County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Elderly Simplified Application Project ESAP Number Page 63360 1 of 2 Revision 04012022 BackgroundElderly Simplified Application Project ESAP is a set of waivers intended to improve CalFresh access among the lowincome elderly and disabled populations Below are the waivers which require continuance approval from Food and Nutrition Services FNS Recertification interview waiver Data matching waiver to reduce customer provided verifications Certification extension waiver SemiAnnual Reporting SAR waiver A onetime notice CalFresh Notice of Change Elimination of SemiAnnual Report CF 34 will be sent to all ESAP HHs informing them that they will no longer be required to submit the Eligibility Status Report SAR 7 effective March 1 2022 PurposeThe purpose of this revision is to notify staff of the recent elimination of the SAR reporting requirements for ESAP households HH beginning March 1 2022 PolicyESAP applies only to HHs where all members are elderly andor disabled including ineligible or excluded HH members with no earned income ESAP HHs must be assigned a 36month certification period All other eligibility requirements must be met 1 Interviews for ESAP HHs Interviews are not required at recertification for ESAP HHs The recertification will be completed by using any of the acceptable recertification forms refer to CalFresh Program Guide CFPG 63304 Interviews are still required when any of the following exist The HH requests an interview The information provided on the recertification form will result in a discontinuance Information supplied by the HH is questionable or incomplete Note Interviews at initial certification are still required During the intake interview staff must clearly inform ESAP HHs that a recertification interview is not required This must be documented in the case record 2 Verifications Electronic matches MediCal Eligibility Data System MEDS Income and Eligibility Verification System IEVS Payment Verification System PVS will be used to verify identity income residency noncitizen status medical expenses and social security numbers If the information cannot be verified electronically or is questionable verification must be requested 3 Periodic Reporting Requirements Beginning March 1 2022 ESAP HHs are no longer be required to complete a SAR 7 at the 12th and 24th month intervals of their 36month certification period Instead of a SAR 7 the Reporting Changes for Cash Aid and CalFresh SAR 2 form will be sent automatically to ESAP HHs during the 12th and 24th months of their 36month certification period If an ESAP HH inadvertently submits a SAR 7 it will be treated as a voluntary midperiod report 4 Losing ESAP Eligibility County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Elderly Simplified Application Project ESAP Number Page 63360 2 of 2 HHs that lose ESAP eligibility will remain in their 36month certification period However at the next recertification an interview will be required and the HH will be assigned a 24 or 12month certification period whichever applies When a HH loses ESAP eligibility because of the receipt of earned income SAR requirements will resume refer to CFPG 63272 5 ESAP Notices Each HH will be mailed a Notice of Expiration of Certification NEC in the month prior to the last month of the certification period The following notices will be automatically generated and sent in batch to customers Notice Description CF 3772B CalFresh Notice of ESAP HHs that are not required to complete a Expiration of Certification for recertification interview Households with Only Elderly andor Disabled Members CF 3772C CalFresh Notice of Former ESAP HHs that are required to complete an Expiration of Certification for interview Households with Only Elderly andor Disabled Members CF 3772D CalFresh Notice of The customer reports a change that would result in the Status Change for Households HH no longer meeting ESAP eligibility with Only Elderly andor Disabled Members 6 Case Record ESAP eligibility determination must be documented in the case record Other Program Impacts No Impact References ACL 1358 1734 1753 20126 20145 and 2215 CFR 2732ef 27310f1f4 27314b3 FNS 2008 Sections 3f 11e3 and 17b MPP 633004 633005 634046 63504142 Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by 04302025 Approval for Release Rick Wanne Director SelfSufficiency Services