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ESA SNAP Policy Manual iv Table of Contents Chapter 1. General Information .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 General Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Use of SNAP Benefits .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Households With Special Circumstances ..................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 When SNAP Benefits May Not Be Used ....................................................................................... 3 1.3 Operation of SNAP .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 General Terms and Conditions ............................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Rights and Responsibilities .................................................................................................................. 5 1.5.1 Applicant Rights ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.5.2 Applicant Responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 7 1.5.3 Authorized Representative Responsibilities ................................................................................ 8 1.5.4 Department Rights ....................................................................................................................... 8 1.5.5 Department Responsibilities ........................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Confidentiality of Customer Information .......................................................................................... 10 1.6.1 Customer Information for Official Use Only .............................................................................. 10 1.6.2 Informing the Applicant of Their Privacy Rights ........................................................................ 11 1.6.3 Protecting the Confidentiality of Customer Records ................................................................. 11 1.6.4 Disclosing Information to the Customer or Authorized Representative ................................... 11 1.6.5 Requests for Information From All Other Parties ...................................................................... 12 1.6.6 Nonroutine Disclosures of Customer Information .................................................................... 12 1.6.7 Safeguarding Information .......................................................................................................... 13 1.6.8 Nondisclosure and Authorized Official Use ............................................................................... 13 1.6.9 Nonreproduction Requirements ................................................................................................ 14 1.6.10 Handling of Federal Tax Information ....................................................................................... 14 1.7 Complaints ........................................................................................................................................ 15 1.7.1 Processing Customer Complaints for SNAP ............................................................................... 15 1.7.2 Federal SNAP Reporting Requirements for Complaints ............................................................ 15 1.7.3 Complaints of Discrimination ..................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. Household Composition ............................................................................................................ 18 2.1 Purchase and Prepare Together ....................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Relationships ..................................................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 Mandatory Household Members............................................................................................... 18