The certification period is a designated period of time during which the household will be eligible to receive food stamps. Certification periods

are based upon calendar months.The month during which a household

applies for food stamps is usually the first month in the certification period even if the application is not approved until a later month.

A household may be determined eligible for the month during which the application was submitted but not receive any food stamps due to proration. In these cases, the certification peri6d will begin with the month of application even though the household will not actually receive any food stamps for that month

Example:A household applies on May 20 and is approved on May 22. The prorated allotment for May is $8.00; therefore, no food stamps will be issued to the household in May. Regardless of this, the certification period May/July is assigned.

When the household is ineligible for a month (or months) in the period of application, the certification period begins with the first monthof eligibility.

Example:A household applies for food stamps on July 7 and is found ineligible for July benefits but eligible for August. The period of certification will begin in August.

Eligibility for food stamps ceases at the end of each certification period except for households in which all members are aged or disabled and there is no earned income. Effective 2-1-92, these households will be able to extend the certification period by submitting a Change Report Form (DCO-234) and participating in a telephone interview. See FSC 11340 - 11346. All other households must reapply for food stamps, be interviewed, verify certain information, and be found eligible to participate in the program before additional food stamps will be issued.

Certification periods range in length from 1 month to 24 months and are assigned according to the current household situation.