Certification and reporting requirements Lawyer Manual

Eligible units are "certified" to receive SNAP, provided they continue to remain eligible for a certification period. Generally the certification period is twelve months with a six-month mid-point report. Households approved for expedited SNAP that have not completed verification of all the factors of eligibility may be certified for less than 3 months, until the verification is completed.

Notice of expiration of certification must be received by the unit no later than the first day of the unit’s last month of certification and must inform the unit of the date the certification period ends and what it must do to continue their eligibility for SNAP.

Note: At the end of a certification period the household must file a new application of "re-certification" also referred to as “REDE” for continued SNAP.

Households that submit recertification by the 15th of the first month after the certification expiration are entitled to uninterrupted SNAP if they remain eligible otherwise.

Reporting changes

Unless a unit is enrolled in simplified reporting (EZ REDE or Mid-Point reporting), the unit must report any changes that affect eligibility within 10 calendar days of the date they learn about the change. These changes include: :

• When someone in the unit gets, changes, or loses a job.

• When monthly earned income changes by more than $100.

• When the source of unearned income changes, or when unearned income changes by more than $5100.

• A change in unit size.

• A change of address, death, or discharge from long term care (LTC) or supportive living facility (SLF). The LTC or SLF must also report any change that affects a resident's eligibility.

• When someone in the unit obtains a licensed vehicle.

• If total cash on hand, stocks, bonds, and money in the bank reaches or exceeds $2,250 for non-qualifying members or $3,500 for qualifying members.

• When an order to pay child supports changes or ends.

For income-related changes, the date the first payment is received as a result of the change is considered the day the person learned about the change.

Units in simplified reporting such as EZ REDE or Mid-Point reporting are only required to report a change if their income exceeds the gross monthly income standards for the unit's size. For units in Mid-Point reporting , all changes must also be reported on the interim Mid-Point report form that is mailed to the unit.

To report a change, recipients are instructed to fill out the SNAP Program Change Report Form (pdf) and mail or fax it to their local Family Community Resource Center (FCRC). To locate a local FCRC, see the DHS Office Locator. Address changes can be reported with an online form.