Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)
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A streamlined Nutrition Assistance application, verification, and approval process for the elderly.
Policy
The Nutrition Assistance (NA) Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project approved by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The goal is to increase NA participation among the elderly population by streamlining all of the following processes:
●Application.
●Interview.
●Verification.
All participants of the ESAP budgetary unit must meet all of the following:
●60 years old or older.
●No earned or self-employment income.
In-kind income is not considered income for ESAP. (See In-kind Income for the definition of in-kind income.)
ESAP participants are given the same special consideration as NA participants who are elderly or have a disability. (See Elderly or Have a Disability - NA Special Considerations for additional information.)
In addition to special considerations for elderly participants, ESAP-eligible budgetary units receive all of the following considerations:
●A 36-month approval period.
●A Mid Approval Contact (MAC) is not required.
●A renewal interview is not required unless any of the following occurs:
An interview is requested by the participant. (See Interview Requirements for more information.)
When the renewal information would require FAA to deny the ESAP renewal application.
Information provided by the participant or authorized representative is questionable(g) or incomplete.
●The case is assigned to Simplified Reporting. (See Simplified Reporting for the types of changes that must be reported).
●Simpler and shorter ESAP Nutrition Assistance Application (FAA-1821A).
●Designated ESAP telephone and FAX numbers for the interview and verification.
When a participant is disqualified from receiving NA benefits, they are potentially ineligible for ESAP. There are several reasons a participant may be disqualified from receiving benefits, which can apply to NA only or to both NA and CA.
For a full list of disqualification reasons, see Disqualified Participants.
ESAP Application
All official application forms submitted are screened for ESAP eligibility. (See Application Requirements for a list of acceptable applications.) The ESAP Nutrition Assistance Application (FAA-1821A) is used for ESAP and is only used when applying for NA. The Application for Benefits (FAA-0001A) or the HEAplus online application is completed when one of the following applies:
●The NA participant is applying for other programs.
●The NA participant is not eligible for ESAP.
NOTE When an NA participant submits an identifiable ESAP application and is not eligible for ESAP, the ESAP application is used to preserve the application date.
All ESAP new applications(g) are screened for potential eligibility for NA expedited services. (See Requirements for NA Expedited Services (NAX) for NA expedite criteria.) To comply with NA expedite time frames, a notice is sent when authorizing expedited benefits with postponed verification. (For policy and procedures regarding NA expedited services with postponed verification, see NA Expedite Applications With Postponed Verification.)
ESAP Interview Process – New Application
An interview is required for all new ESAP applications. When an ESAP participant is not interviewed on the same day as the application submission, an appointment notice is sent. A notice of missed interview is sent when the participant fails to complete an interview by the deadline provided by the appointment notice.
ESAP participants who do not complete an interview by the deadline provided in the appointment notice are responsible for contacting FAA as soon as possible to complete their interview.
The application is denied when an interview is not completed by the timely denial date. A new application is not required when an interview is completed by the 30th calendar day after the application is denied. The benefits are prorated from the date of the interview.
ESAP Renewal Process
The ESAP Notice of Expiration (NOE) is sent to the ESAP budgetary unit when it is time to reapply. (See NA Notice of Expiration for the date the NOE is mailed.) The ESAP NOE includes the ESAP renewal application.
To continue receiving benefits, eligible budgetary units need to complete a renewal process before their current approval period ends. (See The Renewal Process (Renewals) for additional information about renewals.)
A renewal interview is not required unless any of the following occurs:
●An interview is requested by the participant. (See Interview Requirements for more information.)
●The renewal information would require FAA to deny the ESAP renewal application.
●Information provided by the participant or authorized representative is questionable(g) or incomplete.
ESAP Changes/Conversions
Changes in circumstances may be reported by any of the following:
●The budgetary unit
●Through systems reports
●By a third-party(g)
For information about the policies on changes, see When to Effect Changes.
A participant’s case can convert from regular NA to ESAP or from ESAP to regular NA as a result of any of the following:
●Turning age 60
●The gain or loss of earned income.
●Beginning or ending of self-employment income.
When a conversion happens to an NA case, one of the following would apply:
●From regular NA to ESAP. When the budgetary unit is now eligible for the considerations offered by ESAP, all of the following applies to the budgetary unit:
The budgetary unit retains its approval period.
No longer required to complete the Mid Approval Contact (MAC).
●From ESAP to regular NA. When the budgetary unit is no longer eligible for ESAP considerations, all of the following applies to the budgetary unit:
Retains the 36-month approval period.
Requires completion of the MAC. (For additional information, see NA Mid Approval Contact (MAC.))
NOTE ESAP cases that convert to regular NA in the 17th month or later in the 36-month approval period are not required to complete a MAC. (See Example 1 and Example 2.)
ESAP Categorical Eligibility
When an ESAP budgetary unit is NA categorically eligible, all participants who are included and eligible to receive NA are categorically eligible. ESAP categorical eligibility includes any of the following household types:
●ESAP Basic Categorical Eligibility (ESB) (See Basic Categorical Eligibility on how basic categorical eligibility is determined.)
●ESAP Expanded Categorical Eligibility (ESE) (See Expanded Categorical Eligibility on how expanded categorical eligibility is determined).
NOTE NA Categorical Eligibility (Basic or Expanded) does not exist when a participant is disqualified from participation.
Verification
The participant has the primary responsibility for providing verification. (See Participant Responsibilities – Providing Verification for additional policy.)
For new ESAP applications, verification is required for all eligibility factors. Review the policy for each eligibility factor for acceptable verification sources.
For ESAP changes, whether the change results in an increase or decrease in benefits, verification is not required unless the budgetary unit no longer meets ESAP eligibility or the information is questionable. A participant statement is acceptable when the statement is not questionable.
For ESAP renewal applications, verification is required for any of the following:
●A new report of medical expenses that exceed the standard medical deduction amount.
●Child support expense deduction.
●Immigration status.
●Questionable information.
For ESAP renewal applications, verification is not required for any of the following eligibility factors:
●Identity.
●Income.
●Shelter expenses.
●Telephone expense.
●Utility expenses.
Examples
1) Maria’s NA benefits are approved for the months of 01/2019-12/2021.
Maria is an ESAP-eligible participant. Maria reported on 04/28/2020 (the 16th month of the 36-month approval period) that she gains custody of her 10-year-old grandchild. The change is processed on 05/04/2020 (the 17th month of the 36-month approval period) resulting in Maria’s case being converted to regular NA. Since the conversion occurs during or after the 17th month of the 36-month approval period, Maria is not required to comply with the MAC process.
2) Maria’s NA benefits are approved for the months of 01/2019-12/2021.
Maria is an ESAP-eligible participant. Maria reported on 01/05/2020 that she gains custody of her 10-year-old grandchild. The change is processed on 01/10/2020, resulting in Maria’s case being converted to regular NA during the 13th month of the 36-month approval period. Since the conversion occurs before the 17th month of the 36-month approval period, Maria is required to complete the MAC process.
Legal Authorities
ESAP Demonstration Project Waiver
7 CFR 273.10
7 CFR 273.10(a)(1)(ii)(A)-(B)
7 CFR 273.10(a)(1)(iii)(A)-(C)
7 CFR 273.10(a)(2)
7 CFR 273.11(c)
7 CFR 273.12(a)(5)(i)
7 CFR 274.3(c)(3)
last revised 04/27/2026