Supplemental security income (SSI) assistance groups are those
in which all members are applicants for, or recipients of SSI
as defined in rule
5101:4-2-03 of the
Administrative Code. SSI assistance groups, and who are not certified for supplemental
nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits, have not applied for SNAP
benefits during the previous thirty days, and which do not have an application for SNAP
pending. These assistance groups have the
option of applying for SNAP benefits at their local social security
administration district office or at the local county agency. The county agency
shall not require persons potentially eligible for SSI to make application for
SSI benefits as a condition of SNAP eligibility.
(A) What are the eligibility standards for
SSI assistance groups?
If all members of the
SSI assistance group
groups applying
simultaneously for
receive SSI
and SNAP benefits
:
are subject to SNAP
eligibility criteria until the assistance group is considered categorically
eligible. However, when each assistance group member receives or is authorized
to receive Ohio works first (OWF), SSI, or a temporary assistance to needy
families (TANF) funded service, or any combination of these benefits, the
assistance group is categorically eligible as described in rule
5101:4-2-02 of the
Administrative Code.
(1) The gross income test and the
net income test are not used in determining eligibility;
(2) The SNAP resource limits do not
apply to the assistance group; and
(3) The assistance group must meet
the nonfinancial eligibility criteria.
(B) What forms are required for SSI
assistance groups?
The following forms are required:
(1) JFS 07200, "
Request
Application
for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), Cash
Assistance,
Food and Medical Assistance
or Child Care Assistance."
(rev. 10/2016)
(2) JFS 01846, "Case Worksheet-Cash, Food
Stamp
Stamps,
and Medical Assistance Interview"
(5/2005)
shall be completed by the social security administration
if
when a
home visit
telephone interview is
needed
completed.
(3) The JFS 07501, "Program
Enrollment and Benefit Information" (rev. 4/2018).
(C) How are applications for
individuals participating in the social security administration's prerelease
program processed?
An assistance group that consists of
a resident or residents of a public institution(s) that applies for SSI under
the social security administration's prerelease program for the
institutionalized shall be allowed to apply for SNAP benefits jointly with
their application for SSI prior to their release from the institution. These
applications will be forwarded to the county agency by the social security
administration. The application documents used for prerelease applicants will
be the JFS 07200 and the JFS 07501, to be followed by an interactive
interview.
(1)
An assistance group that consists of a resident or
residents of a public institution(s) that applies for SSI under the social
security administration's prerelease program for the institutionalized is
allowed to apply for SNAP benefits jointly with their application for SSI prior
to their release from the institution. These applications will be forwarded to
the county agency by the social security administration. The application used
for prerelease applicants will be the JFS 07200, to be followed by an
interactive interview.
(2)
The county agency is to make an eligibility
determination and issue SNAP benefits to a resident of a public institution who
applies jointly for SSI and SNAP within thirty days following the date of the
applicant's release from the institution. Expedited processing time standards
for an applicant who has applied for SNAP and SSI prior to release is to begin
on the date of the applicant's release from the institution. In addition, if,
for any reason, the county agency is not notified on a timely basis of an
applicant's release date from a public institution, the county agency is to
restore benefits.
(D) What is the social security
administration's responsibility?
In accordance with
7 C.F.R.
273.2
(3/2018)
(3/2023), the
social security administration is required to:
(1)
Inform an
applicant for or recipient of social security benefits under Title II of the
Social Security Act of 1935 or SSI of the availability of benefits under the
SNAP program and the availability of a SNAP application at the social security
administration office.
(1)(2) Accept all SNAP
applications received at the social security administration office from SSI
assistance groups and forward them within one working day after receipt of a
signed application to the county agency. The social security administration
is to also forward to the county agency a
transmittal form. The prerelease applications will be forwarded to the county
agency consistent with the above timeframe. The social security administration
will later notify the county agency of the applicant's impending release date.
Note: counties are required to keep local social security administration
offices supplied with the JFS 07200,
and the JFS
01846
and the JFS 07501.
(2)(3)
Prescreen all applications for entitlement to expedited services on the day the
application is received at the social security administration and shall mark
"Expedited Processing" on the first page of all applications that appear to be
entitled to such processing. The social security administration will inform
assistance groups that appear to meet the criteria for expedited service that
benefits may be issued a few days sooner if the assistance group applies
directly at the county agency. The assistance group may take the application to
the county agency for screening, an interview, and processing of the
application.
(3)(4)
Inform an applicant for or recipient of social
security benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act of 1935 or SSI of
the availability of benefits under the SNAP program and the availability of a
SNAP application at the social security administration office
Send information to SSI assistance groups redetermined for
SSI by mail of their right to file a SNAP application at the social security
administration or at their local SNAP office.
(E) What are the interview requirements for
SSI assistance groups when the interview is completed at the social security
administration?
(1) In accordance with
7 C.F.R.
273.2(k), when the social
security administration completes an interactive interview for SNAP on the
telephone
from
with a member of an SSI assistance group, the social
security administration is required to complete a JFS 01846 during the
telephone interview. In these cases, the JFS 07200
and JFS 07501 are
is
required to be mailed to the claimant for signature and returned to the social
security administration or county agency. The social security administration is
required to forward any SNAP applications it receives to the county agency
within one working day.
(2)
An assistance
group who completes an interactive interview for SNAP at the social security
administration office shall not be required to also see a county eligibility
worker or otherwise be subjected to an additional interview unless they request
one. The social security administration will provide the county with
documentation (i.e., photocopies) of items that must be verified (e.g., income)
if the applicant is in possession of such documents at the time of the
interview.
(3) The county agency
shall not require the assistance group to be interviewed again and it shall not
contact the assistance group further in order to obtain additional information
unless:
(a) The application is improperly
completed;
(b) Mandatory
verification is missing; or
(c)
Certain information is questionable.
(4) In accordance with rule
5101:4-2-09 of the
Administrative Code, the county agency shall obtain the needed documentation
for verification purposes. County agencies have the option of verifying SSI
benefit payments through the state data exchange (SDX) and the beneficiary data
exchange (BENDEX). For prerelease applications the county agency should obtain
whatever additional information is available from the social security
administration at the time of release or if necessary contact the
applicant/institution to obtain needed information.
(F) What is the county agency's
responsibility?
The county agency shall:
(1) In accordance with rule
5101:4-2-07 of the
Administrative Code, the county agency shall conduct an interactive interview
with the applicant upon receipt of a JFS 07200
, unless
one was already completed by the social security administration as described in
paragraph (E)(3) of this rule. The county agency shall make an
eligibility determination and issue SNAP benefits to eligible SSI assistance
groups within thirty days following the date the application was received by
the social security administration. Applications shall be considered filed for
normal processing purposes when the signed application is received by the
social security administration.
The county agency
shall make an eligibility determination and issue SNAP benefits to a resident
of a public institution who applies jointly for SSI and SNAP within thirty days
following the date of the applicant's release from the
institution.
(2) Prescreen
all applications received from the social security administration for
entitlement to expedited service on the day the application is received. All
SSI assistance groups entitled to expedited service shall be certified in
accordance with applicable regulations except that the expedited processing
time standard shall begin on the date the application is received at the
correct county agency office. Expedited processing
time standards for an applicant who has applied for SNAP and SSI prior to
release shall begin on the date of the applicant's release from the
institution.
(3) Restore
benefits to an assistance group that were lost because of an error by the
county agency or by the social security administration through joint
processing. Such an error shall include, but not be limited to, the loss of an
applicant's application after it has been filed with social security
administration. In addition, if, for any reason, the
county agency is not notified on a timely basis of an applicant's release date
from a public institution, the county agency shall restore
benefits.
Notes
Ohio Admin. Code 5101:4-6-19
Effective:
10/1/2023
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates:
7/17/2023 and
10/01/2028
Promulgated
Under: 111.15
Statutory
Authority: 5101.54
Rule
Amplifies: 329.042,
5101.54
Prior
Effective Dates: 06/02/1980, 12/01/1980, 05/03/1985 (Emer.), 08/01/1985,
08/16/1985 (Emer.), 11/01/1985 (Emer.), 01/01/1986, 01/01/1987 (Emer.),
04/06/1987, 01/05/1990 (Emer.), 03/22/1990, 10/01/1990, 07/01/1992, 08/01/1992
(Emer.), 10/30/1992, 07/01/1994, 05/01/1996, 10/01/1996, 05/01/1997,
02/01/1999, 02/01/2004, 05/02/2005, 01/01/2009, 03/01/2011, 07/01/2011,
02/01/2013, 06/01/2013, 09/01/2018
