Section 121.3  Approval of an Application and Initial Authorization Of Assistance

a)         Eligibility for program participation shall not be authorized for any period prior to the month in which application is made.

b)         A household's benefits level for the initial month of certification will be based on the day of the month it applies for benefits.  A household shall receive benefits prorated from the day of application to the end of the month.  As used in this paragraph, the term "initial month" means either the first month for which an allotment is issued to a household or the first month for which an allotment is issued to a household following any period of at least one month during which the household was not certified for participation in the Food Stamp Program.

c)         For categorically eligible households (i.e. households in which all members are authorized to receive benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, the Supplemental Security  Income Program, the Interim Assistance Program and/or the General Assistance Program), a food stamp application which is denied while the AFDC, SSI, Interim Assistance and/or GA application is pending, is reactivated when the Department becomes aware that AFDC, SSI, Interim Assistance and/or GA benefits are approved.  In this instance, the household shall receive Food Stamp benefits prorated from the day AFDC, SSI, Interim Assistance and/or State GA benefits were approved.

(Source:  Amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 644, effective December 31, 1992)