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Subject: SNAP Rights and Responsibilities of Applicants/Participants
Policy 24.00 Date of Last Review: 11/30/2023 Effective Date: 11/01/2019 Date of Next Review: 11/30/2026 RDA: SW22 Page 2 of 9 6. The right to file an application shall not be denied to any person even though it is apparent to the eligibility counselor that eligibility for SNAP benefits does not exist. A full determination must be completed before an eligibility decision can be made. B. Assistance Groups (AG) and Households (HH) 1. SNAP benefits may be provided to an individual or to a group of people. 2. The people applying for or receiving SNAP are referred to as a household (HH). 3. SNAP applicants and/or benefit recipients have been abbreviated as HH (household) throughout this policy. C. Nondiscrimination 1. TDHS employees, at all administrative levels, shall not discriminate against any applicant or participant, in any program aspect, for reasons of age, race, color, sex, handicap, religious creed, national origin, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program conducted or funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2. Discrimination in any aspect of program administration is prohibited and enforcement may be brought under any applicable federal law. 3. All TDHS employees must complete all required trainings, including but not limited to Civil Rights Law training and Interpreter Services training, at least once every state fiscal year. 4. County offices and other sub-recipients that provide SNAP services must post the non discrimination statement (NDS) in a prominent place within its offices. 5. Refer to the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement. The statement and the In Justice for All Poster will be utilized in accordance with FNS Instruction 113-1 and any additional FNS guidance and directives regarding the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement. 6. Refer to the Policy 1.04 TDHS Limited English Proficiency Guidelines and Policy 1.05 TDHS Reasonable Modifications. D. Filing an Applicant/Participant Complaint 1. Individuals who believe that they have been subjected to discrimination for reasons of age, race, color, sex, disability, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs, may file a program complaint of discrimination online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or submit a written complaint via mail to: United States Department of Agriculture USDA) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 via fax to: (202) 690-7442; or via email at: program.intake@usda.gov