Md. Code Regs. 07.03.17.19

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 07.03.17.19 - Expedited Service

A. A household shall have expedited service if:

(1) The household has less than $100 in liquid resources and less than $150 in gross monthly income;

(2) The household's combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household's monthly rent or mortgage and utilities; or

(3) A migrant or seasonal farm worker household has less than $100 in liquid resources and is determined by the local department to be destitute as described in §B of this regulation.

B. Destitute Migrant Households.

(1) To be destitute for Program purposes means the migrant household's only income for the month of application:

(a) Was received before the date of application and was from a terminated source; or

(b) Is from a new source and the household does not expect to receive income of more than $25 from the new source by the 10th calendar day after the date of application.

(2) The eligibility and benefit level for a destitute household is calculated for the month of application considering only income received between the first of the month and the date of application.

(3) Any income from a new source that is anticipated after the date of application is disregarded.

C. Time Limits for Expedited Service.

(1) The local department shall make Program benefits for a 1 month's allotment available to a household described in §A of this regulation by the close of business on the 7th calendar day after the filing date, including weekends or holidays.

(2) Out-of-Office Interviews.

(a) If the local department has waived the office interview for a household entitled to expedited service, the local department shall complete the process within the expedited service time limit.

(b) The local department may not include in the 7-day processing standard the days that the application is in the mail and in the possession of the household.

(3) Late Determination of Expedited Eligibility. If the local department discovers a household's entitlement to expedited service after the screening process required in Regulation .14G(4) of this chapter, the local department shall make benefits available within the time frame described in §C(1) of this regulation beginning with the date of discovery.

D. Special Procedures for Expedited Service. To expedite the certification process, the local department:

(1) Shall verify the applicant's identity through:

(a) Readily available documentary evidence, or

(b) Collateral contact;

(2) Shall make all reasonable efforts to complete required verification as described in Regulation .20C(2)-(12) of this chapter;

(3) May not delay benefits beyond the expedited time frame solely because the eligibility factors as described in §D(2) of this regulation have not been verified; and

(4) Shall assign a normal certification period to households that are certified on an expedited basis and have provided all necessary verification.

E. Postponed Verification.

(1) If a household applies on or before the 15th of the month and verification is postponed:

(a) The local department may:

(i) Certify the household for the month of application only; or

(ii) Assign a normal certification period; and

(b) Benefits may not be continued beyond the month of application if verification continues to be postponed.

(2) If a household applies on or after the 16th of the month and verification is postponed:

(a) The local department may:

(i) Certify the household for the month of application and the following month; or

(ii) Assign a normal certification period; and

(b) Benefits may not be continued beyond the month following the month of application if verification continues to be postponed.

(3) The local department shall notify the household in writing that no further benefits may be issued until the postponed verification is complete.

F. Number of Expedited Service Certifications. There is no limit to the number of times a household can be certified under expedited procedures, if before each expedited certification the household either:

(1) Completes the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited certification; or

(2) Was certified under normal processing standards since the last expedited certification.

Md. Code Regs. 07.03.17.19

Regulation .19B amended effective November 14, 1988 (15:23 Md. R. 2657)
Regulation .19F amended effective November 14, 1988 (15:23 Md. R. 2657)
Regulations .19 adopted effective December 25, 2000 (27:25 Md. R. 2280)
Regulation .19 amended effective November 25, 2002 (29:23 Md. R. 1810)