106 CMR 365.550 and the special provisions it contains, apply
only to individuals residing in shelters for battered individuals and their
children to whom the shelters provide meals.
(A)
Definition. A
shelter for battered individuals and their children is defined as a public or
private nonprofit facility that provides meals and lodging to battered
individuals and their children. If a facility also serves other individuals, a
portion of that facility must be set aside on a long-term basis to house only
battered individuals and their children.
Shelters that are authorized by the Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) of USDA to redeem SNAP benefits at a wholesale food store meet this
definition. No further assessment of the eligibility of these centers is
necessary.
(B)
Household Definition. Individuals or individuals with
their children residing in a shelter shall be considered individual household
units for the purpose of applying for and participating in the
program.
(C)
Residency
and Participation. The restrictions in
106 CMR
362.100:
Residency which prohibit an individual from participating as a
member of more than one household or in more than one state in any given month
do not apply to certain shelter residents. A shelter resident certified as a
member of a household that contains the person who subjected him or her to
abuse may apply for and, if eligible, receive an additional SNAP allotment as a
separate household. Residents may receive an additional allotment as a separate
household only once a month.
The Department shall take action to adjust the benefits of the
resident's former SNAP household either by shortening that household's
certification period and issuing a Notice of SNAP Termination (
106 CMR
364.840: Notice of SNAP
Termination) or by acting on the reported change and issuing a Notice
of Adverse Action (
106 CMR
364.860: Notice of Adverse
Action).
(D)
Financial Eligibility and Deductible Expenses. Shelter
residents who apply as separate households shall be certified solely on the
basis of their income, assets, and the shelter expenses for which they are
liable. The income, assets, and shelter expenses of their former household
shall be disregarded. Assets held jointly with members of the former household
shall be handled in accordance with
106 CMR
363.120:
Jointly-owned
Assets. Room payments to the shelter shall be considered shelter
expenses.
(E)
Expedited
Processing. Residents who are otherwise entitled to expedited
certification and issuance shall be issued benefits in accordance with
expedited issuance standards set forth in
106 CMR
364.900(A):
Initial
SNAP Benefit Issuance.
