Arizona Simplified Nutrition Assistance Program (AZSNAP)
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The Arizona Simplified Nutrition Assistance Program (AZSNAP) simplifies the NA application and eligibility determination process for participants 65 and older who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Policy
The AZSNAP project is designed to strengthen access to NA benefits for persons that are 65 and older who receive SSI.
AZSNAP applicants are referred by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are required to meet all of the following:
●65 years old or older
●Arizona resident
●Does not live in an assisted living facility or group home
●Receives the maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) amount (See SSI Maximum Benefit Amount)
●Does not receive NA
●Lives alone or buys and prepares food separately from others that are living in the household
NOTE A spouse(g) is a mandatory participant. When the participant lives with their spouse(g) they are not eligible for AZSNAP benefits, even when the spouse is also receiving SSI.
●Does not receive Tribal Food Distribution. (See Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) for additional information)
Participants who are not referred by SSA are not eligible to apply for the AZSNAP program.
A monthly interface between FAA and SSA identifies participants who meet the above criteria. FAA mails a notice, with the simplified application, giving the participant 30 calendar days(g) to respond. Instructions in the notice inform the participant where to return the completed AZSNAP application.
When no response to the notice is received by the 30th calendar day, FAA mails a second notice to the participant allowing an additional 30 calendar days to respond.
Participants are not eligible for AZSNAP benefits when they are disqualified for, and not limited to, any of the following reasons:
●They are a fleeing felon
●They have a disqualifying drug conviction
●They have an intentional program violation
For a full list of disqualification reasons and how to have a disqualification removed, see Disqualified Participants.
AZSNAP participants are not required to complete any of the following:
●An Interview
●Income verification
●Expense verification
●Mid Approval Contact (MAC)
●Report changes (The participant is encouraged to report change of address and increases in shelter expenses.)
NOTE AZSNAP participants are required to report a single lottery or gambling winning equal to or more than the winnings reporting amount. See Winnings Reporting Amount for the amount that is required to be reported.
AZSNAP participants are not eligible for any of the following:
●Expedited services
●Medical expense deductions
NOTE AZSNAP participants with at least $35.01 out-of-pocket allowable medical expenses are provided guidance explaining the possible benefit of opting out of AZSNAP and applying for NA as an Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) budgetary unit. (See Elderly Simplified Application Program (ESAP) for eligibility and additional benefits of ESAP)
AZSNAP Allotment Amounts
When eligible for AZSNAP NA benefits, participants receive one of four standard allotments based on the participant’s monthly combined shelter deduction. See AZSNAP Allotment Amounts for the monthly benefit amount.
Renewal of Benefits
Two months prior to the end of the 36-month approval period, a notice is sent.
Procedures
AZSNAP Procedures
A monthly interface between FAA and the Social Security Administration (SSA) identifies participants who meet the criteria. AZTECS mails the AZSNAP Application for NA (X001) notice and registers the application using the notice mail date. Benefits start on the first day of the month the X001 is sent.
When no response to the notice is received, the application is denied on the 30th calendar day(g) and the Second AZSNAP Application for NA (X002) notice is sent to the participant allowing an additional 30 calendar days to respond. The application remains in denied status unless the participant responds to the notice during the second 30 calendar days. The benefits start on the first day of the month after the X001 is sent.
When the participant responds to the X001 notice or the X002 notice during the second 30 calendar days (Days 31 to 60) the AZSNAP worker reverts the case to open and prorates the benefits to the first day of the month following the month the X001 notice is mailed.
When the participant returns either the X001 or X002 after the 60th calendar day, treat the application as a new AZSNAP application. The date the participant returns the X001 or X002 notice after the 60th calendar day is the new application date, and the proration date is the first day of the month that the notice is received by FAA.
When the participant submits the Application for Benefits (FAA-0001A) form, the participant is applying for regular NA benefits. The FAA-0001A cannot be used for AZSNAP benefit processing. Check NOHS and OnBase to see when the participant was mailed either an X001, X002 or the AZSNAP Renewal (X004) notice. When one of these notices have been mailed to the participant, verify that they want to apply for NA benefits or AZSNAP benefits.
The AZSNAP participant can designate an authorized representative in writing on any of the following:
●The AZSNAP Application for NA (X001) notice
●The Second AZSNAP Application for NA (X002) notice
●The AZSNAP Renewal Application (X004) notice
●The AZSNAP Application (FAA-1740A) form
●The Authorized Representative Request (FAA-1493A) form
●Nutrition Assistance (NA) Authorized Representative Request (FAA-1826A) form
●Correspondence to FAA
The AZSNAP process starts when a participant responds to the X001, X002 (new applications), or the X004 (renewal application) notice. Only the AZSNAP workers can determine the participant’s eligibility and benefit amount.
When a participant contacts FAA to apply for AZSNAP benefits, complete all of the following:
●Verify the case is assigned to site code 845C on CARC. Do not transfer cases out of 845C.
●Review OnBase and NOHS in AZTECS to verify that the participant was sent an X001, or X002 new application notice, or an X004 renewal application notice.
●Discuss with the participant their option to apply for AZSNAP or regular NA benefits. Document the casefile(g) with the participant’s choice.
●Ask the participant how much they are paying in monthly medical expenses.
AZSNAP does not allow medical expenses as a deduction. When the participant has more than $35 in medical expenses, let them know they may be eligible for more benefits under the NA ESAP program. See Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for application instructions when all budgetary unit participants are 60 years old or older with no earned income.
When the AZSNAP application notice is submitted in person at an FAA office, complete all of the following:
●Review the application to ensure all questions are answered and the application is signed
●Upload the application to OnBase, under Group: DBME Applications /Document Type: FAA-1740A
‘Uploaded AZSNAP Application’ in the Subject line
AZTECS case name, case number, and the date the application was uploaded in the body of the email
When a participant responding to an AZSNAP application notice contacts FAA and has not completed the application form, use the AZSNAP Application (FAA-1740A) form to complete all of the following:
●Ask the participant all the questions and record their responses.
●Obtain the participant’s signature. (See Signing the Application and Other Documents for acceptable signatures.)
●Upload the completed FAA-1740A to OnBase under Group: DBME Applications /Document Type: FAA-1740A
‘Uploaded AZSNAP Application’ in the Subject line
AZTECS case name, case number, and the date the application was uploaded in the body of the email
When a participant prefers to mail the AZSNAP application, provide them with all of the following address information:
●AZSNAP Unit
●PO Box 19009
●Phoenix, AZ 85005-9009
When the participant is applying for regular NA benefits, all of the following apply:
●Contact the AZSNAP unit at (855) 220-2150.
●The AZSNAP worker denies the AZSNAP application and transfers the case out of site code 845C.
●Once the application is denied, register the application, using the application date of the X001 or X002 as the regular application date in HEAplus.
●Complete the regular NA application process.
When the participant is approved for AZSNAP all of the following apply:
●An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is mailed to the participant.
●The participant is given a 36-month approval period.
●The AZSNAP Approval (F103) notice is sent. The notice states that the participant is not required to report changes, except for the lottery or gambling winnings. The Participant is encouraged to report changes of address and any increases in shelter expenses.
●The participant receives a specific benefit allotment amount based on their shelter costs and utility allowance.
●Benefit allotments come in four tiers. (See AZSNAP Allotment Amounts)
●When an alert is received for a change to an AZSNAP case, document the case file and alert the AZSNAP unit by telephone at (855) 220-2150 or email at [email protected]. When emailing the AZSNAP unit add all of the following:
In the subject line: ‘Change to an AZSNAP Case’
In the body: Case name, Case number, what type of change it was, the date of receipt for the change alert and that the case file is documented.
●When the participant no longer meets the criteria for AZSNAP during the approval period, the AZSNAP worker terminates the benefits. The worker sends the AZSNAP Denial Closure (F203) notice letting them know their AZSNAP case is closed. The notice also lets them know that there is potential eligibility for regular NA benefits and how they can apply.
●Two months prior to the end of the 36-month approval period, the AZSNAP Renewal X004 notice is sent. The renewal application is not automatically registered. The AZSNAP unit registers the renewal application when the X004 notice is received and then completes the renewal process.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 247.2(a)
7 CFR 273.1(b)(2)
7 CFR 273.2(j)(2)(i)
7 CFR 273.10
7 CFR 274.3(c)(3)
7 CFR 281.2(c)(1)
Combined Application Project (CAP)
Waiver Arizona Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (AZSNAP), effective date October 1, 2019
last revised 09/05/2023