What does the USDA-approved waiver say?
On June 30, 2009, the USDA approved Californias request to waive the face-to-face interview requirement for all food stamp households at intake and recertification without the need to show hardship. Specifically, the waiver states that this waiver “would provide counties with the option to waive the face-to-face interview requirement at initial application and recertification for all non-public assistance SNAP households. In lieu of the face-to-face interview, telephone interviews will be conducted without the need to document whether a hardship exists. The only condition of approval the waiver highlights is that county offices must conduct a face-to-face interview, if determined to be appropriate. However, the counties must not require a household to attend an in-office interview, if attending the interview would be a hardship, as determined by CDSS. The policy was approved for four years, effective June 1, 2009, an extension of the standard approval period given the positive outcomes
