Civil Rights Complaint - SNAP Investigation Checklist

USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Service (FNCS) is responsible for ensuring compliance with civil rights laws and regulations in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from FNCS. This includes ensuring civil rights complaints are properly investigated and resolved.

What is this Document?

This document provides authorized state agencies with a basic checklist for conducting investigations into complaints of prohibited discrimination involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is intended only to provide a working tool for state agencies participating in SNAP and authorized by FNCS to conduct first-line complaint processing.

This checklist is not intended as a substitute for state-level procedures, or an explanation of Federal complaint processing requirements. For instance, it does not explain the requirement to submit decisions to FNCS for review and concurrence before issuing a final decision, processing timeframes, or the obligation to maintain an appropriate, confidential system for tracking civil rights complaints.

Where Can I find Additional Information?

For additional information on a state agencies’ civil rights compliance and enforcement obligations, please see FNS Instruction 113-1, “Civil Rights Compliance and Enforcement – Nutrition Programs and Activities”, or contact the FNCS Civil Rights Division.