<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".19" citation="COMAR 07.03.17.19" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="17" heading="Expedited Service.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A household shall have expedited service if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The household has less than $100 in liquid resources and less than $150 in gross monthly income;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The household's combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household's monthly rent or mortgage and utilities; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A migrant or seasonal farm worker household has less than $100 in liquid resources and is determined by the local department to be destitute as described in §B of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Destitute Migrant Households.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>To be destitute for Program purposes means the migrant household's only income for the month of application:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Was received before the date of application and was from a terminated source; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is from a new source and the household does not expect to receive income of more than $25 from the new source by the 10th calendar day after the date of application.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The eligibility and benefit level for a destitute household is calculated for the month of application considering only income received between the first of the month and the date of application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Any income from a new source that is anticipated after the date of application is disregarded.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Time Limits for Expedited Service.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local department shall make Program benefits for a 1 month's allotment available to a household described in §A of this regulation by the close of business on the 7th calendar day after the filing date, including weekends or holidays.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Out-of-Office Interviews.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the local department has waived the office interview for a household entitled to expedited service, the local department shall complete the process within the expedited service time limit.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The local department may not include in the 7-day processing standard the days that the application is in the mail and in the possession of the household.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Late Determination of Expedited Eligibility. If the local department discovers a household's entitlement to expedited service after the screening process required in Regulation .14G(4) of this chapter, the local department shall make benefits available within the time frame described in §C(1) of this regulation beginning with the date of discovery.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Special Procedures for Expedited Service. To expedite the certification process, the local department:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall verify the applicant's identity through:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Readily available documentary evidence, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Collateral contact;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall make all reasonable efforts to complete required verification as described in Regulation .20C(2)—(12) of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>May not delay benefits beyond the expedited time frame solely because the eligibility factors as described in §D(2) of this regulation have not been verified; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Shall assign a normal certification period to households that are certified on an expedited basis and have provided all necessary verification.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Postponed Verification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a household applies on or before the 15th of the month and verification is postponed:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The local department may:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Certify the household for the month of application only; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Assign a normal certification period; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Benefits may not be continued beyond the month of application if verification continues to be postponed.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If a household applies on or after the 16th of the month and verification is postponed:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The local department may:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Certify the household for the month of application and the following month; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Assign a normal certification period; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Benefits may not be continued beyond the month following the month of application if verification continues to be postponed.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The local department shall notify the household in writing that no further benefits may be issued until the postponed verification is complete.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Number of Expedited Service Certifications. There is no limit to the number of times a household can be certified under expedited procedures, if before each expedited certification the household either:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Completes the verification requirements that were postponed at the last expedited certification; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Was certified under normal processing standards since the last expedited certification.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>