Adding a New Household Member 430-05-65-20

(Revised 01/01/04 ML2893)

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When adding a new household member to an ongoing food stamp case, the individual is processed as a new applicant. The mandatory verifications apply to the new individual. If the individual being added has received food stamp benefits in another household, state, or through the Food Distribution Program, the individual cannot be added.

 

Exception:

Initial application proration does not apply to the individual being added to the household.

 

If the household does not provide the mandatory verifications needed to add the individual, F442 is sent allowing the household 10 days from the mail date to provide the information needed.

 

If the household provides the mandatory verifications needed to add the individual within 10-days from the mail date and it results in an increase in benefits, the individual must be added to the household for the next benefit month. If because of when the change is reported, the 10-day timeframe extends into the next benefit month, a supplement must be issued.

 

If the household provides the mandatory verifications needed to add the individual and it results in a decrease in benefits, the worker must issue a 10-day advance notice unless this change was reported in writing and signed by the household. If the worker does not have 10-days for the 10-day advance notice, the individual is not added for the next benefit month, but must be added the month following the expiration of the 10-day advance notice.

 

If the household does not respond to the F442 within the 10 days from the mail date, the worker will receive an alert to send the F401. If it is prior to advance notice deadline, the F401 must be sent and the case will close at the end of that month. If it is after advance notice deadline, the F401 cannot be sent until the first working day of the following month. Benefits for the last month of the certification period are authorized the same as the previous month.

 

Exception:

If the last month of the certification period includes an extra check or if the second to the last month included an extra check, this change must be acted on for the last month of the certification period as it is considered known information to the agency.

 

If the household provides the verification anytime prior to case closing, the worker has 10 days to act on the change and the case cannot be closed.