Members of eligible groups, including single person groups, who are narcotics addicts or alcoholics who regularly participate in a licensed chemical dependency treatment, rehabilitation facility, or facilities eligible for funding under Part B of Title XIX to provide such treatment may voluntarily elect to participate in the FS program but must do so through an authorized representative.
Residents of treatment centers must have their eligibility determined and be certified as one-person groups through the use of an authorized representative. The authorized representative must be an employee of and designated by the private, nonprofit organization or institution and must apply on behalf of the addict or alcoholic and receive and spend the EBT allotment for food prepared by and/or served to the addict or alcoholic. Narcotics addicts or alcoholics who for the purpose of regular participation in drug or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program reside at a facility or treatment center are not considered residents of institutions.
Residents of addict/alcoholic treatment centers must be certified using the same provisions that apply to all other applicant groups except that certification is completed through use of the authorized representative as described in Section 1.6.2: Filing an Application/Accessing Benefits on Behalf of Another Individual or Group.
Prior to certifying any residents for FS benefits, the SSR must verify that the treatment center is authorized by the FNS program as a retailer (if the center wishes to redeem benefits through a wholesaler), is certified by the Department of Licensing and Inspection including a determination by that office that the center is a nonprofit organization, or is funded under Part B or Title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code 300 x et. seq.).
For residents of drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation centers and residents of group living arrangement who are entitled to expedited service, the SSR must have the EBT card available for pick-up no later than seven calendar days following the date the application was filed.
Regular participants in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program are exempt from FSET work program requirements. The regular participation of an addict or alcoholic in a treatment program may be verified through the organization or institution operating the program before granting the exemption if the information is questionable.
Because of the substantial likelihood of frequent and significant changes and the inability to predict circumstances in the near future, residents of treatment centers may be certified for as little as one or two months. However, if a longer period is warranted it must be assigned. If the group is certified after the 15th and the group's circumstances warrant it, the certification period is increased by one month. Treatment center residents provided service are assigned certification periods in accordance with Chapter 4: Recertification in Part VIII.
When the participant leaves the center, the center will provide him/her with any untransacted EBT cards that were received for them. The departing participant will also receive his/her full allotment if already issued and if no benefits have been spent on behalf of that individual. These procedures are applicable anytime during the month.
However, if the benefits already have been issued, any portion has been spent on behalf of the individual, and the individual leaves the treatment and rehabilitation program prior to the 16th day of the month, the treatment center will provide him/her with one-half of his/her monthly benefit allotment. If the participant leaves on or after the 16th day of the month and the benefits have already been issued and used, the individual does not receive any benefits.
Once the participant leaves the treatment center, the center is no longer allowed to act as that individual's authorized representative.
The treatment center provides the individual with a change report form. The participant is to use the form to report his/her new address and other circumstances after leaving the center. The center must advise the individual to return the form to the appropriate FS office within ten days. The treatment center must notify the Department FS branch of the changes in the participant's circumstances. The treatment center must also inform the FS branch when the addict or alcoholic leaves the center.
The Department will establish a claim against the treatment center for overpayments (see Section 6.3: Reporting of Overpayments in Part VIII) for FS benefits held on behalf of resident clients if any overpayments are discovered during an investigation or hearing procedures for redemption violations.
If FNS disqualifies an organization or institution as an authorized retail store, the Department will suspend its authorized representative status for the same period. If the treatment center loses its authorization from FNS to accept and redeem coupons or is no longer certified, its residents are no longer entitled to a notice of adverse action but will be provided written notice explaining the termination of the center's involvement in their participation process and when it will become effective.
