County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Recertification Number Page 63304 1 of 5 Revision 10012021 BackgroundRecertification is the process of evaluating eligibility for CalFresh before the end of the current certification period Purpose This section describes recertification policies for CalFresh The purpose of this material is to notify staff of recent changes to delayed processing scheduling interviews and verification requirements at recertification Policy The recertification process must be completed prior to the end of the households HH current certification period The benefits are to be issued by the normal issuance cycle in the month following the expiration of the HHs certification period Under no circumstances will benefits continue beyond the end of the certification period without a new determination of eligibility Based on the information reported on the recertification form and verifications provided determine eligibility and benefits for the upcoming certification period using prospective budgeting and reasonably anticipated income and expenses Refer to CFPG 63282 for further information A HH will be considered to have made an untimely recertification when they have filed an application within the 30 days following the last month of the certification period Benefits must be prorated based on when the application for recertification and all mandatory verifications are received These applications must be screened for Expedited Services In situations where the customer fails to attend the interview a Notice of Missed Interview NOMI will be mailed 1 Complete Packets HHs have the option of submitting their forms and documents in person by mail by fax or electronically The Recertification for CalFresh Benefits form CF 37 must be included in the packet Any of the following forms may be accepted as the application for recertification if signed and submitted by the HH Application for CalFresh Benefits CF 285 Electronic Application Statement of Facts SOF Application for CalFresh Cash Aid andor MediCalHealthcare Programs SAWS 2 Plus Initial Application for CalFresh Cash Aid andor MediCalHealthcare Programs SAWS 1 Note The recertification form and all documents submitted by the HH must be imaged 2 Timely Applications for Recertification Applications filed by the 15th day of the last month of the certification period will be considered timely In the rare circumstance that a HH is certified for one or two months the application for recertification will be considered timely if the HH returns the application 15 days from the date the Notice of Expiration of Certification NEC is received County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Recertification Number Page 63304 2 of 5 HHs that file a timely application and meet all recertification requirements are entitled to be recertified by the end of the current certification period and receive uninterrupted benefits Staff are responsible for the following Providing benefits by the HHs normal issuance cycle in the first month of the new certification period Notifying the HH of their eligibility or ineligibility by the end of the current certification period Eligible HHs lose their right to uninterrupted benefits when delaying the process by missing a scheduled interview or failing to provide requested information by the due date A HH can still get uninterrupted benefits if all recertification requirements are completed by the end of the certification period 3 Flexible Interview Scheduling The appointment notice for recertification must specify the date of the interview and the 15minute block of time in which the HH will be contacted The interview appointment date scheduled time and how the HH was informed must be documented in the case record Recertification interviews must be scheduled by the 15th of the final month of the certification period The HH must be contacted during the scheduled date and time block Refer to Flexible Interview Scheduling Eligibility Policy and Procedure Guide EPPG for further guidance 4 Delayed Processing An application for recertification is considered delayed any time the process is not completed by the end of the last month of the certification period The cause of the delay will be defined as follows Cause of Delay Definition County County caused delays include but are not limited to Telephonic signature was not obtained after the interview A valid Verification Checklist was not issued to the HH Assistance was not offered in obtaining the verification 10 days were not allowed for the HH to submit required verifications The interview was not scheduled The interview could not be rescheduled until late in the certification period and the 10 days to provide missing verifications extended passed current certification period HH HH caused delays include but are not limited to Failure to complete the recertification process Failure to appear for the first and second interview Failure to reschedule the interview until the month following the end of the certification period 5 Benefit Determination for County Caused Delays In situations where it has been determined that recertifications have been delayed by the County the HH is entitled to a full month of benefits for the first month of the new certification period County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Recertification Number Page 63304 3 of 5 Example 1 County Caused Delay Scenario Certification period ends March 31st The HH submits the CF 37 on March 10th The interview is scheduled late for March 28th The interview is completed and the Verification Checklist sent on March 28th with verifications due by April 7th Verifications are provided March 29th Outcome Provide uninterrupted benefits by the HHs normal issuance cycle in the month of April which is the following month after the certification period ends Send the approval Notice of Action NOA to the HH Example 2 County Caused Delay Scenario Certification period ends March 31st The HH submits the CF 37 on March 10th The interview is scheduled late for March 29th The interview is completed and the Verification Checklist sent on March 29th with verifications due by April 8th Case discontinues for failure to complete the recertification effective March 31st Verifications are provided April 3rd Outcome Rescind the discontinuance as a completed recertification and provide the full allotment to the HH within five working days Send the approval NOA to the HH 6 Benefit Determination for HH Caused Delays The HH will lose its right to uninterrupted benefits when the HH is being untimely recertified and it has been given at least 10 days to provide required verification and has failed to do so or has not completed the recertification interview A HH making an untimely application for recertification will not be denied unless they refuse to cooperate or the certification period has ended Example 1 HH Caused Delay Scenario Certification period ends March 31st The HH submits the CF 37 on March 10th The interview is scheduled for March 15th The interview is completed and the Verification Checklist sent on March 15th with verifications due by March 25th Verifications are provided late on March 29th Outcome Provide uninterrupted benefits by the HHs normal issuance cycle in the month following the end of their current certification period Send the approval NOA to the HH Example 2 HH Caused Delay Scenario Certification period ends March 31st The HH submits the CF 37 on March 10th The interview is scheduled for March 15th The interview is completed and the Verification Checklist sent on March 15th with verifications due by March 25th Verifications are not provided by the end of the current certification period The case is discontinued and a failure to provide discontinuance NOA must be sent to the HH no later than March 31st The HH provides the verifications late on April 3rd County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Recertification Number Page 63304 4 of 5 Outcome Process the application as a completed recertification and prorate the benefits as of the date the required verifications were received April 3rd Issue benefits as soon as administratively possible Send the approval NOA to the HH 7 30Day Income Verification Requirement at Recertification HHs are required to provide 30 days of income verification The 30day timeframe will be determined as follows If the HH provides verification of the most recent 30 days of income with their recertification then this is sufficient and no additional verification is required If the HH does not provide income verification with their recertification verification of income must be requested for the 30 days prior to the date the Verification Checklist VCL is issued Example Scenario HH provides the CF 37 prior to the interview but does not provide income verification along with it During the interview on May 3 the customer states they have income and verification is required to be provided Outcome A VCL is mailed to the customer on May 3 requesting proof of income received between April 3 and May 2 30 days from the date the VCL is issued If the HH provides partial or verification older than 30 days prior to recertification or date specified on the VCL but the income can be reasonably anticipated for the upcoming payment period then it is sufficient to use Note For additional assistance use 30Day Period Calculator 8 Personal Contact Prior to terminating benefits an attempt must be made to contact the HH HHs who fail to return a recertification packet will receive a text message prior to the discontinuance of their benefits HHs opting out of the text messaging option will receive a robocall An automated case record will be generated to document the robocall reminder Staff will be required to call HHs that submit their recertification packet but fail to complete the process prior to the discontinuance of benefits Document the attempted phone contact in the case record References MPP 63300 and 63504 ACL 0820 1225 1225E 1375 1396 14101 1584 1910 1978 and 2124 ACIN I5808 I5813 and I3321 CFR 2732 27310 27313 and 27314 Processing Guide 30401 Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by 09302024 Approval for Release County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Recertification Number Page 63304 5 of 5 Rick Wanne Director SelfSufficiency Services