USDA is committed to providing timely and satisfactory customer service. This includes ensuring eligible SNAP applicants receive benefits on time for both initial and recertification applications.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 requires that all eligible households receive SNAP benefits within 30 days of an initial application or within seven days for those eligible for expedited service. A SNAP recertification application is considered processed timely when the eligible household has been certified with access to their benefit allotment by their normal issuance date.
Timely SNAP Benefits for Eligible Households
It is a SNAP state agency’s responsibility to certify eligible applicants and provide benefits on time. In doing so, state agencies must follow standards set by federal law.
We monitor states’ timeliness through:
- calculating application processing timeliness (APT) and recertification processing timeliness (RPT) rates obtained through the SNAP quality control (QC) system,
- reviewing state quarterly reports and state-calculated APT and RPT rates,
- conducting management evaluation reviews,
- assessing advocate and client complaints, and
- other methods of information gathering.
Timeliness Rates
We calculate APT and RPT rates using data from QC reviews. Specifically, we compare how many applications and reapplications are approved on time to out of the total number of applications and reapplications received. For more information on how the rates are calculated, see the memo links at the bottom of this page.
Annual APT Rates
Note: The suspension of certain quality control requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency resulted in a lack of available data to calculate APT rates for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Annual RPT Rates
Oversight and Escalation Procedures
Low APT and RPT rates are indicators of poor customer service and represent a program integrity issue. When states fall short of their legal timeliness requirements, we offer resources, tools, and best practices to help states improve. We also visit states in person to understand and help address the root causes of their benefit delays.
If APT or RPT rates remain low, we require detailed corrective action plans from states that set benchmarks and outline the steps they will take to improve their processes and timeliness.
If states continue to fail to meet the timeliness rules, we begin a structured escalation process:
- Advanced warning letter signaling the need for urgent attention.
- Formal warning letter alerting the state that its federal funds are at risk if it does not meet our defined benchmarks for improvement.
We may deviate from this structured process when APT or RPT rates are particularly low or if there are unique circumstances within the state agency.
Guidance and Policy Memos
- SNAP APT Letter to Governors
- Keys to Application Processing Timeliness - A guide for state agencies
- Updated Guidance for Improving State Timeliness Rates: Standardizing the Escalation Process
- Guidance for Improving State Agency RPT Rates: Standardizing the Escalation Process
- Clarification on the three ways initial SNAP application processing timeliness is measured
- State Agency Requirements for Required and Missing Verification for Regular Initial Applications
- Ensuring Timely Benefits to Eligible Households