• His/her right to apply for FS benefits at the SSA Office without going to an IMA service center, and
  
• His/her right to apply at an IMA service center if s/he chooses. 

• The SSA will accept and assist the customer in completing the FS application and forward it within one working day after receipt of a signed application to the IMA SSI Processing Unit.
  
  
• IMA must make an eligibility determination and issue FS benefits to eligible SSI households within 30 days following the date the signed application was received by SSA for normal processing.  The expedited processing time standard begins on the date IMA receives a FS application.  FS applications and supporting documentation sent to an incorrect service center will be sent to the correct service center within one working day of receipt.
  
  
• An SSR shall not contact the household further in order to obtain information for certification for FS benefits unless:
  
  
  • The application is improperly completed,
    
  • Mandatory verification requirements were not supplied by SSA, or
    
  • Certain information on the application is questionable.

In no event would the applicant be required to appear at the service center to finalize the eligibility determination.  Households in which all members are applying for or participating in SSI are not required to see an SSR or otherwise be subject to an additional IMA interview. 

• SSA pre-screens all applications for entitlement to expedited service on the day the applications are received at the SSA Office and marks 'Expedited Processing' on the first page of all applications that appear to be entitled to such processing. SSA informs households that appear to meet the criteria for expedited service that benefits may be issued a few days sooner if the household applies directly at the service center.
  
  
• IMA must pre-screen all applications received from SSA for entitlement of expedited service.  All SSI households entitled to expedited service are certified in accordance with expedited service standards. (See Chapter 4:  Expedited Food Stamp Services in this Part).
  
  
• IMA determines if members of SSI households whose applications are forwarded by the SSA are already participating in the Department's FS program by matching the households with available records.
  
  
• IMA will provide and SSA will distribute an information sheet and a FNS 1226 brochure to all households processed under the SSI and FS Joint Application provision.  This material must inform the household of the following:
  
  
  • The address and telephone number of the household's correct service center;
    
  • The remaining actions to be taken in the application process;
    
  • A statement that a household must be notified of FS eligibility within 30 days;
    
  • A description of  the client's rights and responsibilities, including administrative reviews, fair hearings, authorized representatives, out of office interviews, reporting changes, and timely reapplication; and
    
  • Information on how and where to use and obtain benefits, including the commodities clients may purchase with benefits.
    
    
• Upon receipt of an application from SSA, IMA staff must do the following:
  
  
  • Review the application to ensure completeness;
    
  • Determine if any household member is currently receiving FS;
    
  • Determine sufficiency and adequacy of documentation and verification material;
    
  • Contact the household, if necessary, for additional information for determining FS eligibility;
    
  • Determine whether the household is entitled to expedited service and if so meet the expedited timeframes; and
    
  • Not request or require the household to come into an IMA service center.