Treatment Center and Group Living Arrangement Responsibilities

(A) Monthly Reports. Each treatment center and group living arrangement shall give the Department a monthly list of currently participating residents. This list shall include a statement signed by a responsible facility official attesting to the validity of the list. (B) Reporting Changes. Treatment centers and group living arrangements, when acting as an authorized representative, shall notify the Department of changes in the resident household's income or other circumstances. The facility shall also immediately notify the Department when a resident leaves the facility. (C) Actions When a Resident Leaves the Facility. (1) When a resident leaves a treatment center or a group living arrangement that is acting as the resident's authorized representative, 106 CMR 365.640(C)(1)(a) through (d) apply: (a) If a household leaves the facility after the SNAP benefits are received and transacted, the facility shall provide the household with its full monthly allotment if no SNAP benefits have been used on behalf of that household. This applies at any time during the month. (b) If a household leaves the facility before it is midway through their cyclical month and SNAP benefits have been spent on behalf of the household, the facility shall provide the household with ½ of its monthly allotment. (c) If a household leaves the facility on or after midway through their cyclical month and any SNAP benefits have been spent on behalf of the household, the facility shall not provide the household with any additional SNAP benefits for that monthly allotment. (d) Once a household leaves, the facility is no longer allowed to act as that household's authorized representative. (2) When a resident or group of residents are certified on their own behalf, 106 CMR 365.640(C)(2)(a) and (b) apply: (a) If the residents retain use of their SNAP benefits, they are entitled to keep the SNAP benefits when they leave the facility. If a group of residents has applied as a household and retains use of their SNAP benefits, a pro rata share of the remaining SNAP benefits shall be provided to any departing member. (b) If a group of residents has been certified as a household and has returned their SNAP benefits to the facility to use, a departing member shall be given a pro rata share of one-half of the household's monthly allotment if leaving before the 16th of the month. (3) The facility shall at the end of each month return to the Department any SNAP benefits not provided to departing residents. (4) When a resident leaves a treatment center or a group living arrangemenit, the facility must credit the EBT/SNAP account of the departing resident through the POS Terminal or EBT Manual Voucher System. (D) Change Report Form. The treatment center or group living arrangement shall, if possible, provide the household with a Change Report Form. The household is to use the form to report its new address and other circumstances to the Department after leaving the facility. The facility must advise the household to return the form to the appropriate office of the Department within ten days.