(A) How is a
monthly benefit allotment determined?
The monthly food
assistance
supplemental nutrition assistance
program (SNAP) benefit can be determined several ways. The benefit amount
can be determined through the statewide automated eligibility system, by using
the basis of coupon/EBT issuance table, and
or by doing a
manual budget. When calculating monthly benefits without using the statewide
automated eligibility system the county agency must use the maximum food
assistance allotment table and may need to use the basis of coupon/ EBT
issuance table and the maximum net monthly income standards. All of these
tables are issued annually through a food assistance change transmittal,
which
that can
be found in the food assistance certification handbook at the Ohio department
of job and family services website.
(1) To determine an assistance group's
monthly
food assistance
SNAP allotment using the basis of coupon/EBT
issuance table:
(a) Calculate the assistance
group's net monthly income according to rule
5101:4-4-31 of the
Administrative Code.
(b) When the
assistance group is categorically eligible according to rule
5101:4-2-02 of the
Administrative Code and thus not subject to the net income standard, find the
monthly allotment on the basis of coupon/ EBT issuance table using the net
income of the assistance group and the appropriate assistance group
size.
(c) When the assistance group
is subject to the net income standard, compare the assistance group's net
monthly income to the maximum net monthly income standard. When the assistance
group's net income is greater than the net monthly income standard, the
assistance group is ineligible. When the assistance group's net income is equal
to or less than the net monthly income standard, the assistance group is
eligible. Find the allotment amount on the basis of coupon/EBT issuance table
using the net income of the assistance group and the appropriate assistance
group size.
(d) Eligible assistance
groups of one or two persons are eligible for a full monthly benefit of no less
than the minimum benefit allotment.
(e) Assistance groups containing three or
more members shall receive the actual calculated allotment.
(2) To calculate the allotment manually
(without using the basis of coupon/EBT issuance table):
(a) Calculate the assistance group's net
monthly income according to rule
5101:4-4-31 of the
Administrative Code.
(b) When the
assistance group is categorically eligible according to rule
5101:4-2-02 of the
Administrative Code and thus not subject to the net monthly income standard,
multiply the net monthly income by thirty percent.
(c) When the assistance group is subject to
the net income standard, compare the assistance group's net monthly income to
the maximum net monthly income standard. When the assistance group's net income
is greater than the net monthly income standard, the assistance group is
ineligible. When the assistance group's net income is equal to or less than the
net monthly income standard, the assistance group is eligible. Multiply the net
monthly income by thirty per cent.
(d) Round the product up to the next whole
dollar when it ends in one cent through ninety-nine cents.
(e) To obtain the allotment, subtract the
result of the net monthly income calculation from the maximum
food assistance
SNAP allotment for the appropriate assistance group
size.
(f) When the benefit is for a
one or two person assistance group and the computation results in a benefit of
less than the minimum benefit allotment, round up to the minimum benefit
amount.
(g) Assistance groups
containing three or more members shall receive the actual calculated
allotment.
(B)
How are benefits prorated for the initial month?
The term "initial month" means the first month for which the
assistance group is certified for participation in the food assistance program
SNAP. The initial month must follow a period when the
assistance group was not participating in the food
assistance program
SNAP. For most
assistance groups the break in receiving food
assistance
SNAP can be any amount of
time. However, for migrant and seasonal farm workers, an initial month is
determined by a break in benefits of at least one month. Assistance groups
containing migrant and seasonal farm workers shall receive a full month's
allotment with no proration when the break in benefits is less than one
month.
Benefits for the initial month of application are prorated
based on the date the application is received by the county agency. To prorate
the initial month of benefits the county agency must determine what the
food assistance
SNAP allotment would have been for the entire month as
explained in paragraph (A) of this rule, and then prorate the benefits as
described in this paragraph based on the date the application was
received:
The steps for prorating are:
(1) Add one to the number of days in the
month;
(2) Subtract the date the
application was received from the total calculated in paragraph (B)(1) of this
rule.
(3) Multiply the amount from
paragraph (B)(2) of this rule by the full month's benefits determined from
paragraph (A) of this rule.
(4)
Divide the amount from paragraph (B)(3) of this rule by the number of days in
the month.
(5) When the number
calculated in paragraph (B)(4) of this rule ends in one cent through
ninety-nine cents, round it down to the next lower dollar.
(6) When the number calculated results in an
allotment of less than ten dollars, round it to zero dollars. When the amount
calculated is ten dollars or more the benefit should be issued.
(C) What happens when there are
anticipated changes at the time of application?
(1) An assistance group's allotment for the
month of application may be different than the following months.
(2) An assistance group may be eligible for
the month of application, but ineligible in the next month. The assistance
group is entitled to benefits for the month of application even when the
processing of its application results in the benefits being issued in the next
month.
(3) Similarly, an assistance
group may be ineligible for the month of application, but eligible in the next
month due to anticipated changes in circumstances. Even though denied for the
month of application, the assistance group does not have to reapply in the next
month. The same application shall be used for the denial for the month of
application and the approval for the next months, within the timeliness
standards as
set forth
described in rule
5101:4-2-11 of the
Administrative Code.
(D)
What happens when there are anticipated changes at the time of
reapplication
recertification?
Eligibility for reapplication
recertification shall be determined based on
circumstances anticipated for the certification period starting the month
following the expiration of the current certification period.
(1) When an assistance group, other than a
migrant or seasonal farm worker assistance group, submits an application after
the assistance group's certification period has expired, that application shall
be considered an initial application and benefits for that month shall be
prorated.
(2) When an assistance
group's failure to timely reapply for benefits was due to an error of the
county agency and therefore, there was a break in participation, the county
agency shall follow procedures in rule
5101:4-5-07 of the
Administrative Code.
(3) When an
assistance group reapplies prior to the end of its certification period, but is
found ineligible for the first month following the end of the certification
period, the first month of any subsequent participation shall be considered an
initial month.
(4) When an
assistance group submits a
reapplication
recertification for benefits prior to the end of its
certification period and is found eligible for the first month following the
end of the certification period, then that month shall not be an initial
month.
(5) The requirements of
paragraph (D)(4) of this rule are effective only when the assistance group has
been properly notified of the expiration of its certification period, as
described in rule
5101:4-7-07 of the
Administrative Code.
Notes
Ohio Admin. Code 5101:4-4-27
Effective:
2/1/2021
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:
11/9/2020 and
02/01/2026
Promulgated
Under: 111.15
Statutory
Authority: 5101.54
Rule
Amplifies: 329.04,
329.042,
5101.54
Prior
Effective Dates: 06/02/1980, 10/01/1981, 05/01/1982, 10/01/1982, 06/01/1983,
11/01/1983 (Temp.), 12/22/1983, 08/20/1986 (Emer.), 11/15/1986, 01/16/1987
(Emer.), 04/06/1987, 05/01/1989 (Emer.), 07/17/1989, 01/05/1990 (Emer.),
03/22/1990, 07/01/1992, 08/01/1992 (Emer.), 10/30/1992, 02/01/1993, 09/01/1994,
08/01/1995 (Emer.), 10/13/1995, 09/22/1996 (Emer.), 12/21/1996, 04/01/1997
(Emer.), 06/06/1997, 02/02/1998, 09/28/1998, 05/01/1999, 06/01/2001 (Emer.),
08/27/2001, 12/01/2004, 03/01/2010,
06/01/2015
