Section 121.140  Small Group Living Arrangement Facilities and Drug/Alcoholic Treatment Centers

a)         Small Group Living Arrangement Facilities

1)         Blind or disabled recipients of benefits under Title II (42 USC 402 et seq.) or Title XVI (42 USC 1381 et seq.) of the Social Security Act residing in a public or private non-profit group living arrangement facility that services no more than 16 residents may voluntarily apply for SNAP benefits.  Residents of a group living arrangement facility shall either apply for SNAP benefits and be certified through the use of an authorized representative designated by the facility or apply for SNAP benefits on their own behalf.  If the resident applies for SNAP benefits through an authorized representative designated by the facility (see Section 121.1), and if determined eligible for SNAP benefits, the resident will be certified as a one-person household. If the resident applies for SNAP benefits on his/her own behalf, the household size is determined in accordance with Section 121.70.

2)         Disabled or blind residents of a public or private non-profit group living arrangement facility must meet all other eligibility requirements of this Part and 7 CFR 273 (1987).

b)         Drug Addict/Alcoholic Treatment Centers

1)         Residents of publicly operated or private non-profit drug addict/alcoholic treatments centers authorized by USDA pursuant to 7 CFR 278.1 and 278.2(g) (1987) to accept SNAP benefits may voluntarily apply for SNAP benefits.  Residents of a drug addict/alcoholic treatment center shall apply for SNAP benefits and, if determined eligible, be certified as a one-person household through the use of an authorized representative designated by the facility (see Section 121.1). The treatment center shall receive and spend the benefit amount for food prepared by and/or served to the addict or alcoholic.

2)         Residents of publicly operated or private non-profit drug addict/alcoholic treatment centers must meet all other eligibility requirements of this Part and 7 CFR 273.

c)         Small group living arrangements facilities and drug addict/alcoholic treatment centers have the following responsibilities:

1)         Provide the Department with a list of currently participating residents, signed by the facility director attesting to the validity of the list.

2)         The facility/treatment center is responsible for any misrepresentation or fraud the facility/treatment center knowingly commits (see Section 121.150) in the certification of facility/treatment center residents.  The facility/treatment center must be knowledgeable about a household's circumstances (e.g., income and assets) and should carefully review those circumstances with the resident prior to applying for SNAP benefits on behalf of a particular resident.  The facility/treatment center is strictly liable for all losses or misuse of SNAP benefits held on behalf of resident households and for all overissuances that occur while households are residents of the facility/treatment center.

3)         The facility/treatment center must immediately (when the change occurs) notify the local Family Community Resource Center of changes in the resident's circumstances that may affect the resident's eligibility for SNAP benefits, including but not limited to changes in residence, income and assets.

4)         When the resident leaves the facility/treatment center, he/she must receive his/her full SNAP benefits if already issued and if no benefits have been spent on behalf of that individual.  These procedures apply at any time during the month.  However, if any portion of the SNAP benefits have been spent on behalf of the resident and he/she leaves the facility/treatment center prior to the 16^th day of the month, the facility/treatment center must provide the individual with one half of his/her SNAP allotment.  In either case, the facility shall retain a receipt as proof of issuance.  If the resident leaves on or after the 16^th day of the month and the benefits have already been issued and used, he/she will not receive any benefits.

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 7265, effective May 10, 2010)