Does DTA have to interview me and what happens if I miss the interview?

DTA is required to interview all applicants for SNAP/food stamp benefits. 106 C.M.R. § 361.500. The interview should be conducted by phone, where DTA calls you at a specific time using the phone number you listed on the application form. You have the option of an in-person interview if you wish. Under limited circumstances, DTA can require you to come to the local office if they have a good reason to require an in-person interview.

DTA will also schedule a phone interview when your case is being reviewed (recertified). 106 C.M.R. § 366.320(B). Special rules apply for elder and disabled households at recertification. See Do I need to have an interview to continue benefits?.

Scheduling the interview

DTA is supposed to try to contact you by telephone within two (2) days of when they received your application and screen you for emergency benefits (see Can I get emergency food stamp/SNAP benefits?), and to schedule an interview. If a social services agency helped you fill out a paper or online application and is listed on the application as an authorized helping agency or emergency contact, DTA should contact the agency if unable to reach you.

If DTA has not reached you within two days, they should send you a written notice scheduling an interview by telephone. This interview should take place within seven days of your application in order to screen you for expedited benefits. If you do not hear from DTA by phone or by mail within five (5) days of filing your application (or sooner if you need emergency benefits), call your local DTA office and ask to speak with a supervisor or the office director.

What happens during the interview

During the interview, the DTA worker's role is to confirm the information you gave on your application, discuss any new information that DTA got from other government databases about you, and tell you what proofs or verifications you need to provide. If you are subject to a work requirement (see Are there work rules for childless adults ages 18 to 50 years? and Is there a quick way to check the status of my application or my benefits?), the worker should discuss this with you. During the interview, the DTA worker should also explain your rights and responsibilities. Again, if you need emergency (expedited) SNAP/food stamp benefits, the worker should screen you on the first contact (in person or by phone), even if there is not enough time to do a full interview on first contact. See Can I get emergency SNAP/food stamp benefits?

In addition to the DTA worker asking you for information, the interview is a chance for you to ask questions about the SNAP/food stamp program and other benefits you might be eligible to receive. The interview must be conducted confidentially (not in a public setting where others can hear) and the information you provide must be kept private and not shared outside DTA unless you give written permission. 106 C.M.R. §§ 361.550, 360.300. If you need help getting any proofs, or you need a list of alternative proofs, you have a right to ask the worker for help or a list of alternatives during the interview or any other time.

If you miss a scheduled interview

If you miss an interview DTA scheduled for you (either in person or by phone), DTA is required to send you a written notice. The notice must say you missed an interview and that you have the right to ask for another scheduled interview. 106 C.M.R. §§ 361.500, 361.540. You do not need to have or show good cause for missing the first interview. However, it is up to you to contact DTA to ask for a rescheduled interview.

If DTA does not hear from you within 30 days of when you first applied, your SNAP/food stamp application will be denied. 106 C.M.R. § 361.700(B)(1). You still have the right to reapply for benefits and the denied application will not be held against you, but the date your benefits start will be the date of your new application.

Additional Policy Guidance on Interviews