Chapter 5101:4-5 | Eligibility Determination

Rule 5101:4-5-03 | Food assistance: establishing certification periods.

• Effective: April 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

(A) What is a certification period?

A certification period is the amount of time an assistance group (AG) is authorized to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits. The county agency is to certify each eligible AG for a definite period of time. The county agency is not to require an AG to report for an interview during their certification period.

(B) What is the first month of the certification period?

The first month of the certification period is the first month that the AG is eligible to participate, including an initial month in which no benefit is issued due to the initial proration being less than ten dollars. The certification period cannot exceed a total of twelve months, except as specified in paragraph (C) of this rule.

(C) How long is the certification period?

At application or recertification the county agency is to assign the longest certification period possible based on the predictability of the AG's circumstances. AGs are to be assigned a twelve month certification period unless an AG meets one of the following exceptions:

(1) The elderly or disabled assistance group's (ED AG) certification period is assigned in accordance with paragraph (D) of this rule;

(2) When the AG has unstable circumstances or the AG includes an able-bodied adult (ABA), the certification period is to be assigned in accordance with paragraph (E) of this rule.

(D) How long should the certification period be for an ED AG?

An ED AG is when all adult members are elderly or disabled and the AG has no countable earned income. The ED AG may include minor children, regardless of disability status. The ED AG is to be certified for thirty-six months. An AG that includes an ABA, regardless of income, is not to be considered an ED AG.

(E) How long should the certification period be when the AG has unstable circumstances, anticipated changes or is a migrant or seasonal farm worker?

These AGs should be assigned certification periods consistent with their circumstances. The certification period options are four, five, six or twelve months when the AG has unstable circumstances such as:

(1) An AG with zero net income;

(2) An AG with an ABA is to be assigned a six month certification period;

(3) AGs that are homeless;

(4) The AG anticipates changes that will make the AG ineligible for SNAP benefits in the near future; or

(5) The AG contains a migrant or seasonal farm worker.

(F) When can SNAP benefits stop prior to the end of the certification period?

The county agency is to end an AG's SNAP benefits earlier than its certification expiration date when one of the following is true:

(1) The county agency receives information that is verified upon receipt and no additional information is needed and the AG has become ineligible;

(2) The AG fails to return a complete interim report as described in rule 5101:4-7-01 of the Administrative Code;

(3) The AG fails to respond to a JFS 07105, "Verification Request Checklist" issued for a change reported in accordance with rule 5101:4-7-01 of the Administrative Code.

(G) What notification is required when a certification period is ended earlier than the expiration date?

Prior notice of adverse action is to be provided by mail or personal delivery as described in rule 5101:6-2-04 of the Administrative Code unless the AG's situation meets one of the exceptions to the prior notice provisions as specified in rule 5101:6-2-05 of the Administrative Code.

(H) When can a certification period be aligned with certification periods for other public assistance programs?

(1) When the AG applies for SNAP within a certification period for other public assistance programs, the SNAP certification period may be shortened to align with the certification dates already established.

(2) When the AG is within a current certification for SNAP and applies for other public assistance programs, the SNAP certification date may be terminated early and a new certification period may be established. Prior notice of adverse action as described in paragraph (G) of this rule is not required when aligning certification periods.

Last updated April 1, 2026 at 8:42 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5101.54
Amplifies: 329.04, 329.042, 5101.54
Five Year Review Date: 4/1/2031
Prior Effective Dates: 10/1/1981, 7/1/2002 (Emer.), 10/1/2020, 10/1/2024

Rule 5101:4-5-07 | Food assistance: delayed eligibility determinations for initial applications.

• Effective: October 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

(A) What happens when an eligibility determination on an initial application is not made within thirty days?

When the county agency cannot make an eligibility determination within thirty days from the date of application, the cause of the delay must be determined. Depending on the cause of the delay, a notice of either denial or of pending status must be provided on the thirtieth day for applications that are delayed in processing. The county agency shall determine the cause of the delay using the following criteria:

(1) Assistance group (AG) caused delays

(a) The AG is at fault when the AG fails to complete the application process (e.g. failure to provide required verifications or complete an interview) even though the county agency has taken the required actions to assist the AG as described in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule.

(b) When the AG fails to participate in the first interview and a subsequent interview has been requested by the AG but is postponed at the AG's request or cannot otherwise be rescheduled until after the twentieth day but before the thirtieth day following the date the application was filed. The AG must participate in the interview and provide verification by the thirtieth day; otherwise, the delay shall be the fault of the AG.

(c) When the AG fails to participate in the first interview, fails to schedule a second interview, and/or the subsequent interview is postponed at the AG's request until after the thirtieth day following the date the application was filed. The delay shall be the fault of the AG. When the AG has missed both scheduled interviews and requests another interview, any delay shall be the fault of the AG.

(2) County agency caused delays

The county agency is at fault when it fails to comply with the following:

(a) Offer assistance with completing the application;

(b) Provide the AG with a statement of required verification. The county agency is to offer to assist in obtaining required verification and allow the AG sufficient time prior to the thirtieth day following the date of application to provide the missing verification. Sufficient time shall be at least ten days from the date of the county agency's initial request for the particular verification that was missing;

(c) Send the AG a JFS 04218 "Notice of Missed Interview" or its equivalent from the Ohio benefits integrated eligibility system and notify the AG that it is responsible for rescheduling a missed interview pursuant to rule 5101:4-2-07 of the Administrative Code. When the AG contacts the county agency within the thirty day processing period, the county agency must schedule a second interview; or

(d) Process the application by the thirtieth day when the AG has met all of its application obligations.

(B) What happens to an application when the AG caused the delay in the initial thirty days?

When the AG causes the delay, the application shall be processed as follows:

(1) The county agency shall send a notice of denial in accordance with rule 5101:4-2-11 of the Administrative Code.

(2) The AG shall lose its entitlement to benefits for the month of application. However, the AG shall be given an additional thirty days to take the required action.

(3) When a notice of denial is sent and the AG takes the required action within sixty days of the date the application was filed, the county agency shall reopen the case without requiring a new application.

(4) No further action by the county agency is necessary after the notice of denial is sent when the AG fails to take the necessary action within sixty days of the date the application was filed.

(C) How is an application processed when the county agency caused the delay in the initial thirty days?

A notice of pending status is to be sent on the thirtieth day or the business day prior to the thirtieth day. A notice of denial cannot be sent for county agency caused delays.

(1) When the application is to be held pending because some action by the county agency is necessary to complete the application process, the county agency is to provide the AG with a written notice informing the AG that the application process has not been completed and is being processed.

(2) The county agency is to notify the AG of any action it is to take to complete the application process.

The notice will inform the AG that the application will be denied when the AG fails to take the necessary action within sixty days of the date that the application was filed.

(D) How is an application processed when the application has pended sixty days and all information is received?

(1) When the county agency is at fault for not completing the application process by the end of the second thirty-day period and the case file is otherwise complete, the county agency shall continue to process the original application until an eligibility determination is reached.

(2) When the AG is determined eligible and the county agency is at fault for the delay in the initial thirty days, the AG shall receive benefits retroactive to the month of application.

(3) When the initial delay is the AG's fault, the AG shall receive benefits retroactive only to the month following the month of application.

(E) How is an application processed when the application has pended sixty days and information is still incomplete?

(1) When the county agency is at fault for not completing the application process by the end of the second thirty-day period, but the case file is not complete enough to reach an eligibility determination, the county agency may continue to process the original application, or deny the application. When the case is denied, a notice of denial is to be sent to the AG informing the AG to file a new application and of its possible entitlement to benefits lost as a result of the county agency delay.

(2) When the AG is determined eligible and the county agency is at fault for the delay in the initial thirty days, the AG shall receive benefits retroactive to the month of application.

(3) When the initial delay is the AG's fault, the AG shall receive benefits retroactive only to the month following the month of application.

(4) When the AG is at fault for not completing the application process by the end of the second thirty-day period, the county agency shall deny the application and require the AG to file a new application.

Last updated October 1, 2026 at 9:28 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5101.54
Amplifies: 329.04, 329.042, 5101.54
Five Year Review Date: 10/1/2031
Prior Effective Dates: 6/1/2001 (Emer.), 8/27/2001, 5/1/2006