DTA update: As of 4/7, all SNAP applicants must have interview

FoodSNAP

SNAP application interviews now required again for all applicants 

 

As of last Friday, April 7, all SNAP applicants must have an interview with DTA for their application to continue. An interview is a conversation with a DTA case manager to talk through the SNAP application, share the program rules, clear up missing or confusing information, and more. 

 

Since the pandemic began, DTA has had a federal COVID option in place to waive the interview for certain applicants. DTA re-started application interviews for all applicants on April 7. Up until now, applicants who had all mandatory information on file had their interview waived. 

 

Here is what you need to know, including core interview rights:

  • The interview can be done by phone or in-person - whichever the applicant prefers. 

  • DTA has reminded staff that applicants have a right to have their interview at a local office if they want or need to go to an office - for example, because they can’t get through the phone line, they don’t have a phone, or they prefer to meet with someone at the office. All SNAP applicants have a right to an interview in-person if they want one. 

  • DTA must schedule and try to do the interview within 7 days of the date of the application to screen for expedited SNAP (emergency SNAP DTA must issue to certain households within 7 days). If the applicant applies in person, DTA should do the interview at that same time to check for expedited SNAP eligibility (and get the applicant an EBT card if they need one). 

  • If an applicant misses a scheduled interview call, DTA must send out a Notice of Missed Interview. 

  • An applicant can affirmatively call DTA or go to an office to do an interview at any time - they don’t have to wait until the scheduled interview. If someone calls DTA for an interview, the worker should do the interview then. They should not reschedule it and tell the client to wait for a rescheduled time. 

  • The interview is when the case manager goes over the application information, screens for disabilities, discusses which verifications are missing, shares the reporting rules, and more! DTA has lots of guidance to case managers about how to talk through the SNAP eligibility process and SNAP rules during the interview. 

  • Applicants can verbally self-declare a lot of information DTA needs during the interview if they didn’t put it on the application. For example, medical costs under $190/month for people 60+ or with disabilities, child care costs, and rent/homeownership costs. 

  • If there is no interview within 30 days from the date of the application, DTA will deny the SNAP application. 

  • The Recertification interview is still waived for all SNAP households. 

 

Please let MLRI know if clients face any issues getting an interview, either by phone or in person.