PD 23-32: Processing CalFresh Applications Delayed over 60 Days (Revised) 

Date: 12/19/23 (Revised 01/17/25)
To: Eligibility Workers
From: Michelle Demetrius, BPIS, Ana Guitron BPIS
Reference: CDSS Management Evaluation Clarification

Background

Due to the high volume of CalFresh applications received, processing timelines are delayed beyond the standard 30-60 days.

Administrative Delay Procedures

The CalFresh regulation does not specify the compliance date to be entered in the Notice of Missed Interview (NOMI) and the Denial Notice of Action (NOA) for applications processed after 60 days from the date of application. The CDSS Management Evaluation (ME) and Policy teams have provided guidance on issuing adequate notices to applicants in case of administrative delays. 

Notice of Missed Interview (NOMI)

If an interview is scheduled more than 60 days after the initial application date and the household misses the interview, the NOMI must be sent the next day, and the application must be denied simultaneously. This is because the regulations do not allow for any additional time to be granted to the household when an application has been delayed for more than 60 days from the submission date.

The compliance date on the NOMI must be the date of the missed interview.

Note: Per the policy, a missed interview may only be rescheduled if it falls within 30 days of the date the initial application being filed. 

 

Example:

  • 3/5/23: Application date

  • 5/15/23: Interview date (70th day, Agency caused delay)

  • 5/15/23: Interview missed (Client caused delay)

  • 5/15/23: Application denied

  • 5/16/23: NOMI sent with date of 5/15/23 as compliance date

  • 5/16/23: Denial NOA sent

 

In the above example, the HH applied on 3/5/2023, but due to an agency-caused delay, the interview was not scheduled until 5/15/2023. The application remains pending to allow the household to complete the interview by 5/15/2023. Since the household missed the interview on 5/15/2023, the NOMI must be sent with the scheduled interview date of 5/15/2023 as the NOMI compliance date.

Compliance Dates for Denial NOA

According to regulations, even if an interview is scheduled after 60 days, CW 2200 must be provided following the interview, with a 10-day deadline for the household to provide the required verification. If the household fails to verify within the due date mentioned in the CW 2200, their application will be denied. No extension should be mentioned in the NOA to grant additional time for the household to provide missing verifications because CalFresh regulations do not support or grant additional time when an application is delayed past 60 days. This rule also applies when denying the application due to NOMI.

 

When completing a manual NOA, mark the first check box in the Denial NOA and list the reason for the Denial.

 

Example:

  • 3/5/23: Application date
  • 5/5/23: Interview date (60th day, Agency caused delay)
  • 5/5/23: CW 2200 sent to request verification with the due date of 5/15/23 (10  days)
  • 5/15/23: CW 2200 due; verifications not received
  • 5/15/23: Application denied for failure to verify by the due date (5/15/23)
  • 5/16/23: Denial NOA sent

In the above scenario, the interview was scheduled over 60 days from the application date, the interview was conducted, and a Request for Verification (CW 2200) was provided requesting verifications within 10 days. The client then failed to verify by the due date. The application must be denied as soon as possible for failure to provide verification and issue the Notice of Denial (CF 377.1A). 

Implementation

The information provided in this Program Directive is effective immediately.