503.5 Rights and Responsibilities

At the application interview, the CAO must explain the applicant’s SNAP rights and responsibilities in a language the applicant understands.

The Application for Benefits (PA 600) and the renewal form also give written explanations of rights and responsibilities.

7 CFR § 273.2(e)(1)

Written notices are available in English or Spanish. Translation information is on the envelopes.

503.51 Household Rights

Household members have the right to:  

• Receive and file an application the same day they ask for it.   

7 CFR § 273.2(c)(1)(iii)

• Bring anyone they choose to the application interview.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(e)(1)

• Have an adult who knows their circumstances apply for them if they cannot get to the CAO personally.

7 CFR § 273.2(n)(1)(i)

• Get free professional language help from the CAO at the application interview.  

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(2)(iv)

• Have a telephone interview unless they or their Authorized Representative, prefer to have a face-to-face interview.   

7 CFR § 273.2(e)(2)

• Have a second interview if they cannot attend the first.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(e)(3)

• Get SNAP benefits within 30 days after application, if they are eligible.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(g)(1)

• Get SNAP benefits within 5 days if they are in immediate need and qualify for expedited service.

   7 CFR § 273.2(i)(3)(i)

• Have all information at DHS kept confidential.  

 7 CFR § 273.1(c)(2)

• Receive a written notice explaining why benefits were denied, what benefits were granted, and any negative action that affected eligibility or benefit amount.  

  7 CFR § 273.10(g)

• Examine their case record and SNAP regulations.

  7 CFR § 272.1(c)(3)

• Appeal and have an agency conference or a fair hearing on any CAO action they disagree with, including being denied expedited service.  

  7 CFR § 273.15(a)

7 CFR § 273.15(d)

• Get written notice of their right to an oral or written appeal.  

  7 CFR § 273.15(f)

503.52 Household Responsibilities

Household members must:

• Answer all questions completely and honestly and provide required proof of who is in the household.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(d)(1)

• Follow the program rules they agreed to by signing the PA 600 or PA 600 FSO or be subject to the penalties explained in the applications.

• Cooperate with a quality control eligibility review.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(d)(2)

• Provide all needed proof of verbal or written statements made on the application, at the interview, and/or within ten days after the CAO asks for it.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(f)

• Report changes in circumstances according to semiannual reporting (SAR) rules.  

  7 CFR § 273.12(a)(1)

• Report all changes by the tenth of the month after the month of change. (This applies to all SNAP households except households that are getting Extended SNAP benefits.)  

• Cooperate in eligibility reviews.

• Avoid changing any SNAP documents.  

  7 CFR § 271.5(b)

• Avoid selling, trading, lending or giving away their EBT ACCESS card or allowing any fraudulent use of the card.

• Use SNAP benefits to buy only eligible foods.

• Participate in DHS employment and training activities (unless exempt).   

7 CFR § 273.7(e)

• Repay any overpayment.   

7 CFR § 273.18 (a)

503.53 Addendum at Application for Benefits (AAB)

The Addendum at Application for Benefits (AAB) has been incorporated into the Rights and Responsibilities section of the PA600, PA600R, PA600FS, and PA1939. An AAB is no longer needed at application or renewal.

503.54 CAO Responsibilities

The CAO must:  

  7 CFR § 273.2(c)(3)

• Provide all information and explanations in a language the applicant understands.

7 CFR § 272.4(b) 

• Make sure potentially eligible households have application forms, including translated applications, readily available.

• Encourage anyone who asks for a form to apply on the same day.  

7 CFR § 273.2(c)(2)(i)

• Encourage any household who expresses concern about food insecurity to apply for SNAP benefits.

• Accept and date-stamp an identifiable application on the same day the CAO receives it.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(c)(1)

• Accept all applications received during business hours (no quota or time limit).

• Mail an application on the day a person asks for one, but do not suggest or encourage someone who wants to file an application in person to get it and file it by mail.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(c)(2)

• Help a person who needs help filling out the application or giving proof.

• Accept applications without limiting the number or having a cutoff time.

• Display posters explaining expedited eligibility rules and processing standards.   

  7 CFR § 273.2(c)(4)

• Display FNS nondiscrimination posters explaining how to file a discrimination charge.   

  7 CFR § 273.6(f)(2)

• Review every application for expedited services on the same day it is received. (See Chapter 506.)   

  7 CFR § 273.2(i)(2)

• Give households WIC and nutrition information.   

  7 CFR § 272.5(b)

• Explain rights and responsibilities, including time limits for providing proof and reporting changes, to each household.

• Explain to households at application and renewal that DHS gets information from the Income Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) and that differences are resolved by third-party contact.   

  7 CFR § 273.2(b)(2)

• Tell applicants that Social Security numbers are cross-referenced with other programs and used to get income and resource information.   

  7 CFR § 272.8(a)

• Explain to households that benefits will be denied or ended if the household refuses to cooperate.  

  7 CFR § 273.2(d(1)

• Tell applicants that they must not:    

7 CFR § 271.5(b)

• Give false information to get or keep SNAP benefits.

7 CFR § 273.16(b)(5)

• Sell, trade, lend, or give away the EBT ACCESS card or allow fraudulent use of the card.

7 CFR § 273.16(b)(4)

• Use SNAP benefits to buy ineligible items, such as alcoholic drinks or tobacco products.

7 CFR § 271.2

• Use SNAP benefits to buy illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition, or explosives.

7 CFR § 273.16(b)(3)

• Use someone else’s EBT ACCESS card for their own household.

• Tell the household that they must repay an overpayment.

• Tell the household that the EBT ACCESS card cannot be used to buy food on credit.  

   7 CFR § 274.7(b)

503.55 Penalties

The CAO must tell the applicant the following in a language the applicant understands:   

• A household member who intentionally breaks the rules may be disqualified from getting SNAP benefits  

• For one year for the first violation;

• For two years for the second violation; and

• Permanently for the third violation.

7 CFR § 273.16(b)(1)

• A household member found by a court to have used SNAP benefits to buy illegal drugs or controlled substances will be disqualified

• For two years for the first violation; and

• Permanently for the second violation.

7 CFR § 273.16(b)(2)

• A household member found by a court to have used SNAP benefits to buy firearms, ammunition, or explosives will be disqualified permanently for the first violation.  

  7 CFR § 273.16(b)(3)

• A household member convicted of selling SNAP benefits valued at $500 or more, whether in one transaction or a series of transactions, will be disqualified permanently for the first violation.  

  7 CFR § 273.16(b)(4)

• A household member found by a state agency or court to have made a false statement about his or her identity or where he or she lives to get multiple SNAP benefits will be disqualified for ten years. The household does not have to receive the duplicate benefits to be disqualified.  

  7 CFR § 273.16(b)(5)

• A household member will be disqualified for fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement for a felony or attempted felony or for violating a condition of probation or parole. (See Appendix B.)   

7 CFR § 273.11(n)

NOTE:  See Section 555.2 for deeming resources and income of a fleeing felon in a SNAP household.

• A person who fulfills the terms and conditions of probation without verdict is not permanently ineligible for SNAP benefits. They are eligible for SNAP benefits during probation if they meet all other criminal history requirements during that time.

• A categorically eligible person who violates probation or parole is not exempt from penalties. The person is not eligible for SNAP benefits until he or she shows proof of compliance.

• A disqualified individual might also be subject to the following:  

  7 CFR § 271.5(b)

• A fine of up to $250,000

• Imprisonment up to 20 years

• Both a fine and imprisonment

• An additional suspension from SNAP for up to 18 months (running consecutively from the original suspension)

• Further prosecution under the law

Updated March 11, 2026, Replacing March 2, 2016