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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 34 3.5.5 Missed Interview If the household does not complete the interview within 10 days of receiving the Notice of Interview Requirement, the system will generate a Notice of Missed Interview (see Section 16.9, Notice of Missed Interview). This notice reminds the applicant of the following:  The requirement to complete the SNAP interview  The final date by which they must complete the interview to receive an eligibility determination  The consequence of not completing the interview  The point at which they will need to reapply 3.5.5.1 Delay of Interview If the household missed its initial interview but then contacts ESA and the interview is completed within 10 days before the end of the processing deadline, ESA must document the reason for the delay in conducting the interview. See Section 7.3, Delay in Processing, to determine the cause of the delay. ESA must not deny the application if it caused the delay but must notify the household by the 30th day that it is being held pending and inform the household of any action it must take to complete the application process. 3.5.6 Failure to Complete the Interview If the applicant does not complete the interview due to household fault, the application will remain pending until the 30th day, and then the system will automatically deny the application. If the applicant refuses to complete the interview, ESA will document the refusal to complete the interview in the case record. 3.5.7 Limited English Proficiency If a SNAP household member does not speak English or has limited English proficiency, ESA is responsible for obtaining a qualified interpreter. Family members, friends or the authorized representative should not be used as interpreters. 3.5.8 Privacy and Confidentiality During the interview, the interviewer must maintain an official and confidential discussion about the household’s situation. ESA is responsible for safeguarding the applicant’s privacy rights throughout the interview. The facilities used must be sufficient to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the conversation. Legal Authority Interviews (federal): 7 CFR §273.2(e)

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