504.4 Application Interview

   PFS17616506  Deadline Dates and Authorizing SNAP After a Late Renewal   July 2015

All applicant households, including those sending applications by mail, fax, or COMPASS, must have face-to-face office interviews.                                                                 

7 CFR § 273.2(e)(1)     

The person interviewed may be any of the following:   

The applicant may bring any person he or she chooses to the interview.

504.41 Exceptions to the Application Interview

A face-to-face interview is not required:  

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(2)

 7 CFR § 273.2(i)(3)(iii)

 7 CFR § 273.2(k)(1)(i)(G)

504.42 CAO Responsibilities for the Application Interview

At the application interview, the CAO must take the following actions:   

504.43 Waiver of the Face-to-Face Office Interview

The CAO must waive the face-to-face office interview on a request by any household that cannot appoint an AR and has adult household members who cannot come to the CAO because they are elderly or disabled.   

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(2)

The CAO must also waive the face-to-face interview if asked by a household that cannot appoint an AR and cannot come to the CAO because of hardships including, but not limited to, the following:

The CAO must decide if the hardship calls for a waiver of the face-to-face interview and must write in the case record the reason for granting or denying the waiver.

If a waiver is granted, the CAO must offer the choice of a telephone interview or a scheduled home visit.

A waiver of the office interview does not exempt the household from verification requirements and does not affect the length of the household's certification period.  

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(2)(ii)

504.44 CAO Responsibilities

The CAO must take the following actions:

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(1)  

504.45 Notice of Missed Interview

If a household fails to appear for the application interview, the CAO must send a Notice of Missed Interview (NOMI) to let the household know that it missed the interview and that it must contact the CAO to set up another interview.  

 7 CFR § 273.2(e)(3)

If the household contacts the CAO within 30 days, the CAO must schedule a second interview.

The CAO must document the NOMI mailing by writing in the case narrative that the applicant did not come to the interview and that a notice was mailed. The CAO must put a copy of the NOMI in the case record. (See Appendix B for the recommended language.)

The household must appear for an interview and provide verification by the 30th day from the application filing date to be eligible. (See Section 504.6 for information on handling applications delayed more than 30 days.)

504.46 Joint Public Assistance and SNAP Applications

A household in which all members are applying for public assistance (TANF or GA) may apply for SNAP benefits at the same time it applies for the other assistance program.

  7 CFR § 273.2(j)

Following a single interview, the application may be processed by two separate caseworkers to determine the household's eligibility for the two programs.

A household whose public assistance application is denied does not have to file a new SNAP application. The CAO must decide on the household's eligibility using information on the original application filed jointly for public assistance and SNAP benefits.  

 7 CFR § 273.2(j)(1)(v)

Any household in which all members are receiving public assistance or SSI is considered categorically eligible. (See Chapter 512 for application processing information.)

 7 CFR § 273.2(j)(2)(i)

Reissued March 1, 2012, replacing June 5, 2008