Mississippi Administrative Code

A. Households may elect to have expenses averaged. B. Households may elect to have expenses that are billed less often than monthly averaged over the timeline between scheduled billings. C. Households may elect to have one-time only expenses averaged over the entire certification…

A. MDHS is responsible for timely and accurate issuance of benefits to certified eligible households. B. SNAP benefits are issued only to certified eligible households via reusable plastic cards through an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.1 …

A. Except during an initial month, all eligible one-person and two-person households will receive the minimum monthly benefit. B. The minimum benefit is 8% of the maximum allotment for a household of one, rounded to the nearest whole dollar. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.10 7 CFR…

A. It is possible for a participating household to have met the eligibility requirements, but receive zero benefits. B. This can occur in categorically eligible households. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.11 7 CFR §273.2(j)(2)(vi); 7 CFR §274.4(2)(iv) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/2…

Households can use SNAP EBT cards to buy eligible foods such as: A. Fruits B. Vegetables C. Meat D. Poultry E. Fish F. Dairy Products G. Breads H. Cereals I. Snack foods J. Seeds and plants which produce food to eat K. Authorized prepared meals (communal dining facilities for eld…

Households cannot use their SNAP EBT cards to purchase non-food items such as: A. Beer B. Wine C. Liquor D. Cigarettes E. Tobacco F. Vitamins G. Medicines H. Supplements I. Energy drinks classified by the FDA as supplements (have a supplement facts label rather than a nutrition f…

A. Dormant benefits are SNAP benefits not used by the household in 90 days. B. If a household has not initiated activity, such as a purchase or a return, that affects the balance of the EBT account, the EBT account will be considered inactive or dormant. C. Households can access …

A. MDHS will expunge benefits after 9 months (274 days) of inactivity. B. At least 30 days prior to expungement, MDHS will issue a notice to households which will explain: 1. The date when benefits are scheduled to be expunged; and 2. The steps necessary to prevent expungement. C…

A. Households can pay a SNAP claim using benefits from their SNAP EBT account. B. Active, dormant, or expunged benefits may be used to pay a SNAP claim. C. The household must provide written or verbal permission to repay a claim using their active SNAP benefits. D. The household …

A. MDHS must restore household benefits that were lost when: 1. The loss was caused by an error caused by MDHS; 2. By an administrative disqualification for intentional program violation which was subsequently reversed; or 3. A statement elsewhere in the regulations specifically …

A. When MDHS determines that a household is entitled to a restoration of lost benefits, but the household does not agree with the amount to be restored as determined by MDHS, the household may request a fair hearing within 90 days of the date the household is notified of its enti…

After correcting the loss for future months and excluding those months that benefits may have been lost prior to the 12-month time limit, MDHS will calculate the amount to be restored as follows: A. If the household was eligible but received an incorrect benefit, the loss of bene…

A. EBT cards will be issued by first class mail. B. Households access SNAP benefits using reusable plastic EBT cards to purchase eligible foods at an authorized point-of-sale (POS) such as any retailer or wholesaler authorized to accept SNAP benefits. C. Authorized retailers incl…

A. Individuals disqualified for intentional program violation are entitled to restoration of lost benefits during the months they were disqualified (not to exceed 12 months prior to the date of the MDHS notification) only if the disqualification decision is subsequently reversed.…

A. Regardless of current eligibility status, MDHS must restore lost benefits to a household by issuing a benefit equal to the amount of benefits that were lost. B. The amount of benefits will be issued in addition to the benefit currently eligible households are entitled to recei…

A. Whenever a household is entitled to restoration of lost benefits and the household's membership has changed, MDHS must restore the lost benefits to the household containing a majority of the individuals who were household members at the time of the loss. B. If MDHS cannot loca…

A. MDHS will be responsible for maintaining an accounting system for documenting a household's entitlement to restoration of lost benefits and for recording the balance of lost benefits that must be restored to the household. B. MDHS must, at a minimum, document how the amount to…

A. MDHS must allow SNAP households to select their PIN. B. A PIN should be at least four digits in length. C. PINs should only be known by the appropriate individual(s) and kept secure. D. Authorized retailers must accept EBT cards from all states as long as the user has a valid …

A. Newly certified households, except for those given expedited service, must be given an opportunity to participate no later than 30 calendar days following the date of application. B. Households entitled to expedited service must have benefits available no later than the 7th ca…

A. SNAP benefits are issued once a month. B. Households should receive their benefits on the same date each month. C. Each state determines their monthly benefit issuance schedule. D. Households must be informed of the benefit issuance schedule. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.5 7 …

A. An initial month is the first month the household receives benefits for the first time or following any time the household was not approved. B. Exceptions: Initial month for:1. Migrant or seasonal farmworkers is the 1st month the household is approved following a period of mor…

Combined benefits are issued when the: A. Date of application is after the 15th of the month; B. The household is not processed for expedited service; and C. The household is eligible to receive benefits the initial month and the following month. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.7 7…

Prorated benefits for initial month are issued when the household: A. Applies after the 1st day of the month. Benefits are issued from the date of application through the last day of the month. B. Is at fault for a delay in the application process preventing the case from being p…

Prorated benefits at recertification are issued when the household causes a delay beyond the end of the expiring certification period. See Rule 33.14 Delayed Processing Due to Household Delay. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-31.9 7 CFR §273.14(e) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 A…

Certified change reporting households are required to report the following changes in circumstances: A. A change of more than $125 in the amount of unearned income, except changes related to public assistance. B. A change of more than $125 in earned income from the amount used to…

A. There are certain changes that may affect a significant portion of the caseload or the entire caseload that are initiated by either the state or Federal government. B. These mass changes include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Federal adjustments to eligibility stan…

A. Public assistance households have the same requirement to report changes as any other SNAP household. B. There can be a joint change reporting form for both SNAP and public assistance purposes. C. MDHS cannot terminate SNAP benefits solely because it has terminated the househo…

A. Certified households must report within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household. B. For reportable changes in income, the household must report the change within 10 days of the date the household receives the first changed payment. C. An applying househol…

A. MDHS must provide a form for reporting the requiring changes. B. MDHS must pay the postage for the return of such form. C. A change reporting form must include the following minimum information: 1. A clear statement indicating that changes in circumstances must be reported and…

A. MDHS must take prompt action on all changes to determine if the change affects eligibility or benefit levels. B. MDHS will only act on changes in medical expenses that are verified upon receipt from a source other than the household and contact with the household is not needed…

A. When benefits are increased due to an additional household member or due to a decrease of $50 or more in the monthly gross income, the change must be effective no later than the month following the month the change is reported to MDHS. B. For changes not described above, MDHS …

A. If a household's benefits decrease or it becomes ineligible as a result of the change, MDHS must issue a notice of adverse action within 10 days from the date the change was reported unless an exemption to the notice of adverse action applies. B. When a notice of adverse actio…

A. If MDHS receives unclear information regarding a household's circumstances from a third source, MDHS must pursue clarification and verification if applicable. B. MDHS must send a notice requesting that the household provide verification to clarify its circumstances within 10 d…

A. If a household reports a change in residence with required verification, MDHS must take action on potential changes in shelter costs. B. If a household fails to provide information regarding shelter costs within 10 days, MDHS will send a notice to the household informing them …

A. If a household fails to report a change as required and receives unentitled benefits, then a claim will be filed against the household. B. A notice of adverse action is required if the household's benefits are reduced, and the discovery is made during the certification period.…

A. Recertification is a process of determining whether a household has continued eligibility prior to the end of the household's current certification period. B. The steps in the recertification process are similar to the application process (see 21 Application Process) see Rule …

A. Households must be given a notice of required verification and a date such verification is due. B. Households must be given a minimum of 10 days to provide required verification information. C. If the required 10 day verification period extends past the end of the certificatio…

A. Households that meet all of the following criteria must be advised of available employment and training services: 1. Contain a household member subject to the work requirements in Rule 12.1 General Rule; 2. Contain at least one adult; 3. Contain no elderly or disabled individu…

Households lose their right to uninterrupted benefits when they fail to timely file an application by: A. The 15th day of the last month of the current certification period or B. For households approved for 1 or 2 months, within 15 days of the household's receipt of the NOE. Note…

A. If a household files an application before the end of the certification period, but processing is delayed beyond the end of the certification period due to the fault of MDHS, the household, if eligible, will receive a full month's benefits for the new certification period. B. …

A. If the recertification process is delayed beyond the end of the expiring certification period due to a household delay, benefits will be prorated based on when the recertification application is filed. B. When a household files an application prior to the end of the certificat…

A. Any household that applies after the end of the certification period must be screened for expedited services. B. Households are not eligible for expedited service if the household files an application for recertification before the end of their current certification period. No…

Households must receive notices advising their benefits are ending and requirements to renew their benefits. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-33.2 7 CFR §273.2(c)(5); 7 CFR §273.14(a)-(b) Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. MDHS must provide a NOE at the time of certification for households certified for one month or certified in the second month of a two-month certification period. B. MDHS must provide a NOE in the month before the certification period expires. C. Jointly processed public assist…

A. Households will use the same application form as the initial application form to apply for renewal of benefits. B. A new household signature and date is required at the time of recertification application. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-33.4 7 CFR §273.14(b)(2) Adopted 3/15/2022 A…

Households with only SSI recipients can apply for SNAP recertification at the SSA. Notes 18 Miss. Code. R. 14-33.5 7 CFR §273.2(k)(2); Adopted 3/15/2022 Amended 10/20/2023 Amended 12/9/2024 Amended 2/17/2025

A. Households that are certified for one or two months during the month following application will have 15 days from the date the notice of expiration is received to file a timely application for recertification. B. Signed applications from SSI only households or from those that …