37.78.1005    FAIM FOOD STAMP PROGRAM: DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT AMOUNT

(1) Eligibility and the amount of food stamp benefits to which the household is entitled shall be determined using prospective budgeting.

(2) Eligibility begins as of the date the household's application for food stamps is received in the Office of Human Services in the county where the household resides. If a new member joins a household which is already receiving benefits, the new member will be included in the household for purposes of determining eligibility and benefit amount beginning the month after the month in which the new member's presence is reported.

(3) Once a household has been determined to be eligible for food stamps, the household will continue to receive food stamps continuously until the department determines that the household is no longer eligible. The household shall not be required to complete a new application for food stamps unless the household's benefits are terminated voluntarily or involuntarily and the household subsequently wishes to receive benefits again after a break of 30 or more days in eligibility.

(a) The department will re-evaluate the household's eligibility and benefit amount once a year after the initial determination of eligibility. This re-evaluation shall include a face-to-face interview with a member of the household or an authorized representative of the household.

(b) The department shall re-evaluate the household's eligibility whenever information is received concerning changes in the household's income or circumstances which may affect eligibility or benefit amount.

History: 53-2-201, 53-2-901, MCA; IMP, 53-2-901, MCA; NEW, 1996 MAR p. 284, Eff. 1/26/96; TRANS, from SRS, 2000 MAR p. 3414.