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.
Initial Approvals
June Extensions
Approvals
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
*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 |
August Extensions
Waive Face-to-Face Interviews through August 31
Approvals
Alabama California District of Columbia |
Hawaii Indiana Maryland |
Pennsylvania Rhode Island West Virginia |
Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews through August 31
Approvals
*After 2nd request
Postpone Expedited Service Interviews through August 31
Approvals
New York | Rhode Island |
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 |
October Extensions
Waive Face-to Face Interviews
Approvals
California District of Columbia |
Indiana Maryland |
Pennsylvania Rhode Island |
Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews
Approvals
New Jersey | Virginia |
November Extensions
Waive Face-to Face Interviews
Approvals
Alabama |
December Extensions
Waive Face-to Face Interviews
Approvals
West Virginia |
Resource
- 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 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. 273.2(f)(1) have been completed.
- SNAP regulations at 7 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. 273.2(i)(3)(iii) and 7 C.F.R. 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
The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.