Section 17-663-92 - Participation of SSI households(a) SSI applicants or recipients who have not applied for food stamps in the thirty preceding days, or who do not have applications pending may apply for and participate in the FSP as food stamp only households or aged, blind, or disabled households. Households applying simultaneously for SSI and food stamps shall be subject to food stamp eligibility criteria, and benefit levels shall be based solely on food stamp eligibility criteria until the household is considered categorically eligible. However, households in which all members are either AFDC or SSI recipients or authorized to receive AFDC or SSI benefits shall be food stamp eligible based on their AFDC/SSI status.(b) Households in which all members are participating in the SSI program shall have the option of applying for food stamps at the Social Security Administration (SSA) office.(c) Except for applications for residents of public institutions who apply jointly for SSI and food stamp benefits prior to their release from the institution, the branch office receiving SSA forwarded applications shall make an eligibility determination and issue food stamp benefits to eligible SSI households within thirty days following the date the applications were received by the SSA office. (1) Applications shall be considered filed for normal processing purposes when the signed applications are received by the SSA.(2) Expedited processing time standards shall begin on the date the appropriate food stamp application office receives a signed food stamp application. (A) The branch shall prescreen all applications received from the SSA for entitlement to expedited services on the day the applications are received at the correct food stamp office.(B) All SSI households entitled to expedited service shall be certified in accordance with established procedures for expedited services.(3) Food stamp applications and supporting documents sent to an incorrect branch office shall be sent to the correct office by the receiving unit on the same day.(d) For residents of public institutions who apply for benefits prior to their release from the institution, the filing date of their application shall be the date of their release from the institution. (1) The branch shall make an eligibility determination and issue food stamp benefits to the residents of public institutions within thirty days following the date of the applicant's release from the institution.(2) Expedited processing time standards for an applicant who has applied for food stamps and SSI prior to release shall also begin on the date of the applicant's release from the institution.(3) The SSA shall notify the branch of the date of release of the applicant from the institution. If, for any reason, the branch is not notified on a timely basis of the applicant's release date, the branch shall restore benefits to the applicant back to the date of release.(e) Households in which all members are applying for or participating in SSI shall not be subjected to an office interview at the food stamp office. (1) The branch eligibility worker shall not contact the household further in order to obtain information for certification for food stamp benefits unless: (A) The application is improperly completed;(B) Mandatory verification required by chapter 17-647 is missing; or(C) The branch eligibility worker determines that certain information on the application is questionable.(2) Any additional contact with the household shall be by telephone or mail.(f) The SSA shall refer non-SSI households and households in which not all members have applied for or received SSI to the correct branch office. These applications shall be processed in accordance with procedures for regular applications for food stamp benefits.[Eff 3/19/93; am and comp 11/19/05; am and comp OCT 07 2010] (Auth: HRS § 346- 14) (Imp: 7 C.F.R. §273.2(j) and (k) )