05/12/2023
Policy Memo
Summary
- Due to the ending of the Public Health Emergency, certain Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) waiver approvals will also end. This policy memo informs the Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) that the adjustment to waive the interview requirements for SNAP redeterminations (REDEs) ends 06/30/2023.
- All REDEs filed and pending as of 06/30/2023 are still under the terms of the waiver. FCRCs should continue to waive the interview requirement when identity is verified, and all mandatory verifications are provided with the application. An interview must be conducted when identity cannot be verified and/or mandatory verifications have not been provided to establish eligibility, or the information is questionable.
- For all REDE applications filed on 07/01/2023 and after, the FCRC must conduct an interview. All mandatory verifications must be provided to determine eligibility before benefits are issued.
This policy memo informs all Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) to conduct an interview with SNAP households filing a redetermination (REDE) application on 07/01/2023 and after. Request all mandatory verifications be provided to determine eligibility. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) waiver that allowed Illinois to adjust the interview requirements for REDEs ends 06/30/2023.
COVID - 19 Waiver Adjustment Overview
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) waiver approval authorized under Section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), allowed the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to adjust the interview requirement for SNAP REDE applications filed 04/21/2021 and after. An applicant who filed a REDE prior to 04/01/2021 was required to have an interview and provide all verifications needed to determine eligibility prior to benefits being issued. This waiver ends 06/30/2023.
REDEs Received and Pending as of 06/30/2023
For REDEs received and pending as of 06/30/2023, FCRCs should continue to waive the interview requirement when identity is verified, and all mandatory verifications are provided with the application.
An interview must be conducted when identity cannot be verified and/or mandatory verifications have not been provided to establish eligibility, or the information is questionable. These REDEs are still under the terms of the waiver through 06/30/2023.
Case Comments
Workers must complete a Case Comment entry. Case Comments should include an adequate description of the household's circumstances and any adjustments or exceptions made to the eligibility determination and case processing due to COVID-19, including any customer and advocate complaints. Case Comments should also include that the rights and responsibilities and a copy of the application (if requested) were mailed to the customer.
Evaluation
REDEs filed by 06/30/2023 are still under the terms of the waiver. For the REDEs filed by 06/30/2023 only, an evaluation and analysis of the estimated SNAP households that have been impacted by these adjustments is required to be reported to FNS. In order to collect this data, FCRC staff are instructed to select "Home Visit" as the Interview Mode on the Individual Interview/Applicant- Details screen.
REDEs Filed 07/01/2023 and After
For all REDE applications filed on 07/01/2023 and after, the FCRC must conduct an interview. Follow regular SNAP rules. All mandatory verifications must be provided to determine eligibility before benefits are issued.
Obsolete Policy Memos
The following Policy Memos are obsolete:
- Adjusting SNAP Interview Requirements Due to COVID-19, dated 04/08/2020.
- COVID-19 Adjustment to the SNAP Interview Extended through June 2020, dated 06/26/2020.
- SNAP Interview Required for all Initial Applications filed in September 2020, dated 09/03/2020.
- Adjustment to the SNAP Interview Requirement Waived for Applications filed in October 2020, November 2020 and December 2020, dated 10/26/2020.
- Adjustment to the SNAP Interview Requirement Waived for Applications filed in January 2021, February 2021 and March 2021, dated 01/19/2021.
- Adjustment to SNAP Interview Requirement Waived for Initial and Redetermination Applications for April 2021, May 2021, and June 2021, dated 04/08/2021.
- Waiver Continues Adjustment to the Interview for all SNAP Initial Applications and REDES Until Further Notice, dated 01/25/2022.
- Waiver Ends: Adjustment to SNAP Interview Requirement for Initial Applications Ends 03/31/2022, dated 03/30/2022.
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms Reference:
