General Definition


Migrant farmworkers temporarily leave a principal place of residence in another state to come to Connecticut to accept seasonal employment in an agricultural or fishing activity


Seasonal farmworkers accept seasonal employment in an agricultural or fishing activity.

Applying

7 CFR § 273.2(a)(1) and (c)(1) and (n)(4)(iii)


Migrant or seasonal farmworkers may apply for SNAP for their EDG or choose an A-Rep to act on behalf of the EDG to access benefits for the EDG’s use.


If the migrant or seasonal farmworker’s employer acts as the A-Rep, ensure the:

  • EDG freely requested the employer to act as their A-Rep,
  • employer correctly represents the EDG’s circumstances,
  • EDG receives the correct amount of benefits, and
  • A-Rep properly uses the benefits for the EDG.


Processing

7 CFR § 273.2(a)(2)


Migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs are eligible for the same service and processing standards, and must meet the same eligibility requirements as other EDGs, with the following exceptions:

Residency

7 CFR § 273.2(f)(1)(vi)


Residency verification may be waived if verification cannot be done in time to meet expedited processing timeframes. 


Attempt to verify with the state the migrant EDG moved from the:

  • case closure date, and
  • date benefits were last issued.


See Residency.


Expedited Service

7 CFR § 273.2(i)(1)(ii)


Migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs may qualify for expedited benefits. See Expedited Service. Additionally, migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs qualify for expedited service if the EDG meets destitute requirements.


Destitute Defined

7 CFR § 273.2(i)(1)(ii) & 7 CFR § 273.10(e)(3)(i)-(vii)


Only migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs can be determined as destitute. Destitute means the EDG’s liquid assets do not exceed $100 and their only income for the month of application:

  • was received from a stopped source before the date of application,
    • Income received on a monthly or more frequent basis is stopped from that source if the income will not be received again from the source during the remainder of the month.
    • Income received less often than monthly is stopped from that source if the income is not received in the month the next payment would normally be received.
  • is from a new source but more than $25 will not be received by the 10th calendar day after the date of application,
    • Income received on a monthly or more frequent basis is from a new source when income has not been received from that source 30 days before the application file date.
    • Income received less often than monthly is from a new source if the income was not received from that source during the last normal interval between payments.


Migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs can be destitute even if they receive both stopped income prior to the date of application, and income from a new source after the date of application, provided the EDG:

  • will not receive any other income in the month of application, and
  • any income of more than $25 from a new source will not be received by the 10th day after the date of application. 


EDG members changing jobs but continuing to work for the same employer/grower are receiving continuing income, not income from a new source. The employer/grower is the source, not the crew chief. Consider migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs traveling with a crew chief from one job source to another source as moving from a stopped source to a new source.


Verify destitute status but only if expedited processing timeframes will not be delayed.


Income

7 CFR § 273.2(f) & 7 CFR § 273.9(c)(1)(i)(D) and (ii)(C) and (5)(i)(A) and (7) & 7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1)(ii) and (2) and (3)(ii) and (e)(3)(i)-(vii)


Determine a destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker EDG’s eligibility and benefits for the month of application using all sources of income received between the first of the month and the application date. Disregard income from a new source that will be received after the date of application.


Exclude reimbursements for travel expenses incurred by migrant or seasonal farmworkers. Count travel expense advances included in a written work agreement or statement that will be subtracted later from the EDG’s income.


Budget the EDG’s income for the period the income is intended to cover. 

Note: Exclude a child’s earnings. If the child’s earnings cannot be identified separately from the rest of the EDG’s earnings,

  • divide the total earnings by the number of members that work, and
  • exclude the child’s share of the income.


Do not annualize contract or self-employment income over a 12-month period even when the migrant or farmworker’s annual income is earned over a shorter period of time. 


Work Registration 

7 CFR § 273.7(b)(vii)


Exempt migrant or seasonal farmworkers:

  • working 30-hours per week or more, or
  • under contract, or a similar agreement, with an employer or crew chief to begin work within 30 days.


See Work Registration Exemptions.


Good Cause for Leaving Employment

7 CFR § 273.7(i)(viii)


Migrant or seasonal farmworkers leaving a job to move to another job meet good cause for leaving or reducing employment, even if work at the new job site has not begun.


Verification 

7 CFR § 273.2(f)(2) and (3)(i) and (4)(ii)


Do not target migrant or seasonal farmworkers for more intensive verification than other SNAP EDGs. See Verification and Case Notes.


A collateral contact may be made with an individual outside the EDG, such as but not limited to:

  • Crew chiefs
  • Employers/growers
  • Migrant services agencies


See Suggested Verification Sources. 


Proration of Benefits

7 CFR § 273.10(a)(1)(ii)


Proration of benefits is required for the initial month of approval. The initial month for migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs is the first month the EDG is approved following a period of more than one month since the last approval. The last approval may have been in Connecticut or another state.


Do not prorate benefits if the EDG received benefits the prior month.


Renewal 

7 CFR § 273.10(a)(2) and (e)(3)(ii)-(iii) and (vii)


Disregard income from a new source in the first month of the new benefit period if income of more than $25 will not be received from this new source by the 10th calendar day after the date of the EDG’s normal issuance cycle.


Fair Hearings

7 CFR § 273.15(h)(i)(2)


Fair hearing requests from migrant or seasonal farmworker EDGs must be processed faster than normal hearing decisions when the EDG plans to move from the state. Process the hearing request to ensure the EDG receives a decision, and has benefits restored if applicable, before the EDG leaves the state.


Last Update

Source # 

Effective Date: