All assistance programs require you to process applications as soon as possible, and within a certain number of days from the date of application. Day 1 of the count starts with the 1st day following the date of application. See 0005.12.09 (Date of Application). See program provisions listed below for application processing timetables.

Processing standards are the maximum time you have to determine eligibility. Do NOT treat this time as a waiting period for eligibility.

Determine eligibility as soon as the necessary information is available. Send a notice approving, pending, or denying eligibility. See 0010 (Verification), 0026 (Notices).

The processing standards for Emergency General Assistance and expedited SNAP applications differ from standard applications. See 0004.01 (Emergency General Assistance (EGA)), 0004.04 (Expedited SNAP), and 0005.12.09 (Date of Application).
Within the processing period:

●	Review the application for completeness.
●	Schedule and conduct the interview. See 0005.12.12 (Application Interviews).
●	Verify mandatory and inconsistent items. See 0010.18 (Mandatory Verifications), 0010.21 (Verification Due Dates).
●	Determine eligibility.
●	Send a notice. See 0026 (Notices).

See 0005.12.15.03 (Delays in Processing Applications) for what to do when you cannot determine eligibility within the time frames listed below because clients do not provide information, for delays not caused by clients, and when not to delay processing.

See 0022.03.03 (Ineligibility in a Prospective Month - Cash), 0022.03.04 (Ineligibility in a Prospective Month - SNAP) for provisions relating to cases that are ineligible in a prospective month.


MFIP:
Determine eligibility no later than 30 days following the date of the application. Clients must be eligible for assistance on the date you approve the case. See 0005.12.09 (Date of Application).

To meet the 30-day requirement, you may want to conduct interviews for minor caregivers on an accelerated schedule due to the time that social service evaluations might require. See 0004.01 (Emergency General Assistance (EGA)), 0004.04 (Expedited SNAP), and 0012.06 (Requirements for Caregivers Under 20).


SNAP:
Determine eligibility and issue benefits or a denial notice no later than 30 days following the date of the application. If you cannot determine eligibility within 30 days, send a notice of processing delay, determine who caused the delay, and allow an additional 30 days to complete the application processing. See 0005.12.15.03 (Delays in Processing Applications), 0005.12.15.06 (Determining Who Caused the Delay), 0024 (Payments).

EXCEPTION
If the unit failed to attend the initially scheduled interview, an attempt has been made to inform the unit of their responsibility to schedule a second interview, and the client has made no subsequent contact with the agency to express interest in pursuing the application, deny the application on the 30th day.

See TEMP Manual TE02.05.15 (Notice of Interview/Missed Interview (NOMI)). Also, document the contact in case notes.

MAXIS Process
Do not deny the application before the 30 day application processing period has expired, unless the case has been determined ineligible (for example for excess income). MAXIS will not automatically deny applications pending past 30 days. You must deny the application at the appropriate time.


MSA, HSP:
Determine eligibility and issue benefits or a denial notice for disabled people no more than 60 days after the date of application.

Determine eligibility and issue benefits or a denial notice for all other people no later than 30 days following the date of the application. See 0024 (Payments).


GA:
Determine eligibility no later than 30 days following the date of the application. Clients must be eligible for assistance on the date you approve the case. See 005.12.15.03 (Delays in Processing Applications).