The interview is an opportunity for the eligibility worker to explore the household’s financial and nonfinancial circumstances and review the application details and any other information available, such as data matches. Eligibility workers must not simply restate the application information but must address and resolve with the household unclear and incomplete information.

Getting Started

A good practice is for the eligibility worker to establish SNAP household composition early in the interview by discussing family relationships, who in the home might purchase and prepare food separately, and any other factors that could exclude individuals from participating in SNAP or make them mandatory members. Once household composition is established, the eligibility worker can focus the interview on each household member’s income, deductions, resources, and any other relevant household circumstances.

Asking Questions

Based on responses to questions and information in the application, eligibility workers should attempt to identify and resolve inconsistencies while the household is engaged in the interview. For example, if the household’s monthly income is less than its monthly expenses, eligibility workers should ask if the household receives any other sources of income or assistance (such as from a family member) that was inadvertently left off the application. Eligibility workers should avoid leading questions and instead ask open-ended questions to explore applicants’ circumstances. This encourages individuals to answer in their own words and avoids asking yes or no questions when there could be potential for confusing or misleading answers. This also enables the eligibility worker to inquire further on potential inconsistencies. For example, if an eligibility worker has information that an individual might be experiencing homelessness, they should ask “What is your current living situation?” instead of “Are you currently homeless?” This allows the worker to have a conversation with the applicant about their living circumstances.

It is important to be mindful of applicants’ circumstances during the interview and communicate information as clearly and simply as possible. If additional questions remain about the application at the end of the interview, the eligibility worker must pursue verification. SNAP rules require verification of all eligibility and benefit level factors that the state determines to be questionable. 7 CFR 273.2(f)(2)

Listening to the Applicant

During the interview, eligibility workers should ask well thought out questions and practice active listening skills. Active listening has two components. The first is listening carefully to what the applicant is saying to gather accurate information. The second is demonstrating that the interviewer is listening by letting the applicant know what the interviewer hears and noting what the applicant tells the interviewer. As a best practice, eligibility workers’ listening skills could include the following:

• Listen and make sure you understand what the household is saying and avoid making judgments about what you hear.
• Show that you are listening by responding using words or phrases such as “I see,” “go on,” and “I understand.”
• Paraphrase what the household has told you at appropriate intervals, using their words as much as possible without adding any details. Try to use fewer words to get to the point. Paraphrasing affords households an opportunity to correct any part of the conversation they feel you misunderstood. If an applicant seems confused or unsure about anything you have paraphrased, ask additional questions to clarify their circumstances.

Changes

Households are required at the certification interview to report all changes that have occurred between the application date and the interview related to households’ SNAP eligibility and benefits. Consequently, eligibility workers should ask applicants about such changes. 7 CFR 273.12(a)(3)

Collection of Racial/Ethnic Data

You must inform applicants that supplying racial/ethnic information is voluntary, that it will not affect their eligibility or benefit levels, and that the reason for the information is to ensure program benefits are distributed without regard to race, color, or national origin. You should encourage applicants to self-identify their race and ethnicity. You should not use visual observation as it is unreliable and can be biased.

At the time of the interview, eligibility workers must evaluate information concerning each individual in the household to determine if any of the following apply.

Expedited Service

Prior to the interview, you must have procedures in place to identify households eligible for expedited service at the time the household submits its application, so that an interview is scheduled in time to meet expedited processing timeframes if necessary. While other state employees may do this initial screening, the interviewer should also screen households for entitlement to expedited service. If the interviewer discovers the household is entitled to expedited process, the application should be processed as quickly as possible even if the 7-day standard cannot be met. 7 CFR 273.2(i)(2)

Referral to Employment and Training (E&T)

The state is responsible for screening each work registrant to determine whether or not, based on state criteria, to refer the individual to a SNAP E&T program. If appropriate, the eligibility worker would then refer the individual to the SNAP E&T program (also referred to as “SNAP E&T activity”). 7 CFR 273.7(c)(2)

Screening for appropriateness for SNAP E&T is a separate process from screening for and identifying exemptions from the general SNAP work requirements and from the able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) rules. The eligibility worker must thoroughly explore whether the individual meets the state’s criteria for participation in SNAP E&T. Applicants are not responsible for self-identifying whether they should be referred to a SNAP E&T program. Screening for referral to SNAP E&T is a certification function and can be performed only by state SNAP agency merit system personnel.

ABAWD Work Requirement

Students

States are responsible for identifying if a household member is a student who may be ineligible to participate in SNAP. Students are ineligible for SNAP if they are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education unless an exemption applies. See SNAP Institutions of Higher Education and Student Eligibility Rules. 7 CFR 273.5

Felons

States must require that individuals applying for SNAP benefits attest to whether the individual or any other member of the household has been convicted of certain felonies as an adult and whether the convicted member is complying with the terms of the sentence. Attestations may be made during the interview and may be in writing, verbal, or both, provided that the attestation is legally binding in the law of the state. However, no individual may be required to come to the SNAP office solely for an attestation. 7 CFR 273.2(o)(1), 7 CFR 273.11(s)

Non-Citizens, Including Sponsored Non-Citizens

Non-citizens must meet SNAP’s non-citizen eligibility criteria in addition to all other SNAP financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. States are responsible for identifying if a non-citizen is eligible for SNAP based on their immigration status and other factors if applicable, such as number of years in that status. This includes identifying whether a non-citizen applying for SNAP benefits has a sponsor and is subject to sponsor deeming. Under program rules, non-citizens whose sponsor signed an affidavit of support are subject to sponsor deeming unless they are exempt. Deeming is a process in which the income and resources of the sponsor are included in the non-citizen’s eligibility determination for SNAP benefits. Deeming applies only to eligible Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) whose sponsor has signed a legally binding affidavit of support (known as 213A affidavits, mostly I-864 forms) on or after Dec. 19, 1997. 

States are required to determine if a non-citizen is subject to sponsor deeming and collect sponsor information during the certification process, making the interview an important time to ensure the state has all necessary information. Eligibility workers should determine if a non-citizen is an LPR with a sponsor who has signed an affidavit of support and whether the non-citizen meets an exemption from sponsor deeming. Workers can check whether someone has a sponsor through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE). During the interview, eligibility workers should ensure the non-citizen has provided information about the sponsor’s income and resources and must assist the household in obtaining necessary verification. We also encourage you to inform sponsored non-citizens during the interview about sponsor liability for the value of SNAP benefits received by the sponsored non-citizen. See SNAP Eligibility for Non-Citizens and SNAP Guidance on Non-Citizen Eligibility - detailed information on sponsor deeming and sponsor liability starts on page 30. 7 CFR 273.4(c), 8 CFR 213a.4(a)