Mississippi Administrative Code

A. Applicants may authorize representatives to act on a household's behalf either: 1. During the application process; 2. Obtaining benefits; or 3. Utilizing SNAP benefits. B. A non-household member may be designated if assistance is needed with the application process provided su…

A. The application date is the date the application is received by MDHS during normal business hours. B. For online applications, the date of application is the date the application is submitted during normal business hours. C. If the application is received outside of business h…

A. A copy of the completed application must be offered to the household member. B. The household has the option to receive a paper copy or a copy in electronic format. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.12 7 CFR §273.2(c)(1)(v) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Ame…

A. Households may use the same application to apply for SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or submit separate applications for each program. B. Another application for SNAP is not necessary if the household is denied benefits for TANF. C. If a joint applicati…

A. Households in which all members are applying for and/or receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits may apply for SNAP through SSA. B. Households that prefer to submit their SNAP applications through MDHS may do so. C. A SSI household has the right to file a SNAP app…

A. The application date for residents of an institution jointly filing for SSI and SNAP prior to leaving the institution is the date the resident is released from the institution. B. Processing and benefit timeframes are based on the resident's release date. C. Eligible household…

A. A household may voluntarily withdraw its application at any time prior to the determination of eligibility. B. The household must be advised of its right to reapply. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.16 7 CFR §273.2(c)(6) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amend…

A. Households must have a face-to-face or telephone interview with an eligibility worker at initial certification and at least once every twelve (12) months thereafter unless the household is certified for longer than 12 months. B. An interview must be promptly scheduled for all …

One of the following persons may be interviewed: A. Head of household; B. Spouse of the primary person; C. Other responsible household member; or D. Authorized Representative who is aware of the household's circumstances. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.18 7 CFR §273.2(e)(1) Adopted…

A. Households are allowed a face-to-face interview either:1. At an appropriate MDHS county office; 2. The household's residence if a hardship criteria is met and the household requests a home-based interview. B. Telephone interviews will routinely be used in lieu of a face-to-fac…

Applications can be made either in paper form, an online document or a recorded conversation. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.2 7 CFR §273.2(b)(1) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. The interviewer must advise the household of their rights and responsibilities, including the appropriate application processing standards and the household's responsibility to report changes. B. The interviewer must explore and resolve any unclear or incomplete information fr…

A. Households must be notified of their missed appointment and the household's responsibility that it must schedule a second interview. B. If the household contacts MDHS within the thirty (30) day application processing period, MDHS must schedule a second interview. Notes 18 Miss…

A. An application will be denied at the time of refusal if the household refuses to cooperate with the application process. B. The household must be able to cooperate, but purposely refusing to do so. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.22 7 CFR §273.2(d)(1) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10…

Households that complete all of the requirements of the application process will receive an eligibility determination no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the application file date. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.23 7 CFR §273.2(g)(1) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Am…

A review to determine the cause of the delay must be completed if a determination of eligibility is not made by the 30th day from the application file date. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.24 7 CFR §273.2(h)(1) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025…

A. MDHS must have offered or attempted to offer assistance in completing the application form for the household to be at fault if it failed to complete the application form. B. If one or more household members failed to register for work, MDHS must have informed the household of …

A. If a worker does not take timely action on a case, the delay will be the result of MDHS. B. If the delay in the initial 30-day period is the fault of MDHS, it must make the eligibility determination as soon as possible. C. A case must not be denied if the delay is caused by MD…

Each application form must include the following: A. Notice of a household's right to file with an applicant's name, address and signature of a responsible household member or the household's authorized representative. B. Notice that, if eligible, benefits will be provided from t…

A. The application must be readily available to potentially eligible households as the household has a right to same day filing. B. Households who contact the agency for SNAP, but do not wish to come to the office, must be advised:1. An application will be mailed to them the same…

Applications for SNAP may be made by any of the following people: A. Head of household; B. Spouse of the head of household; C. Other responsible household member; or D. A designated authorized representative. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.5 7 CFR §273.2(b)(1)(v) Adopted 3/15/2022 …

Households or an authorized representative may file an application: A. By going online; B. In person; C. By fax; D. By email; or E. By mail. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.6 7 CFR §273.2(c)(1)(i) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. A valid application for SNAP benefits requires the following: 1. Name; 2. Address; and 3. Signature of the responsible adult household member or authorized representative. B. Once an application is received in the SNAP office and these three minimum requirements have been met,…

A. Handwritten signatures are accepted. B. Applications signed with a "mark" must also have the signature of a witness. C. Electronic signatures through fax or other electronic transmissions are acceptable. D. Recorded telephonic verbal assent (consisting of an audio recording of…

When requested, MDHS must provide assistance to help applicants and recipients with: A. Completing the application; B. Obtaining verifications if needed; and C. Registering to vote. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-2.9 National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. Chapter 205); 7 …

A. Self-employment income is earned directly from a business or profession, rather than a specified salary or wages from an employer. B. Ownership of rental property is considered a self-employment business. Note: Income derived from the rental property will be considered earned …

A. Self-employment income must be averaged over the period of time the income is intended to cover. B. If the averaged amount does not accurately reflect the household's actual circumstances because the household has experienced an increase or decrease in business, then MDHS must…

A. The monthly net self-employment income is determined as follows: 1. Add the gross self-employment income (actual or anticipated) and capital gains; 2. Exclude the costs of producing the self-employment income; and 3. Divide the remaining amount of self-employment income by the…

MDHS may either use actual costs for allowable expenses or use the following to determine self-employment expenses: A. The current reimbursement amount for the Child and Adult Care Food Program or a standard amount based on an estimated per-meal cost for income from day care; B. …

Most costs of producing self-employment income are deductible, with some exceptions. Allowable self-employment expenses include, but are not limited to: A. Labor expenses, including employer taxes, insurance premiums, and wages; B. Insurance premiums for buildings, business vehic…

The following self-employment expenses are not allowable costs of doing business in determining net self-employment income: A. Depreciation; B. Income taxes (federal, state or local); C. Net losses from previous periods; D. Work-related personal expenses including, but not limite…

A. MDHS has taken the option to disqualify custodial parents and non-custodial parents for non-cooperation with child support enforcement as well as for child support arrears. B. To receive SNAP benefits, the following individuals must cooperate with the Division of Child Support…

Child support payments must be verified (see Rule 3.3 Mandatory Verification at Initial Application and Rule 33.10 Recertification Verification). Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-21.2 7 CFR §273.2(f)(1)(xii); 7 CFR §273.2(f)(8)(i)(A) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/20…

A. Natural and adoptive parents and adults with parental control must cooperate with:1. Establishing paternity of the child; and 2. Obtaining, modifying, or enforcing a support order for the child. B. Non-custodial parents must cooperate with: 1. Establishing paternity if the chi…

A. MDHS must notify all individuals at application and reapplication for continuation of benefits of the right to good cause as an exemption to the cooperation requirement and the requirements to make a good cause determination. B. An individual's failure to cooperation will be d…

A. Failure to cooperate with CSE without good cause by a custodial or non-custodial parent will result in disqualification of the individual household member, not the entire household. B. The income and resources of the disqualified individual will be handled according to Rule 22…

Disqualification will end once it has been determined that the individual is cooperating with CSE. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-21.6 7 CFR §273.11(o)(5); 7 CFR §273.11(p)(6) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. Non-custodial parents shall be ineligible to participate in SNAP as a member of any household during any month that the non-custodial parent is delinquent with any payments due under a court order for the support of a child of the individual. B. A disqualification will not app…

A. The income and resources of the following ineligible non-household members will count in their entirety for the remaining household members:1. Non-household members disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation; 2. Non-household members disqualified for failure to comply w…

A. If a household's benefits are reduced because of the failure of a SNAP household member performing an action under a Federal, State or local means-tested public assistance program, MDHS will not increase the household allotment as the result of the decrease in income. B. The p…

A. If a disqualification is imposed on a member of a household for failure to perform an action required under a Federal, State, or local means-tested public assistance program, MDHS may impose the same disqualification on the SNAP household member. B. This provision does not app…

A. MDHS may sanction a family that includes an adult who has received TANF assistance or SNAP benefits if such adult fails to ensure that his or her minor dependent child(ren) attend school as required by the state of Mississippi. B. MDHS may sanction a family that includes an ad…

A. Substantial lottery or gambling winnings are cash prizes equal to or greater than the maximum allowable resource limit for elderly or disabled household as set by FNS that were won in a single game before taxes or other with holdings. B. Receipt of substantial winnings must be…

A. Mississippi has opted out of the law that denies assistance and benefits after drug-related convictions. B. Mississippi statute as of July 1, 2019 provides that individuals convicted of drug-related felonies are eligible to receive SNAP benefits. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-22.…

For an individual to be identified as a fleeing felon, MDHS must verify all of the following is true: A. An outstanding felony warrant by any law enforcement agency exists for the individual; B. The individual must be aware of or should reasonably be able to expect that a felony …

To be considered a probation or parole violator, an impartial person, as designated by MDHS, must determine that an individual violated a condition of his or her probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law and that any law enforcement official(s) is actively seeking th…

Actively seeking means either a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency: A. Informs MDHS of its intent to enforce an outstanding felony warrant or arrest the individual for a probation or parole violation within 20 days of submitting a request for information about the ind…