OLGT 2021-37: COVID-19: SNAP Application Interview Waiver and Streamlined Application Workflow

Under the Continuing Resolution Bill, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has waived the interview requirement for SNAP applications that meet certain criteria. The Department originally detailed this waiver in Online Guide Transmittal (OLGT) 2020-68. This waiver will remain in effect until further notice.

To support staff for the duration of this interview waiver, the Department is enacting various system enhancements for applications, including:

• a new streamlined application workflow that requires staff to review and/or edit fewer BEACON pages before wrapping up the case;

• the temporary deactivation of the Q and A Navigators that are normally part of the application workflow; and

• the restoration of the automatic denial for Failure to Complete the FS Application Process.

  Additionally, the Department has transferred the application-related content of OLGT 2020-68 into a new page in the COVID-19 book: SNAP Application Interview Waiver. This new page includes some modifications to the SNAP application procedures originally detailed in OLGT 2020-68.

  Information regarding the recertification interview waiver will be placed into the COVID-19 Book in a future Online Guide update. At that time, the Department will fully obsolete prior OLGTs regarding SNAP application and recertification waivers.