(a) Worker action.  The worker completes the application process, approves or denies applications for recertification, and provides eligible households with an opportunity to participate in a timely manner.  The worker cannot continue benefits to the household beyond the certification period unless the household is recertified.

(b) Notice of expiration.

• (1) After deadline the month prior to the last month of the certification period, the Family Support Services Division prepares and mails Form 08FB036E, Notice of Expiration of Eligibility, to all non-public assistance (non-PA) households receiving food benefits who have been certified for three months or more.  Form 08FB36E has a section the household can complete and return to the local Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) human services center office to reapply.  The form informs households:
  • (A) it has the right to apply;
  • (B) when food benefits expire;
  • (C) when to make reapplication to avoid lapse of benefits;
  • (D) they must reapply by the 1st day of the last month of eligibility to avoid a lapse of benefits; and
  • (E) that further entitlement to food benefits cannot be established without reapplication by the household, an interview, and recertification of the household's eligibility.
• (2) Households certified for two months or less are notified by computer-generated notice of the effective date and expiration date of the certification.  The notice is generated and mailed at the time the household is certified eligible.

(c) Timely recertification.

• (1) Reapplications are processed within the time frames described in (A) through (B) of this subsection.
  • (A) Prior certification of fewer than three months.  A household with a prior certification period of fewer than three months and who apply by the 1st day of the last month of the certification period are provided with the opportunity to participate, if eligible, no later than 30 calendar days after the date the household last had an opportunity to obtain its food benefits.
  • (B) Prior certification of three months or more.  Reapplications filed on or before the 1st day of the last month of the certification period are considered timely reapplications.  If the household meets all of the requirements and completes all the processing steps, the worker certifies or denies the application prior to the end of the certification period. 
    • (i) Any eligible household who reapplies timely is provided an opportunity to participate by its normal issuance date in the month following the end of the current certification period. 
    • (ii) To retain this right to uninterrupted benefits, the household must have attended any interview and/or provided all required verification due on or after the deadline for filing timely reapplications. 
    • (iii) Although a household loses its right to uninterrupted benefits, it retains its right to complete the process and receive benefits, if eligible, within 30 calendar days of the application date. 
  • (2) Households who have timely reapplied but, due to worker error, are not timely determined eligible are recertified and given an opportunity to participate immediately upon being determined eligible.  If the delay in recertification extends into the following month, the certification is made retroactive to the first day of the month following expiration of the certification period.
  • (3) A household applying for recertification in the last month of its certification period is not entitled to expedited services.  When the recertification is teleprocessed on or before the last day of the month of the old certification period, the subsequent month's benefit is issued on the second working day of the month.

(d) Untimely reapplication.  A household who fails to submit a timely application for recertification, without good cause, loses its right to uninterrupted benefits, and the worker has 30 calendar days to certify or deny the application and provide an opportunity to participate if the household is eligible.  If an application for recertification is not received until after the certification period expired, then that application is considered an initial application and benefits for that month are prorated.  Even though a household fails to make a timely reapplication they are entitled to expedited service if the household qualifies under OAC 340:50-11-1.

(e) Good cause for failure to timely reapply.  If the worker determines that the household's failure to make timely application or to otherwise complete the certification process in a timely manner was for good cause, the household is entitled to restoration of lost benefits if, as a result of its failure, the household was unable to participate in the month following the expiration of its certification period.  Determination of good cause is made on a case-by-case basis, and includes, but is not limited to, failure to receive timely notice of expiration, or personal illness.