SNAP – Adjusting Interview Requirements Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FNS will allow state agencies to adjust:

• By not requiring a household to complete an interview prior to approval, provided the applicant’s identity has been verified and all other mandatory verifications.
• By not offering a face-to-face interview or granting a request for a face-to-face interview to any household at application or recertification.
• By not requiring households that are eligible for expedited service to complete an interview prior to approval, provided that an applicant’s identity has been identified and an attempt has been made to contact the household for an interview.

2021

January Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

February Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

2020

December Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

West Virginia

November Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

Alabama

West Virginia

October Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

California District of Columbia Indiana

Maryland Michigan

New Mexico Ohio

Pennsylvania Rhode Island

Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews

Approvals

New Jersey

Virginia

September Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews

Approvals

Alabama California District of Columbia Hawaii

Indiana Michigan Maryland

New Mexico Ohio Pennsylvania

South Carolina Washington West Virginia

Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews

Approvals

Louisiana

Nevada

New Jersey

Virginia

Denials

Alabama California Maryland

Michigan North Carolina New Mexico

Tennessee Texas

Virginia Wisconsin

Postpone Expedited Service Interviews

Denials

Alabama

Maryland

August Extensions

Waive Face-to-Face Interviews through August 31

Approvals

Alabama California District of Columbia

Hawaii Indiana Maryland

New Mexico New York Ohio

Pennsylvania Rhode Island West Virginia

Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews through August 31

Approvals

Alabama Alaska California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia* Georgia

Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts

Michigan Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon

Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Virginia Wisconsin

*After 2nd request

Postpone Expedited Service Interviews through August 31

Approvals

New York

Rhode Island

July Extensions

Waive Face-to Face Interviews through July 31

Approvals

Alabama California District of Columbia Illinois Indiana

Maryland Michigan Missouri New Mexico

New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania

Rhode Island South Carolina Texas West Virginia

Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews through July 31

Approvals

Alabama Alaska California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia *

Georgia Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Maine

Massachusetts Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina *

Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina* Texas Virginia

*After 2nd request

Denials

Alaska Arizona Colorado

Hawaii Massachusetts Missouri

Montana New Mexico

Ohio Virginia

Postpone Expedited Service Interviews through July 31

Approvals

Alabama Connecticut

Indiana Maryland

New York

Rhode Island

Denials

Arizona Alaska

Hawaii

New Mexico

Oregon

June Extensions

Alaska Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia

Hawaii Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Maryland Michigan Mississippi

Missouri Montana New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma

Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Virgin Islands West Virginia

Initial Approvals

Alaska Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii

Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Maryland Michigan Mississippi Missouri

Montana Nebraska New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon

Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Virgin Islands West Virginia Wisconsin

Policy Memo

SNAP – Adjusting Interview Requirements Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Blanket Approval

Date:	March 26, 2020
RE:	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Adjusting Interview Requirements Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Blanket Approval

Dear SNAP State Agencies,

As authorized by section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (PL 116-127), FNS will allow state agencies to adjust:

• SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.2(a)(2), 273.2(e), and 273.14(b)(3) by not requiring a household to complete an interview prior to approval, provided the applicant's identity has been verified and all other mandatory verifications in 7 CFR 273.2(f)(1) have been completed. ¹
• SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.2(e)(2)(i) by not offering a face-to-face interview or granting a request for a face-to-face interview to any household at application or recertification.
• SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.2(i)(3)(iii) and 7 CFR 273.2(i)(4)(iii)(A) and (B) by not requiring households that are eligible for expedited service to complete an interview prior to approval, provided that an applicant's identity has been identified and an attempt has been made to contact the household for an interview.

Under the authority of Section 2302(a)(2), FNS has determined these adjustments to be consistent with what is practicable under actual conditions in areas affected by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

These flexibilities are available for all applications and recertifications requiring an interview through May 2020 and contingent upon a state agency's compliance with the conditions and evaluation requirements detailed in the attached enclosures, which are due 45 days after expiration (July 15, 2020).

If the state agency elects to implement any or all of these adjustments, it must make a request to its respective FNS regional office and identify which ones the state agency intends to use. Any state responses will be relayed to the FNS Certification Policy Branch.

FNS is ready to provide technical assistance to state agencies as they seek to maintain operations and serve clients during the current Public Health Emergency. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your respective regional office representative.

Sasha Gersten-Paal
Director
Program Development Division
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

 

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¹ If state agencies have questions regarding other regulatory references to the interview requirement, please contact FNS.