Section 475-4-002 - CERTIFICATION PERIODSThe Department will determine a definite period of time for which a household is eligible to receive benefits. At the expiration of the certification period, the household loses its entitlement to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits until it is recertified based on a new application, an interview if required, and providing the required verifications. Under no circumstances will the Department continue benefits beyond the end of a certification period without a new determination of eligibility.
002.01CALENDAR MONTHS. The Department sets the certification period to conform to calendar months. For the initial certification, the Department uses the month of application, if eligible, as the first month in the certification period, even if the household's eligibility is not determined until a later month. For recertification, the certification period will begin the month following the last month of the previous certification period.002.02LENGTH OF CERTIFICATION PERIODS. The length of the certification period assigned to a household is determined by the household's reporting category and circumstances. If the household is ineligible for the application month and eligible for the month following the application month, the certification period begins with the first month the household is eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. 002.02(A)CERTIFICATION PERIODS FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN SIMPLIFIED REPORTING. When the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household is assigned to Simplified Reporting at initial determination of eligibility or at recertification the household will be given a six month or 12 month certification period.002.02(B)CERTIFICATION PERIODS FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN TRANSITIONAL BENEFIT REPORTING. The household is assigned to the Transitional Benefit Reporting category during an existing certification period from the Simplified Reporting category. The household cannot be assigned to Transitional Benefit Reporting at initial determination of eligibility or at recertification.002.02(C)CERTIFICATION PERIODS FOR EXPEDITED SERVICES. A certification period is assigned based on the household's circumstances and reporting category. The household may provide all verifications or postpone verifications other than the identity of the head of the household and authorized representative, if appropriate, for the first two months' issuance. When the household has postponed verifications and provides, at a minimum, verification of the identity of the head of the household and authorized representative, if appropriate: (1) The Department issues benefits only for the application month when the household applies before the 16th of the month; or(2) The Department issues benefits for the application month and the second month together when the household applies on or after the 16th of the month.002.02(C)(i)EXPEDITED SERVICES AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION. When an expedited household applies before the 16th of the month and provides the minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two of this title, the Department will, within seven days from the date the application is filed, issue to the household prorated benefits for the month of application. 002.02(C)(i)(1)EXPEDITED VERIFICATION. If the household fails to provide the required postponed verification(s) by the end of the expedited issuance benefit month, the benefits for the second issuance will not be issued. If the household provides the required postponed verification(s) before the end of the second month of the certification period, the benefits will be provided for the second month and for the remainder of the original certification period without a new application. Benefits will not be prorated.002.02(C)(i)(2)EXPEDITED ELIGIBILITY. There is no limit to the number of times a household can be certified under expedited processes as long as the household has completed the verification requirements or was certified under normal processing standards since the last expedited certification.002.02(C)(i)(3)AGGREGATE ALLOTMENTS AT INITIAL CERTIFICATION. When an expedited household applies on or after the 16th of the month and provides the minimum required verification as defined in Chapter two, the Department will, within seven days from the date the application is filed, issue to the household an aggregate allotment of the prorated benefits for the month of application and the full second month. 002.02(C)(i)(3)(a)AGGREGATE EXPEDITED VERIFICATION. If the household fails to provide the required postponed verification(s) by the end of the second month of the certification period, the benefits for the third month, which would be the second issuance, will not be issued. If the household provides the required postponed verification(s) before the end of the third month of the certification period, the benefits will be provided for the third month and for the remainder of the original certification period without a new application. Benefits will not be prorated.002.02(D)REINSTATEMENT DURING THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD. A household in the Simplified Reporting category may be eligible for reinstatement during the remaining months of the certification period if household circumstances change. 002.02(D)(i)REINSTATEMENT ELIGIBILITY. During the initial 30 days following the close effective date, the household may be reinstated if a change in circumstances is reported and verified by the household that re-establishes the household's eligibility, or if the missing verification is provided. The household is not required to file a new application. If eligible, the benefits are prorated from the date of report if verified in ten days or from the date all information to re-establish eligibility is received if more than ten days. If the reason for closure was missing verification, benefits are prorated from the date the verifications are provided.002.02(D)(ii)REINSTATEMENT AFTER CERTIFICATION PERIOD ENDS. If the certification period has ended a new application must be submitted to continue eligibility.475 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 4, § 002
Amended effective 5/21/2016.Amended effective 7/4/2020Amended effective 9/17/2024