218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-1.20 - [Effective 4/29/2025] SNAP Assistance During a Declared Pandemic (P-SNAP)

A. In the event where a national pandemic is declared and the agency receives approval from FNS to deliver pandemic SNAP (P-SNAP) benefits to certified eligible households, the agency may utilize the following program flexibilities authorized by FNS including, but not limited to:

1. Substitute telephone interviews for face to face interviews;

2. Postpone expedited service interviews;

3. Suspend the interview at certification and recertification;

4. Temporarily increase the allowable monthly SNAP allotments for household size;

5. Provide additional temporary nutrition assistance through Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) to families who meet the eligibility requirements as specified by FNS;

6. Provide good cause for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) who do not meet the work requirements or employment and training (E&T) requirements to continue receiving SNAP benefits;

7. Temporarily or partially suspend the time limit for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program unless the person fails to comply with work or a work program offered by the State;

8. Adjust and extend the expiration of certification periods;

9. Adjust the interim reporting requirement for households;

10. Temporarily suspend all collection of active recoupments of SNAP overpayments;

11. Suspend the requirement for QC to complete a face-to-face interview;

12. Extend the fair hearing process up to one hundred twenty (120) days from receipt of the request for fair hearings that were already in process or for which requests are received during an approved timeframe;

13. Suspend fair hearing face to face interviews and conduct hearings by an alternate means, such as telephone or video conference; and

14. Extend the timeframe for sending notices confirming oral withdrawal requests up to thirty (30) days from receipt of the request for such requests received during the approved time period.

15. Temporarily expand student eligibility to allow for students who do not meet the work requirement criteria to be eligible for SNAP if:

a. They are eligible for, though not required to participate in, a State or Federally financed work-study during the regular school year; or

b. They are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education and have an expected family contribution (EFC) of zero dollars ($0.00) in the current academic year as determined in accordance with Part F of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Notes

218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-20-00-1.20

Amended effective 4/4/2019
Amended effective 12/24/2019
Amended effective 8/1/2021
Amended effective 9/23/2021
Amended Effective 12/4/2021
Amended effective 11/10/2022
Amended effective 1/1/2023
Amended effective 5/14/2023
Amended effective 10/1/2023
Amended effective 12/15/2023
Amended effective 9/22/2024
Amended effective 10/1/2024
Amended effective 10/24/2024
Amended effective 12/30/2024, exp. 4/29/2025 (Emergency)