State Guidance Memo (20.81 KB)
QC Fact to Face Waiver Extension - December (135.64 KB)
The Secretary is allowing states to conduct telephone interviews in lieu of face-to face-interviews for SNAP Quality Control (QC) purposes. Initially all states were allowed to conduct SNAP quality control interviews by phone.
June Extensions
The following states have opted to extend this adjustment through June 30.
Extensions
On July 17, 2020, FNS issued a memo allowing states to extend this adjustment until Sept. 30, 2020.
On August 25, 2020, FNS will allow state agencies to suspend requirements at 7 CFR 275.12(c)(1) to conduct Face-to-Face interviews for QC active reviews through Dec. 31, 2020.
On April 30, 2021, FNS issued a memo that SNAP QC will resume nationwide starting July 2021, with special QC review procedures related to COVID-related adjustments, and provides state agencies with a blanket waiver of the QC face-to-face interview.
Resources
- Flexibility to Allow Telephone Interviews in Lieu of Face-to-Face Interviews for March. April and May 2020 Quality Control Case Reviews
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DATE: March 13, 2020 SUBJECT: 2200007 - Flexibility to Allow Telephone Interviews in Lieu of Face-to-Face Interviews for March. April and May 2020 Quality Control Case Reviews TO: Regional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Directors Food and Nutrition Service In response to requests from states for flexibility to allow for greater social distancing to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the Secretary is allowing states to conduct telephone interviews in lieu of face-to face-interviews for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Quality Control (QC) purposes. This wavier applies to regulations at 7 CFR 275.12(c) and Chapter 4, Section 420 of Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Handbook 310 that require a face-to-face interview as part of the QC review and is effective until May 31, 2020. States may conduct telephone interviews for all cases reviewed in March, April, and May of 2020, regardless of sample month.
If a state elects to conduct interviews by telephone, the state must notify the appropriate FNS regional office prior to this election. Each QC case file must be documented to show the reason a face-to-face interview was not conducted and the FNS 380-1 must indicate a telephone interview was conducted. All other requirements specified in SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 275.12 remain in effect under this waiver, including penalties for household refusal to cooperate with a QC reviewer.
Please provide this information to your states. States must notify FNS if they intend to implement telephone interviews during this period~ any state responses must be relayed to the FNS national office QC Branch as you receive them for recordkeeping purposes.
Ronald K. Ward
Director
Program Accountability and Administration Division
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program