USDA DISQUALIFICATION DETERMINATION - APPEAL.

The U.S. Department of Agricultural Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or snap, is the primary food assistance program in the United States. Vendors or merchants are able to apply to participate in the program. If accepted, the merchants can sell certain foodstuffs to program participants via the snap EBT payment system.

Notification and Charging Letter

Every year, vendors or merchants in New York, and across the United States, receive notification that they are alleged to have committed snap violations. Such allegations are communicated to vendors or merchants via what is known as a charging letter.

Response to Allegations

Upon receiving a charging letter, a vendor or business is able to take steps to defend against allegations being made. The first step in that process is responding directly to the allegations raised in the charging letter. That response is made directly to the USDA snap program itself. This initially response must be made within 10 days of receipt of the charging letter. Failure to meet that deadline results in the allegations made by the agency to be accepted as true, resulting in further agency action. That agency action can be disqualification of the vendor or merchant from participating further in the snap program.

USDA Disqualification Appeals Process