Haw. Code R. § 17-663-86 - Joint processing

(a) Financial assistance applications, except where the household indicates it does not want food stamps, shall be processed as food stamp applications in accordance with the regular food stamp processing standard. If it is unclear from the application as to whether the household wants it processed for food stamp purposes, the branch shall determine the household's intent at the interview or through other contact with the household.

(b) The branch shall conduct a single interview at initial certification for both financial assistance and food stamp purposes.

(1) Financial assistance households shall not be required to see a different worker; and

(2) Households shall not be relieved of the responsibility for a personal interview in order to be certified for financial assistance when a personal interview has been waived for the FSP.

(c) If verification requirements for financial assistance differ from the verification required in chapter 17-647, the determination of food stamp eligibility shall not be delayed beyond thirty days after the date the application is filed if the branch has sufficient verification to meet the requirements of chapter 17-647 but has insufficient verification to meet the financial assistance rules.

(d) As a result of differences in financial assistance and food stamp application processing procedures and timeliness standards, the branch shall, if necessary, determine food stamp eligibility prior to determining the household's eligibility for financial assistance payments. Action on the food stamp portion of the application shall not be delayed or the application shall not be denied because the financial assistance determination has not been made.

(e) If the branch is able to anticipate the amount and the date of receipt of the initial financial assistance payment, but the payment will not be received until a subsequent month, the branch shall vary the household's food stamp benefit level according to the anticipated receipt of the payment and shall notify the household. Portions of initial payments intended to cover a previous month shall be disregarded as a lump-sum payment.

(f) If the amount or date of receipt of the initial financial assistance payment cannot be anticipated at the time of the food stamp eligibility determination, the financial assistance payments shall be handled as a change in circumstances. The branch shall not be required to send a notice of adverse action if the receipt of the financial assistance grant reduces or terminates the household's food stamp benefits, provided the household is notified in advance that its benefits may be reduced or terminated when the grant is received.

(g) A household whose financial assistance application is denied shall not be required to file a new food stamp application but shall have the household's food stamp eligibility determined or continued on the basis of:

(1) The original application filed jointly for financial assistance and food stamp purposes; and

(2) Any other documented information obtained subsequent to the application which may have been used in the financial assistance determination and is relevant to food stamp eligibility or level of benefits.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 17-663-86

[Eff 3/19/93; comp 11/19/05; am and comp OCT 07 2010] (Auth: HRS § 346-14) (Imp: 7 C.F.R. §273.2(j)(1))