(A) What is a
certification period?
A certification period is the amount of time an assistance
group is authorized to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP)
benefits. The county agency shall certify each eligible assistance group for a
definite period of time. The county agency shall not require an assistance
group to report for an interview during their certification period.
(B) What is the first month of the
certification period?
The first month of the certification period is the first month
that the assistance group is eligible to participate including an initial month
in which no benefit is issued due to the initial proration being less than ten
dollars. The certification period cannot exceed a total of twelve months,
except as specified in paragraph (C) of this rule.
(C) How long is the certification period?
At application or recertification the county agency shall
assign the longest certification period possible based on the predictability of
the assistance group's circumstances. Assistance groups shall be assigned a
twelve month certification period unless an assistance group meets one of the
following exceptions:
(1)
When all assistance group members are elderly or
disabled with no earned income the
The elderly
or disabled assistance group's (ED AG) certification period is assigned
in accordance with paragraph (D) of this rule; or
(2) When the assistance group has unstable
circumstances the certification period is to be assigned in accordance with
paragraph (E) of this rule.
(D) How long should the certification period
be
for an ED AG
when
all assistance group members are elderly or disabled and have no earned
income?
An ED AG is when
All
all adult
members of an assistance group that are
elderly or disabled and the assistance group
have
has no
countable earned income,
the ED AG shall be certified for twenty-four
thirty-six
months. The ED AG may include minor children,
regardless of disability status.
(E) How long should the certification period
be when the assistance group has unstable circumstances, anticipated changes or
is a migrant or seasonal farm worker?
These assistance groups should be assigned certification
periods consistent with their circumstances. The certification period options
are four, five, six or twelve months when the assistance group has unstable
circumstances such as:
(1) An
assistance group with zero net income;
(2) An assistance group with an able-bodied
adult without dependents (ABAWD) who has no countable earned income is to be
assigned a certification period in accordance with rule
5101:4-3-20 of the
Administrative Code.
(3) Assistance
groups that are homeless;
(4) The
assistance group anticipates changes that will make the assistance group
ineligible for SNAP benefits in the near future; or
(5) The assistance group contains a migrant
or seasonal farm worker.
(F) When can SNAP benefits stop prior to the
end of the certification period?
The county agency shall end an assistance group's benefits
earlier than its certification expiration date when one of the following is
true:
(1) The county agency receives
information that the assistance group has become ineligible;
(2) The assistance group fails to return the
interim report as set forth in rule
5101:4-7-01 of the
Administrative Code
by the end of the sixth month
for assistance groups with twelve month certification periods or the twelfth
month for assistance groups with a twenty-four month certification
period;
(3) The assistance group reports a change or
fails to respond to a request for contact when information reported to the
county agency is unclear in accordance with paragraph (J)(5) of rule
5101:4-7-01 of the
Administrative Code. The county agency may also adjust the assistance group's
benefit amount in response to a reported change.
(G) What notification is required when a
certification period is ended earlier than the expiration date?
Prior notice of adverse action shall be provided by mail or
personal delivery as described in rule
5101:6-2-04 of the
Administrative Code unless the assistance group's situation meets one of the
exceptions to the prior notice provisions as specified in rule
5101:6-2-05 of the
Administrative Code.
(H)
When can a certification period be aligned with certification periods for other
public assistance programs?
(1) When the
assistance group applies for SNAP within a certification period for other
public assistance programs, the SNAP certification period may be shortened to
align with the certification dates already established.
(2) When the assistance group is within a
current certification for SNAP and applies for other public assistance
programs, the SNAP certification date may be terminated early and a new
certification period may be established. Prior notice of adverse action as
described in paragraph (G) of this rule is not required when aligning
certification periods.
Notes
Ohio Admin. Code 5101:4-5-03
Effective:
8/1/2022
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:
10/1/2025
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, 07/20/1988 (Emer.), 10/16/1988,
04/01/1997 (Emer.), 06/06/1997, 02/01/1999, 06/01/2001 (Emer.), 08/27/2001,
05/13/2002, 07/01/2002 (Emer.), 08/01/2002, 07/10/2003, 11/01/2003, 12/01/2004,
08/01/2005, 04/01/2010, 03/01/2011, 07/02/2015, 03/01/2019,
10/01/2020
