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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".12" citation="COMAR 07.03.17.12" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="17" heading="Categorical Eligibility.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A household is categorically eligible for Program benefits if all members of the household are receiving or are authorized to receive:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Cash benefits funded in full or in part with federal money under Title IV-A or with State money counted for maintenance of effort purposes under Title IV-A;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Non-cash or in-kind service programs funded in full or in part with federal money under Title IV-A or with State money counted for maintenance of effort purposes under Title IV-A that are designed to further purposes one and two of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant, as set forth in Public Law 104-193 §401;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP);</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Public Assistance to Adults (PAA); or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>SSI benefits.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Categorical eligibility means that the local department shall accept without the verification required in Regulation .20 of this chapter, the following food stamp eligibility factors:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Resource and gross and net income limits;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Social Security number;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Sponsored alien information; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Residency.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A categorically eligible household is not subject to the income eligibility standards of Regulation .42A and B of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A household is not categorically eligible if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>All members of the household are institutionalized in accordance with Regulation .06 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A member is disqualified for an intentional program violation in accordance with Regulation .56 of this chapter; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The head of household is disqualified for failure to comply with work registration requirements in accordance with Regulations .22 and .24 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The local department may not include an individual as a member of a household otherwise categorically eligible if that individual is:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An ineligible immigrant as described in Regulation .09 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Ineligible under the student provision in Regulation .10 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Institutionalized in a non-exempt facility as defined in Regulation .06 of this chapter; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Ineligible because of failure to comply with a work requirement as described in Regulations .21 and .24 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>An individual who receives zero Public Assistance (PA) as described in Regulation .02B of this chapter or SSI benefits is considered a recipient of a benefit from those programs if the individual is:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Authorized to receive the benefit but has not yet received payment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Entitled to the benefit but the benefit is suspended or recouped; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Entitled to the benefit but is not receiving it because the grant is less than the minimum amount.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A household otherwise categorically eligible that has filed a joint PA and FSP application and is denied Program benefits, but is later determined eligible for PA benefits, shall be issued Program benefits using the original application and any other pertinent information occurring after that application.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>To determine if a household is eligible for Program benefits due to its status as a PA or SSI household, the local department may postpone the Program eligibility determination for 30 days if the household:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Is not entitled to expedited service; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Appears to be categorically eligible.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>The local department shall postpone denying a potentially categorically eligible household until the 30th day if the household appears to be eligible to receive PA benefits.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Once the PA application is approved, the household is considered categorically eligible unless ineligible under §D of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>If the PA application is denied, the local department:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall continue processing the application according to Program regulations; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>May require a new application if the local department does not have enough information to make the eligibility determination.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="L.">
    <text>The local department shall exclude the resources of a household member who receives TCA or SSI.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>