1125.025.00 STEPS TO PROCESS EXPEDITED ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS

Only identity must be verified prior to issuing expedited benefits.

• Verify the applicant's identity through readily available documentary evidence or a collateral contact, such as a neighbor or landlord, whichever is the most prompt, before issuing expedited benefits.

  NOTE: For a telephone interview, consider the applicant's identity verified if able to reach the applicant at a telephone number listed in the telephone book or city directory under the applicant's name. If questionable, request further verification and document the reasons.

• If an applicant or other EU members indicate they have received benefits out of state, immediately contact the other state to verify when the EU members last received or will receive benefits from the other state. To obtain the phone number from the other state if the applicant cannot provide it:
  • from the Family Support Division (FSD) Intranet page;
  • click Administration on left;
  • click Resource Links;
  • click Public Service Agencies; and
  • click appropriate state.
• Obtain documentary evidence of all other eligibility factors possible during the interview. Do not delay the authorization of expedited benefits by even one day to obtain verification of factors other than identity.
• Authorize the APEX (approval for expedited) action and issue the expedited benefits. If the worker does not authorize the APEX action and there is enough information entered into FAMIS to determine expedited eligibility with identity verified, FAMIS authorizes the action during the overnight batch process.

  The Date of Discovery field displays on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen when the APEX action is authorized on the same day as the date of application. Prior to authorizing the benefit, review the Date of Discovery field to ensure the correct discovery date is entered. Refer to the Procedure Guide Timely Delivery of Expedited Food Stamp Benefits for assistance on entering the date of discovery.

• If the application date is different from the date of the APEX action, the message "Expedited Issuance-Check Discovery Date" appears on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen to alert eligibility specialists to check the discovery date. Prior to authorizing the benefit, review the discovery date to enter the correct discovery date. Record a comment if the discovery date is different from the application date on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen. Refer to the Timely Delivery of Expedited Food Stamp Benefits for assistance.

  FAMIS displays the message "Invalid Discovery Date" on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen when no entry is made in the Date of Discovery field, the authorization date is other that the date of application, and the eligibility specialist tries to authorize. Enter the correct date of discovery and authorize the action.

1125.030.00 POSTPONED VERIFICATION

If the applicant must provide further verification and/or have a required interview when expedited benefits are issued, FAMIS approves the case with verification postponed. This prevents any further issuances being sent to the applicant until verification is provided and/or the interview is conducted and benefits are released. The EU status code APV (active with postponed verification) is set by the system and appears on the Action Authorization (FM3H) screen.

FAMIS notifies the applicant on the FA-150 Action Notice of the expedited benefit amount and what information must be provided and/or if an interview must be completed by the 30th day and that no further benefits will be issued until the postponed verification is provided and/or the interview is completed. If the applicant applied from the 1st to the 15th of the month she/he has 30 days from the date of application to provide needed verification and/or complete the interview. If sufficient information is not provided and/or the interview is not completed, FAMIS closes the case the night of the 30th day, as long as the applicant has had at least 10 days from the date of request for verification to the supply the information. If the applicant applied from the 16th to the last day of the month she/he has until the last day of the second month, unless the day falls on a weekend or holiday. The closing would take place the next business day to provide needed verification and/or complete the interview. If sufficient information is not provided and/or the interview is not completed, FAMIS closes the case the night of the last day of the second month, unless the day falls on a weekend or holiday. The closing would take place the next business day as long as the applicant has had at least 10 days from the date of request for verification to the supply the information.

If an EU provides the postponed verification and/or completes the interview, authorize benefits within seven working days from receipt of the verification or the first working day of the calendar month following the month of application, whichever is later.