SNAP benefits received by an eligible household may be used at any time by the household or other persons whom the household selects to purchase eligible food for the household. SNAP benefits are issued through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system in which benefit allotments are stored on an electronic benefit transfer card and used to purchase authorized items at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. EBT cards shall be presented only to retailers authorized by USDA/FNS to accept food benefit payment for food purchases.
SNAP benefits must be used to pay for food currently purchased and cannot be used to pay for foods previously or subsequently secured or to pay back bills owed the grocer. The only exceptions are that SNAP benefits may be used to pay for food items such as milk or bakery goods that are delivered to the home on a regular basis, or for advance payment to a non-profit cooperative food venture when food purchased is to be delivered later.
A. Expungement 1. Upon approval of benefits, SNAP recipients are provided information in writing that any SNAP benefits issued to the EBT card that are unused after nine (9) months (274 days) will be expunged and removed from the account.2. Upon approval of benefits, SNAP recipients are provided information in writing that if the EBT account goes inactive (no food purchases or returns) after nine (9) months (274 days), the inactive SNAP benefits will be considered expunged and removed from the account.4.130.1WHERE HOUSEHOLDS CAN USE SNAP BENEFITSA. Specified persons may use their SNAP benefits to purchase meals from the following: 1. A meal delivery service approved by the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS);2. A communal dining facility for persons aged sixty (60) years and older and/or SSI households;3. An authorized drug or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation center;4. An authorized public or private, nonprofit group living arrangement facility; and5. A shelter for battered women and children.B. Households containing persons experiencing homelessness shall be permitted to use their benefits to purchase prepared meals from an authorized public or private nonprofit provider for persons experiencing homelessness. A meal provider for persons experiencing homelessness means a public or private non-profit establishment, including, but not limited to, soup kitchens and temporary shelters which feed persons experiencing homelessness. To be considered a meal provider to persons experiencing homelessness, the meal provider must be approved as such by the USDA, FNS. Households containing persons experiencing homelessness may also purchase meals from restaurants if the restaurant offers discounts to or serves food to households containing persons experiencing homelessness at concessional (reduced) prices, and the restaurant is authorized by the USDA, FNS as a retailer.
4.130.2ELIGIBLE FOODSHouseholds can only purchase eligible foods with SNAP benefits. Eligible foods include:
A. Any food or food product intended for human consumption, except for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hot food, including hot food products prepared by the retailer and sold at above room temperature for immediate consumption.B. Seeds and plants to grow foods for personal consumption by eligible household members.37 CR 15, August 10, 2014, effective 9/1/201437 CR 21, November 10,2014, effective 12/1/201438 CR 23, December 10, 2015, effective 1/1/201639 CR 01, January 10, 2016, effective 2/1/201639 CR 05, March 10, 2016, effective 4/1/201639 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/201639 CR 15, August 10, 2016, effective 9/1/201639 CR 17, September 10, 2016, effective 10/1/201639 CR 19, October 10, 2016, effective 11/1/201639 CR 23, December 10, 2016, effective 1/1/201740 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 7/1/201740 CR 17, September 10, 2017, effective 10/1/201741 CR 15, August 10, 2018, effective 9/1/201840 CR 23, December 10, 2017, effective 12/30/201842 CR 01, January 10, 2019, effective 2/1/201942 CR 03, February 10, 2019, effective 3/15/201942 CR 17, September 10, 2019, effective 10/1/201942 CR 18, October 10, 2019, effective 10/1/201942 CR 23, December 10, 2019, effective 12/30/201943 CR 01, January 10, 2020, effective 1/30/202043 CR 05, March 10, 2020, effective 2/7/202043 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/202043 CR 21, November 10, 2020, effective 11/30/202044 CR 21, November 10, 2021, effective 11/30/202145 CR 05, March 10, 2022, effective 3/30/202245 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 10/1/202245 CR 19, October 10, 2022, effective 11/1/202245 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022