Federal regulations expect 100 percent timely processing of applications for both expedited and overall SNAP processing, and states are subject to sanctions or fines from the federal government for untimely processing of SNAP applications. However, in recent years the benchmark of 95 percent timely was set as the acceptable standard for timely processing for food or SNAP applications.

Initial Applications / Expedited Eligibility Tests

• Initial applications are those applications that have experienced a break in SNAP benefits for more than one day, including applicants who fail to reapply in a timely manner. All initial applications are subject to the expedited eligibility tests which are a part of the report.
• Expedited Eligibility System Tests consist of computer programming to in accordance with Expedited Services criteria found in 340:50-11-1 as follows:
• Time frame for certification is seven days (not including the date of the application as the first application day)
• The system will review benefits on the case for any benefits received in the previous month, so if a break in eligibility of more than one day has occurred, the case’s section application is subject to the tests.
• If the certification processing produces a household total of less than $150 income and less than $100 of liquid resources, the application is considered as expedited eligible, and is therefore subject to the seven day processing guidelines.
• IMPORTANT! If, at time of certification, the shelter amount and utility cost compute to EXCEED the total income and liquid resources, the system considers your application as expedited – eligible and is subject to the 7-day processing guidelines. This means, of course, that even if you do not enter a “late date” nor consider your application to be an “EO” the system may do so, and your application will show as a late “EO.”
• Entering “Re-Certification using “reapplication” code “1” in field C3 and “recertification with no break in eligibility” code “27” in field C4 will exempt your case from an expedited eligibility test.
• The system measures 7-day timeliness by subtracting the benefits posting date on the benefits database (BN1 “Issuance Date” or posting date shown on ECHL) from the date of late entitlement (C34) or date of application (C1), whichever is later. If the result of this calculation is seven days, the application is timely. If the result of this calculation is greater than seven days, the application is untimely.

Initial Applications / Thirty Day Processing Tests

• Applications that have experienced a break in SNAP benefits for more than one day are considered as “initial applications.”
• If the initial application is determined to be “not expedited,” the application is subject to the thirty-day processing time frame, with the day following the application date counted as the first countable day.
• The effect of not including the application date in the thirty days is staffs really have thirty-one days to complete the application timely.
• The system measures 30-day timeliness by subtracting the benefits posting date on the benefits database (BN1 “Issuance Date” or posting date shown on ECHL) from the date of application (C1). If the result of this calculation is 30 days, the application is timely; however, if it is greater than 30 days, the application is untimely.

Reapplications/Non – PA Benefits

A timely reapplication is one made prior to the expiration of eligibility for the current benefits. An untimely reapplication is one made after the expiration of the current benefits, and is subject to Expedited eligibility tests by the report.

The report finds and evaluates issuance of benefits for “this case” by reviewing the benefits database (BN1) for “last month” and therefore, “knows” benefits were issued last month and differentiates between new applications and reapplications.

Non-PA benefits are determined by the absence of Section B in issuing status. Timely reapplications, according to SNAP policy, should be disposed prior to the last month of the certification period. However, to be considered timely by the SNAP Activity Report, non-PA SNAP reapplications should be completed prior to day thirty not including the application date as the first countable day.

When there is a re-application, the system presumes the case’s coding is accurate…

When the C Section is coded as a certification or “1” in field C3 with a reason of “recertification with no break in eligibility” or “27” in field C4, it exempts the case from Expedited eligibility tests.

The system measures 30-day timeliness by subtracting the benefits posting date on the benefits database (BN1 “Issuance Date” or posting date shown on ECHL) from the date of application (C1). If the result of this calculation is 30 days, the application is timely; however, if it is greater than 30 days, the application is untimely.

Reapplications/PA Benefits

Timely reapplication recertification for PA benefits are defined the same as above in Non-PA benefits. However, the measure of timeliness differs.

The SNAP Activity Report finds and evaluates PA benefits by reviewing the benefits database (BN1) for “this case” thereby differentiating between initial application and reapplications.

It also reviews Section B for issuing status thereby differentiating between non-PA and PA benefits.

As long as SNAP benefits are issuing on the PA case, the disposition of a reapplication (regardless of the reapplication date) is timely if completed prior to the expiration of the certification period. If the certification period has expired, staffs have thirty days from the application date.

FDENY Transaction and Timeliness

The FDENY (Future Denial) transaction automatically denies SNAP applications effective thirty days from the application date.

“FDENY (space) Case Number” accesses the IMS transaction for a future denial, which displays the message “FDENY PENDING” on all affected computer screens (EC and ECHL).

The reason for the FDENY action displays on CWA Report 1 under the column of “FDENY PEND” with the message of “P45” for failure to provide requested verification and “P59” for failure to meet the requirement for a face-to-face interview.

The FDENY transaction is programmed to afford clients all possible access to SNAP benefits, even if the thirtieth day falls upon a weekend or holiday. It allows the application to remain pending the first working day beyond the thirtieth day from the application, and then denies the application effective the thirtieth day after the close of business on the first working day beyond the thirtieth day effective or “back to” day thirty (30).

For example, an application dated the first of a month is placed in FDENY status. The 30^th day of that application is occurs on a Saturday, followed by a holiday on Monday. That application will continue to show in application status on Tuesday following the Monday holiday, but after the close of business on Tuesday, the application will automatically be denied effective back to the Saturday before, on the 30^th day. Therefore, applications with the FDENY transaction pending through completion should never display as untimely on the SNAP Activity report.

SNAP Reports in the PPM DASHBOARD

Reports of SNAP Activity for the previous month are divided into five FNS-366 SNAP reports in the PPM DASHBOARD:

• Area in State Summary (CD981R2A)
• County in Area Summary (CD981R2C)
• Supervisor in County Summary (CD981R2S)
• Worker in Supervisor Summary (CD981R2W)
• Part B – Program Activity (CD981R01)
• Part E – Worker Application Processing (CD981R03)