Expiration of Waiver of Interview Requirements for SNAP Benefits in Mississippi

What you need to know:

• Update your phone number by emailing your caseworker or logging on to AccessMS. Remember to use your name exactly as it appears on your EBT card.
• Most interviews will be conducted by phone.
• If you apply or are due for recertification before May 1, you will not be required to participate in an interview.
• If you apply or are due for recertification after May 1, you will be required to be interviewed by a caseworker.

Expiration of Waiver of Interview Requirements for SNAP Benefits in Mississippi

Jackson, MS – The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announces the expiration of the waiver of interview requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the current waiver, which has been in effect since June 2023, applicants for SNAP benefits have not been required to undergo interviews with SNAP case workers. However, this waiver is set to expire on April 30, 2024.

As part of the transition process, MDHS will begin notifying current SNAP households that are due for recertification and whose certification period extends through May 2024, soon after April 10. Caseworkers will send these notifications and schedule interview appointments with the respective households. The interviews are expected to be scheduled in the latter half of April or early May.

“Maintaining program integrity and serving the needs of Mississippians are paramount at MDHS,” said Executive Director Bob Anderson. “As we approach the expiration of the SNAP interview waiver, we recognize the importance of reinstating interviews to ensure accurate eligibility verification.”

It is important to note that interviews will not be required for new SNAP applicants until May 1, 2024. This means that any individuals or households seeking SNAP benefits before that date will not be subject to interview requirements.

The expiration of the waiver and the reinstatement of interview requirements are part of MDHS’s ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the SNAP program in Mississippi. Conducting interviews allows caseworkers to gather important information, verify eligibility, and provide support and resources to SNAP recipients.

MDHS remains committed to serving the citizens of Mississippi and maintaining an efficient SNAP program. The waiver’s expiration does not affect the eligibility criteria or the benefits provided by SNAP. It simply reinstates the interview requirement for SNAP households.

For more information and updates regarding SNAP benefits, please visit the MDHS website at www.mdhs.ms.gov. Additionally, to apply, renew, or upload documents related to SNAP benefits, please visit the Mississippi Common Web Portal at www.access.ms.gov.