Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1005

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PUBLIC LAW 95-000—MMMM. DD, 1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-113—SEPT. 29, 1977

91 STAT. 971

that form by a particular State agency because of the use by that agency of a dual public assistance food stamp application form pursuant to subsection (i) of this section, the requirements of an agency's computer system, or other exigencies as determined by the Secretary. Each application form shall contain a description Application form. in understandable terms in prominent and boldface lettering of the appropriate civil and criminal provisions dealing with violations of this Act, including the penalties therefor, by members of an eligible household. The State agency shall comply with the standards established by the Secretary for points and hours of certification, and for telephone contact by, mail delivery of forms to and mail return of forms by, and subsequent home or telephone interview with, the elderly, physically or mentally handicapped, and persons otherwise unable, solely because of transportation difficulties and similar hardships, to appear in person at a certification office or through a representative pursuant to paragraph (7) of this subsection, so that such persons may have an adequate opportunity to be certified properly; "(3) that the State agency shall thereafter promptly determine the eligibility of each applicant household by way of verification only of income other than that determined to be excluded by section 5(d) of this Act and such other eligibility factors as the Secretary determines to be necessary to implement sections 5 and 6 of this Act, so as to complete certification of and provide an allotment retroactive to the period of application to any eligible household not later than thirty days following its filing of an application; " (4) that the State agency shall insure that each participating Certification household receive a notice of expiration of its certification immedi- expiration, ately prior to or at the start of the last month of its certification notice. period advising it that it must submit a new application in order Recertification. to renew its eligibility for a new certification period and, further, that each such household which seeks to be certified another time or more times thereafter by filing an application for such recertification no later than fifteen days prior to the day upon which its existing certification period expires shall, if found to be still eligible, receive its allotment no later than one month after the receipt of the last allotment issued to it pursuant to its prior certification, but if such household is found to be ineligible or to be eligible for a smaller allotment during the new certification period it shall not continue to participate and receive benefits on the basis authorized for the preceding certification period even if it makes a timely request for a fair hearing pursuant to paragraph (10) of this subsection; "(5) the specific standards to be used in determining the eligibility of applicant households which shall be in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of this Act and shall include no additional requirements imposed by the State agency; "(6) that (A) the State agency shall undertake the certification Certification, of applicant households in accordance with the general procedures prescribed by the Secretary in the regulations issued pursuant to this Act; (B) the State agency personnel utilized in undertaking such certification shall be employed in 'accordance with the current standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration or any standards later prescribed by the United States Civil Service Commission pursuant to section 208 of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 modifying or superseding such standards 42 USC 4728. relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel stand-