Certification of Residents of Group Living Arrangements and Treatment Centers

(A) Application Processing. (1) Expedited Service. Residents of drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers and group living arrangements may be eligible for expedited service in accordance with 106 CMR 365.800. Eligibility of the facility, as defined in 106 CMR 365.610 and 365.620, shall be verified before providing expedited SNAP benefits. (2) Normal Processing Standards. When normal processing standards apply, the case manager must complete the verification and documentation requirements before making an eligibility determination for the initial application. (B) Determining Shelter Costs for Residents of Group Living Arrangements, Drug or Alcohol Treatment Centers. When residents of group living arrangements or drug and alcohol treatment centers make a combined payment for meals and lodging (shelter), the cost of shelter shall be equal to the difference between the amount of the room and board payment and the maximum SNAP benefit allotment for the appropriate SNAP household size. (C) Recertification and Changes During the Certification Period. The case manager shall recertify these residents and process changes in household circumstances using the same standards that apply to all other SNAP households. (D) Rights of Certified Residents. Resident households have the same rights to notices of adverse action, fair hearings and entitlement to lost benefits as do all other SNAP households. (E) Work Requirements. Individuals who regularly participate in a drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program are exempt from the work requirements in accordance with 106 CMR 362.310: SNAP Employment and Training Program or 362.320: SNAP Work Program. Participation may be verified through the organization or institution operating the program before granting the exemption, if the information is questionable.