SNAP EO Coding
 Video Script

In this video you will learn how to code an emergency SNAP benefit certification, commonly called an EO.

Remember EO’s must be completed within 7 calendar days. 

Let’s go over an example:

Ms. Fisher applies for SNAP on the 4th. The 7 day time period begins the day after we receive the application.  The count is 7 calendar days, not working days.  This means weekends and holidays are included in the count. Ms. Fisher’s application must be completed by the 11th.  If the 7th day falls on a weekend or a holiday the case must be completed by the last working day before the weekend or holiday.  
Now, let’s say Ms.  Fisher faxed her application into the office on the 15th which is a Sunday. In this example, Ms. Fisher’s application must be completed by the 20th because the 7th day falls on a weekend. 

We will start by coding all FACS tabs in the Interview notebook like you would for a regular SNAP certification.  
Update the case info, intake, household, income, expedited services, SNAP, ABAWD, Expenses, Shelter, and Social Services tabs.  While all these tabs are important, remember that completing The Expedited Services tab is required by the Food and Nutrition Service (or FNS). It documents we screened each SNAP application for expedited services.  Let’s click on the expedited services tab and look at all the required information. 

Be sure to ask the client the first 8 questions on this tab.  You will enter the client’s shelter cost, gross earned income, gross unearned income, cash on hand, and bank account balances. For the questions that require a “yes” or “no” answer, click once to put a check mark in the “yes” box or double click in the box for “no”. 

For this example we will use $250 for the shelter costs, the client is responsible for heating and cooling, $0 for the earned and unearned income amounts, $25 for cash on hand, and $0 for money in the bank.
  
You will complete the last four questions on the tab to indicate if the client is expedited eligible.  

• Answer the question which asks if the household is eligible for expedited food benefits. Click once to put a check mark in the “yes” box.
  
• The “date screened for expedited services” field is normally the date of application, as initial applications are to be screened the same day a person applies.  In this example, the date is 09/04/2015. 

• Enter the name of the person that screened the application in the “Screened by” field. 

• Enter the date of expedited entitlement (some people call this the late date) Just like the “date screened” block, this is normally the date of application, as initial applications are to be screened the same day they are received in the county office or on OKDHSLive.  Expedited policy explains the few exceptions to this rule. We will use 09/04/2015 in this example.  

Now let’s click on the Resource tab. Remember, resources are not considered for SNAP but liquid resources are considered in determining Expedited Eligibility.  Resources are person specific so go to the person name drop down menu to select the correct household member, in this example we will select Samantha Fisher.   If the client declared any liquid resources answer “yes” in the “Does anyone have any liquid resources or assets" question.   Click on the drop down menu in the liquid resource type field and choose the liquid resource type, we will select cash/dhs issued debit card account balance,  and enter the $25 declared by Samantha in the balance field.  Complete the “where located” and the “account number” fields if appropriate. On the right side of the screen use the drop down menu under “Resource type” to choose the appropriate liquid resource. For Samantha we will choose “Savings which includes cash, bank accounts, bonds, stocks, etc”. Enter the $25 cash on hand that Samantha declared under “Countable amount” 

Now we will click on the Eligibility Notebook “or money bags” icon on the FACS toolbar, and click on the SNAP tab to enter the certification information.
      
• In the field labeled “SNAP-TYPE ACTION TAKEN”, click on the drop-down menu and choose “Certified.”
• Next, go to The “Reason” field and select “Emergency SNAP benefits”.
• The “APPLICATION SOURCE” field has two entry choices.  When the client applies at a local county office you will select “county office” The OKDHSLive code is automatically entered by the computer when the client applies for benefits online.
• The application date will already be coded; the certification date entry will be the same as your application date or the first day of the month after the application month. In this example the cert date is the same as the application date.  
• In the EFFECTIVE Months field enter 99 benefit will be issued using this information indefinitely. You will always use the 99 selection unless you are using the “unfinished issuance” process.
• In the “CERT PERIOD” field enter the number of months of eligibility, the number of months coded here will range from 01 to 04 depending on the household member’s ABAWD status.   Your supervisor can advise you on coding this field.  In this example we will enter 03.
• No entry is needed in the advance notice required field.
• The “Date of Expedited Entitlement” will automatically  populate based on the date you enter in the expedited services tab,
• In the Total Countable Resources field enter the total countable liquid resources amount.  In this example we will enter $25
• Finally, go to the “ELDERLY/ DISABLED INDICATOR” and select the code which the current household composition in this example we will select N=No household members are elderly or disabled.

You are now ready to save the case by clicking the “SAVE THE CASE” icon on the FACS toolbar and check for edits.

Today you have learned how to code an Emergency SNAP certification.  We hope it was helpful.  This video was presented by the MET Unit and approved by the SNAP Unit and the Training Unit.