Eligibility Reviews/Recertifications - Requirements for Food, Cash, and Medical Programs

Revised: May 31, 2022

Purpose:

This section explains how often we review an Assistance Unit’s (AU) eligibility based on the type of benefits they receive, their circumstances, and when ACES sets a review period to match the review end date or certification end date of other programs.

WAC 388-434-0005 How often does the department review my eligibility for benefits?

• Clarifying Information and Worker Responsibilities

WAC 388-434-0010 How do I get Basic Food benefits after my certification period has ended?

• Clarifying Information and Worker Responsibilities

WAC 388-434-0015  Extension of certification periods and waiver of eligibility reviews and mid-certification reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WAC 388-493-0010 Working family support

• Clarifying Information

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-434-0005 and WAC 388-434-0010

Our eligibility system sets a review period for cash and medical benefits based on the AU's circumstances and other benefits the AU receives from the department. The table below shows the length of certification period the system will set if not matching a review period to another program. 

When possible, the system automatically matches the cash review periods with Basic Food certification periods to minimize the number of reviews.

• For Basic Food certification periods, see EAZ Manual Chapter - Certification Periods - Basic Food.
• For more information on medical related certification periods and responsibilities, see HCA Manual Chapter – Eligibility Review.

1. Equal Access:
   Someone who needs Equal Access accommodations has more time to meet certification requirements. If a person receives these services and meets the requirements to be certified within 20 days after the end of their previous certification period, their food and cash benefits start on the first of the month of the new certification period. See Equal Access.
    
2. Forms / processes a person can use to recertify food, cash and medical programs:
   Someone can recertify benefits by:
   • Completing DSHS 14-001 (X) Application for Benefits;
   • Completing DSHS 14-078(X) Eligibility Review;
   • Completing an ACES Interactive Interview Declaration (IID); or
   • Completing the online application.
      
3. Adding a request for assistance to an eligibility review:
   See CLARIFYING INFORMATION #3 under WAC 388-406-0010.
    
4. Interview Requirements:
   We must interview a person at cash and food Eligibility Review or recertification if we have not interviewed them in the last twelve months. Exception to this is for the those in the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) Basic Food. See Clarifying Information #2 under WAC 388-452-0005.
    
5. Notice of expiration:
   If we certified an AU for three or more months, we send them a letter to tell them that their food and cash benefits are ending by the first day of the last month of their certification period.
    
6. When the system automatically initiates reviews for associated cash and food AUs:
   Associated AUs are ones that have the same head of household in ACES. The system matches the certification/review periods for associated cash and food AUs at review as described below:
   • If we initiate a review for cash benefits and there is an active associated Basic Food AU, ACES also initiates a review for Basic Food.
   • If we initiate a review for Basic Food benefits and there is an active associated cash AU, ACES also initiates a review for cash.
   • If we initiate a review for Basic Food or Cash, and there is an initiated review, ACES also initiates a review for classic medical S02, S03, or S05.

7. Verification at recertification:
   • If someone does not give us verification we ask for by the end of their certification period or within 10 days of the date we asked for it, we count the verification as late.
   • A person has until the end of the month after the month their certification ended to give us any late or missing verification without losing benefits.
   • If someone gives us an application or verification to finish a recertification after the 10-day timeframe and after the end of the month following the certification end month, the person must reapply for benefits.

8. Letters:
   • See Letters for information on what to include in approval and denial letters.
   • See Limited English Proficiency (LEP) for information on what we must translate in letters.
9. Primary source of information for medical:

   If the customer stated they’d like to continue to receive CN Medical, we don't need the actual review form DSHS 14-078(X) to determine eligibility for medical if during the past six months, the assistance unit completed:

   • An application;
   • An eligibility review;
   • A Basic Food application or recertification;
   • An in-person or telephone interview.

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-434-0005 and WAC 388-434-0010

Acceptable forms and Interviews

1. Electronic or Paper Application / Eligibility Review Form
   
   1. Ensure the household has completed and signed one of the following as part of the process if they aren’t completing a Telephonic Signature:
      
      1. Online application or eligibility review;
      2. Application for Benefits (DSHS 14-001);
      3. Eligibility Review (DSHS 14-078); or
      4. ACES IID after reviewing the information for accuracy.
          
   2. Accept any of the above forms to complete the recertification process if received after the ER notice was mailed to the customer, but prior to the system allowing initiation of the review.
       
2. Rights and Responsibilities (14-113) and Your DSHS Cash or Food Assistance Benefits (14-520)
   
   1. Face to Face Interviews
      
      1. When conducting face-to-face interviews, explain and review forms: Your Cash and Food Assistance Rights and Responsibilities (DSHS 14-113) and Your DSHS Cash or Food Benefits (DSHS 14-520). Answer any questions about the forms and ask them to sign both forms to acknowledge their understanding. Send the forms as file only to scan into the Electronic Case Record (ECR).
      2. For mandatory Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) review Basic Food Eligibility Requirements: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Benefits (DSHS 11-034b).
          
   2. Phone Interviews
      
      1. When conducting a phone interview, explain the rights and responsibilities and the allowable use of benefits to the customer, send them a copy of the DSHS 14-113 and the DSHS 14-520 and request them to sign and return the documents..
      2. For mandatory Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) review Basic Food Eligibility Requirements: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Benefits (DSHS 11-034b).
          
3. Recertification Interview
   
   1. If the customer calls before the end of the certification period to do an interview, but we have not received the review form, determine if the customer is eligible for a Telephonic Signature.

Follow CSD Procedure Handbook – Accepting a Telephonic Signature for an Eligibility Review.

​Completing the Review

1. Review of current circumstances:
   1. As part of the review ensure that:
      
      1. The customer answered all questions clearly and completely; and
      2. For cash assistance, they signed and dated the application or ER. Both spouses, or both parents of a child in common must sign when the parents live together.
   2. Complete an Equal Access (EA) Screening.
      
      1. Guidance on completing an EA Screening can be found in the CSD Procedures Handbook.
   3. Review the record to see if earlier actions or changes may have an impact on eligibility.
   4. Review for eligibility factors, especially:
       
      1. Income:
         
         1. Review income to see if net income meets expenses for rent, utilities, and other expenses the assistance unit pays. See EA-Z Manual – Verification for more information on living above means (LAM)
         2. For medical programs, we must get proof of income at each review.
             
      2. Resources: (Except for: Basic Food AUs that are Categorically Eligible)
         
         1. Review resources the household claims to see if there are any changes to resources we earlier excluded or decided were not available.
         2. Review funds in joint checking accounts that we excluded earlier.
         3. Review the plan to exclude business property of a self-employed person to decide if the property leads to full or partial self support.
         4. Review the value of liquid and nonliquid resources. Look for an increase in the value of real estate, cash value of life insurance, and securities that can be sold such as stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit (COD).
         5. Review and get proof of eligibility factors that have changed.
         6. Review and document previous proof to ensure that:
             
      3. Previously verified factors are clear and complete in the case file; and
          
      4. Do not asking for duplicate or unneeded proof.
         
         1. Document proof we received.
         2. Take action on any incorrect payments you discover. Send the person a letter about the actions you took.
             
      5. Work Registration:
         
         1. Check the work registration status of each customer to see if it matches their current circumstance. Take any action to update the status if there are changes.
             
2. Referrals: Review all mandatory and voluntary referrals and complete referrals as needed.
3. Incomplete and late reviews: A household is ineligible for benefits if they don’t complete a required interview, complete a review form (if asked to do so), or give us proof we ask for.
   
   1. See Equal Access (EA) for additional actions required when the household has an EA plan.
   2. If the person does not take the needed actions or give us the proof we need to decide if they are eligible for benefits by the end of the review month, cash assistance will auto close.
   3. If a review is initiated for CN medical, the system continues to issue medical benefits even if the person does not return the required proof. When pending a review, set an alert to check the case and determine if the person returned the required proof.
   4. If we asked for proof but the customer did not provide the proof we requested for:
       
      1. Both cash and medical assistance, cash will auto close.　Medical assistance will need to close with advance and adequate notice
         
         • Both cash and medical assistance, cash will auto close. Medical assistance will need to be closed with advance and adequate notice.
         • Cash assistance but you also need the information for medical, cash will auto close. Send a letter asking for the proof needed to determine medical eligibility. Give the person 10 days to return the proof. If they do not respond, close medical assistance with advance and adequate notice.

​For food and cash, if we received information to establish eligibility the month after the month the review was due, we will reopen the benefits effective the date you determined they were eligible.

Clarifying Information – WAC 388-493-0010

Working Family Support recertification occurs every six months and align with the Basic Food Mid-Certification (MCR) and Eligibility Review (ER) periods. See the CSD Procedures Manual section Working Family Support for WFS recertification procedures at Basic Food MCR and ER.