" indicates the application was screened and identified as an expedited application when it was registered. Code "L" indicates the application was identified as an expedited application sometime later in the application process. (See FSC 9410.) The date that the household was found to be entitled to expedited service is the late determination date (LDDATE). The processing time frame for late determinations is seven days from the date the application was identified as an expedited application.

Food stamp benefits must be received by expedited households by the seventh calendar day from the date of application or the late determination date. The seven-day period begins the day after the application is received in the county office and is continuous. No provisions are made for weekends or holidays. For example, if an expedited application is received on Tuesday, November 10; the seven-calendar day period begins on Wednesday, November 11 (a holiday), and ends on Sunday, November 15. 

If screening fails to identify a household entitled to expedited service and the county later discovers the error, expedited service must be provided within seven calendar days of the date of discovery. If a household becomes entitled to expedited service as the result of a change which occurred after application but before the interview, the expedited service must be provided within seven calendar days of the date of discovery.  See [FSC 9325] for additional information.)  If a household loses its entitlement to expedited service between the date of application and the date of interview, the county worker will process the application under the guidelines in [FSC 8500].  The application must be reclassified as a non-expedited application in order for the system to begin tracking the application as a regular application. (See FSC 9420 for instructions on handling applications where the household misses an expedited interview.)

Application interviews with expedited households must be scheduled to comply with the processing standards specified above. In no instance will the interview be waived in order to process the application within the specified timeframes.

If an expedited applicant misses an interview and requests another, the second interview must be scheduled on the same day if possible. If the applicant declines the rescheduled interview and requests that one be scheduled at a later date, this must be documented in the case record.  When an expedited application is received via the mail, the same processing standards apply. The household will be notified of the appointment for an interview via telephone if possible. If this is impossible, no more than one day will be allowed for mailing the household a notification of the appointment. The reason for the delay must be fully documented in the case record.

An expedited household that misses the first scheduled interview still retains the right to expedited service. The application must be held the full 30-day period specified in [FSC 8500]. Should the household request a second (or third) interview during this 30-day period, the request will be honored.  Expedited households that decline an appointment on the date of application or the following day and request an appointment on a later day, retain the right to expedited service.

To prevent the application from appearing as overdue on the report of expedited cases when the appointment has been rescheduled, the expedited indicator will be changed from a code "Y" to a code "L". The "LDDATE" will be the date of the second interview.

Case records will be documented regarding the scheduling of the interviews. Documentation will include copies of all forms used to schedule interviews and a narrative fully explaining the scheduling or rescheduling of the interview.

When an expedited household is entitled to an out-of-office interview as specified in [FSC 8250], the interview must be conducted. The application must be processed in accordance with the standards in [FSC 9400].

If an application has not been submitted when the telephone interview is conducted, the application must be completed during the course of the interview. The completed application will be mailed that same day to the household for signature. Day one of the processing standards will be the date the signed application is received in the county office.

If an application has not been submitted and a home visit is made, the application will be completed during the home visit. The worker who completed the interview will return the application to the county office the same day. Processing standards will begin on the day the home visit is conducted.

FSC 9440-9446 contains instructions for processing expedited applications.

Expedited households must provide verification of the identity of the case head. In addition, the worker must make every reasonable effort to verify the household's residency, income (or lack of income), liquid resources, actual utility costs (if used) and medical expenses during the interview. Any such verification that cannot be obtained during the interview, will be postponed. The application will not be delayed to verify these factors. See [FSC 9441.1] for additional information.

The following documentary evidence may be readily available to verify identity; however, other documentary evidence may be used if it clearly verifies the identity of the bearer.

1. A driver's license
2. Work or school I.D.
3. I.D. for health benefits or other assistance program
4. Voter registration card
5. Birth certificate
6. Wage stubs
7. Documentary evidence in the case file from previous certifications

Households unable to supply documentary evidence to verify identity may supply a collateral contact. See the Glossary, definition of verification for additional information. Once a collateral contact has been supplied or assistance has been requested, the worker must take immediate action to verify identity through the collateral contact.

The following documentary evidence may be readily available to verify income.

1. Pay check stubs
2. Pay envelopes
3. Award letters
4. Online screens (e.g. - WESD)

It may also be possible to contact an employer or agency by telephone to verify income immediately.

The following documentary evidence may be readily available to verify residency.

1. Rent receipts
2. Mortgage payment books
3. Utility receipts
4. Driver's license containing the applicant's current address
   

Verification of the following items may be postponed for households entitled to expedited service.

1. Residency
2. Income (including the lack of income)
3. Liquid resources
4. Actual utilities
5. Medical costs
6. Alien status

There is no limit to the number of times a household may be certified under the expedited service provisions. However, prior to each subsequent expedited certification, the household must either complete the verification requirements that were postponed or be certified under normal processing standards.

Example 1 - A household was certified in August for one month with verification of income postponed. The income verification is supplied when the household reapplies in September. The household is certified for September and October and then does not reapply until the following February. The household is entitled to expedited service in February.

Example 2 - A household was certified in August for one month with verification of income postponed. No income verification is supplied. The household does not reapply until December. At that time, the household is subject to the full verification requirements.

In some instances, when the application period covers more than one month, restored benefits may be provided to households when postponed verification is supplied.

Example 3 - A household applies for food stamps on December 20th. The application shows a member of the household is working so the household is not entitled to expedited service. An appointment is given for January 6. During the interview, the household reports the member lost his job.

The household is now entitled to expedited service. The household is certified for January and verification of December income is requested. When the income verification is provided, the household is provided restored benefits for December.

Compliance with the social security number (SSN) requirement and the work registration requirement may also be postponed. See [FSC 9442] and [FSC 9443].

Households certified under the expedited service provisions with verification postponed will be issued a Notice of Delayed Application (DCO-206) specifying what the household must verify before its next certification. 

Households certified under the expedited service provisions do not have to declare or apply for a social security number for all members who wish to be included as a household member prior to certification. However, the household must declare or apply for a social security number for all members who wish to be included as a household member prior to being certified for a second month. See [FSC 2200] for a full explanation of the SSN requirement.

All non-exempt household members are automatically work registered when the application form is signed. In counties where the Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) Program is operated, household members subject to the Food Stamp Program requirement to work (RTW) must be referred to the E&T Program via the Referral Form and Participation Record (DCO-205).

Household members who claim a work registration exemption due to disability must provide verification of the exemption unless the disability is obvious. (See [FSC 3230].) The processing of an expedited application will not be postponed to obtain such verification. If the member who claims the disability is subject to the RTW and lives in a county where the E&T Program is operational, he or she will not be referred to the E&T Program. However, he or she will be referred at the next certification if verification of disability is not provided.

For households with a member who must meet the requirement to work (RTW), the imposing of a RTW penalty or the granting of a personal exemption will not be delayed. However, the process of verifying RTW compliance may be delayed. See [FSC 3600] for additional information.

Expedited service only provides for postponing verification. If an individual will not declare basic information about citizenship and/or alien status, there is no basis on which to allow the individual to participate in the Food Stamp Program. He or she will be classified as an ineligible alien when the application is processed. See [FSC 1621.6].

If an alien states he or she meets one of the conditions under which non-citizens may participate in the Food Stamp Program (see [FSC 1621.8]) and wishes to be included in the Food Stamp household, the worker will ask the household to supply documentation of his or her alien status. If the household cannot supply this documentation within the expedited processing time frames, verification will be postponed. The alien will be allowed to participate; however, the required documentation must be provided at the time of the next application if the alien is to continue participating in the Food Stamp Program.

07/01/03

Countable liquid resources include cash on hand, checking and savings accounts, stocks and bonds, and lump sum payments.

Applications from expedited households with nonliquid resources which exceed the resource limit will be denied. The resource limits are:

1. $3,000 for households, including one person households, with a aged or disabled member as defined in the Glossary definition of "[Aged/Disabled Household"]); and 
2. $2,000 for all other households.

The following chart may be used to determine if the household's declared nonliquid resources exceed the applicable limits. See [FSC 7431] for instructions on denying an application when the household resources exceed the limits.

Other than destitute households, income for expedited households will be budgeted prospectively. See [FSC 7100] for instructions on prospective budgeting. See [FSC 6622] for special provisions on selecting the utility standard when the household is entitled to expedited service. See [FSC 9600-9630] for instructions about the budgeting procedures for destitute households

This reference list is provided to assist the worker in locating the section of policy which describes the process for determining countable income.

Process Reference

Income............................................................ [FSC 7100 - 7730]

[FSC 7512]

Special Processes

Institutions...................................................... [FSC 1821]

Battered Women.......................................... [FSC 1841 - 1841.1]

Boarders....................................................... [FSC 5621 - 5623]

Disqualified Individuals

IPV............................................. [FSC 1623.2]

SSN Requirement.................... [FSC 1623.1]

Workfare Sanction.................... [FSC 1623.3]

Income From Odd Jobs........... [FSC 5512.1]

Ineligible Alien............................................... [FSC 1621.6]

Installment Contracts.................................... [FSC 5710]

Rental Income............................................... [FSC 5715]

Self-Employment.......................................... [FSC 5640]

Strikers.......................................................... [FSC 1730]

Students

Eligible.......................................................... [FSC 1622.3-1622.8]

Ineligible....................................................... [FSC 1622.9]

Foster Children........................................... [FSC 5708]

Normal certification periods will be assigned to households approved under expedited guidelines if the household has:

1. Provided all required verification;
2. Complied with the SSN requirements; and
3. Complied with the work registration requirements.

Either a one or two month certification period will be assigned to households approved under expedited guidelines if verification was postponed as instructed in [FSC 9441.1]. A one-month certification period will be assigned when the expedited application was filed on or before the 15th day of the month. A two-month certification period will be assigned when the expedited application was filed on or after the 16th day of the month and approved the same month.

NOTE: When a household submits an expedited application after the 15th of the month and that application is approved before the end of the month, the household is issued aggregate benefits for the month of application and the following month. For this reason, a two-month certification is usually assigned. See [FSC 8651] for a full explanation of aggregate benefits.

At the next certification, any household certified under the expedited provisions with verification postponed must either complete the verification requirements that were postponed or be certified under normal processing standards. See [FSC 9441.1] for a full explanation. Therefore, at the next recertification, any household that wishes to continue receiving food stamp benefits must submit a new application and must be interviewed.

At application approval, the county office worker must take the following actions to schedule a recertification interview for expedited households assigned a one or two month certification period because verification requirements were postponed.

1. Schedule a time for the household to appear for its next interview;
2. Provide the household with another Food Stamp Application (DCO-220);
3. Provide the household with a Notice of Expiration (DCO-239) completed according to the instructions in [FSC 10210];
4. Provide the household with a manual Notice of Action (DCO-1) explaining the terms of the application approval and any items of verification the household must provide prior to recertification.

Certain forms and notices are provided to all eligible households (including expedited households) when an application is approved.

These forms and notices are listed below. The policy reference indicates where detailed information regarding the form or notices may be found.

Notice of Action (DCO-1) [FSC 8810] - The DCO-1 will be issued automatically unless additional information must be provided - e.g., the household is certified pending verification.

Change Report Form (DCO-234) [FSC 11350] - The DCO-234 will be issued to all occasional reporting households. Its use must be explained.  Both a Change Report Form (DCO-234) and a CHANGE REPORT ADDENDUM:  The Limited Reporting Requirements will be issued to all limited reporting households.

Food Stamp Semi-Annual Reporting (PUB-360) - [FSC 11520] - A pamphlet explaining semi-annual reporting will be provided to any household subject to semi-annual reporting.

Destitute households are migrant or seasonal farmworker households that have little or no income at the time of application.

A migrant is an individual who travels away from home on a regular basis with a group of laborers to seek employment in an agriculturally related activity.

A seasonal farmworker is an individual who travels away from home on a regular basis to seek employment in an agriculturally related activity.

Even though a destitute household may receive income at some other time during the month of application, household members may be in immediate need of food assistance.

There are three income-related criteria under which migrant or seasonal farmworker households may be considered destitute.

1. The household's only income for the month of application is from a new source and no more than $25 from the new source will be received within 10 calendar days of the date of application.

Income normally received on a monthly or more frequent basis is considered to be from a new source if less than $25 was received from that source in the 30 days prior to the date of application.

Example - A migrant farmworker applies for food stamp benefits on July 15th. He reports that he last worked picking tomatoes on June 16th and received $15.00 in wages for that day's work. He expects to go back to work for the same grower picking okra on July 25th. This income is considered to be from a new source.

Income normally received less often than monthly is considered to be from a new source if less than $25.00 was received at the last normal pay interval.

2. The household's only income for the month of application was received prior to the date of application from a terminated source.

Income received on a monthly or more frequent basis is considered to be from a terminated source when no more income will be received from that source during the month of application or the following month.

3. The household received income from a terminated source prior to the date of application and expects income of $25 or less from a new source within 10 calendar days of the date of application.

Apply this criterium only if the household is to receive no other income in the month of application.

A migrant or seasonal farmworker's source of income is considered to be the "grower" for whom the farmworker is working at a particular time. A farmworker who travels with the same crew chief but moves to a different grower is considered to have both terminated and new income sources.

A farmworker who changes jobs but continues to work for the same grower is considered to have income from the same source.

A self-employed household member who secures contracts or other work from different customers is considered to be receiving income from the same source as long as he is self-employed. For example, a "crew chief" may contract with a grower to pick a crop for a set amount. The farmworkers are paid from this amount. The crew chief is self-employed. Moving from one grower to another will not result in terminated income for the crew chief.

Destitute households are entitled to special income calculation procedures.

1. Include the income from the terminated source if received between the first of the month and the date of application.
2. Disregard income from a new source anticipated to be received after the date of application.
3. Exclude a travel advance received by a migrant or seasonal farmworker as a reimbursement unless paid under written contract as an advance on wages to be subtracted from earnings. In that case, count the advance as income.

The receipt of a wage advance for travel costs does not affect the determination of whether subsequent payments from the employer are a new source of income. Neither will these advances affect whether a household is considered destitute. 

The special income calculations will be applied at initial application for the first month of the certification period only. At recertification, income from a new source of less than $25 will be disregarded if not received by the 10th calendar day after the date of the household's normal issuance date.  

Migrant and seasonal farmworker households classified as destitute households applying after the 15th of the month may be assigned a certification period longer than one month. These households will be notified via Notice of Action (DCO-1) that postponed verification from sources within the state must be provided prior to issuance of the second month's allotment.