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NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance- TA and SNAP Employment Policy Manual

Appendix A- Page 9 Rev. 3/2022 LDSS-4826B Interview/Verification Guide for the Supplemental Nutrition Assitance Program (SNA) Application and Recertification

Federal regulation 7 CFR 272.5(b)(1) requires State agencies to inform SNAP participant and applicant households of their program rights and responsibilities. Federal regulation 7 CFR 273.2(e)(1) requires, as part of the eligibility interview, that the interviewer must advise households of their rights and responsibilities, including the appropriate application processing standard and the household’s responsibility to report changes.

Federal regulation 7 CFR 273.7(c)(1) states the State agency must explain to the individual the pertinent work requirements, the rights and responsibilities of work registered household members, and the consequences for failure to comply.

Section 6(o)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, limits the time able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can receive SNAP benefits to three months in any 36- month period, unless the individual meets the ABAWD work requirement or is otherwise exempt. State agencies must inform ABAWD and potential ABAWD households of the time limit, exemption criteria (including exemptions from the general work requirements), and how to fulfill the ABAWD work requirements, as these rules and responsibilities are fundamental to their eligibility for SNAP. At a minimum, this must take place during the eligibility interview.

Federal regulation 7 CFR 273.2(f)(6) states case files must be documented to support eligibility, ineligibility, and benefit level determinations.

The LDSS-4826B Interview/Verification Guide for the LDSS-4826 SNAP Application/Recertification provides district eligibility workers with an optional tool for documenting the information gathered from the household during the eligibility interview, and to document in the case file that the household was informed of their program rights and responsibilities, including the SNAP work requirements and ABAWD requirements, as outlined above. Use of the LDSS-4826B Interview/Verification Guide is not mandatory, however OTDA strongly encourages districts to use this tool to make certain all required information is reviewed with the household during the interview and that the case file clearly supports the eligibility, ineligibility, and benefit level determination made by the eligibility worker.

Part A:

Part A of the LDSS-4826B Interview/Verification Guide for the LDSS-4826 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application/Recertification is designed to assist workers to manage SNAP application and recertification processing and comply with all the applicable SNAP eligibility determination requirements. Districts are not required to use the LDSS-4826B and may incorporate its questions and information into their processes as they determine appropriate. For example, districts may choose to require new workers to use the form when