Apr 21, 2021

SNAP Permanent Disqualification Reversal Lawyers

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps more than 38 million people each year.

Low-income households rely on this program to feed their families, and yet it just barely gets them enough food to get by.

However, without this vital public assistance, many wouldn’t survive.

Understanding SNAP Benefits and Common Misconceptions

While some believe that these benefits are part of a luxurious package that people receive, it’s by no means a picnic to rely on these funds to keep a family fed.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets guidelines according to household income, and if a person meets the specific criterion, then they qualify for this food assistance.

They look for households that are within a certain percentage of the federal poverty guidelines.

SNAP’s Rigorous Guidelines

With such a massive program comes very stringent guidelines.

Should these regulations be breached, then the punishments are severe.

The proprietor of a licensed business who accepts these benefits can be subject to significant fines as well as other penalties if they abuse the system or ignore mandates.

Prohibited Items Under SNAP Regulations

Some items are not permitted to be purchased using EBT cards, some of which are:

• premade foods by local deli counters
• alcohol

The federal government has strict regulations on controlling these purchases.

Any supermarket or grocery store that doesn’t adhere to these guidelines can risk losing the EBT cards option.

If a store exchanges SNAP benefits for things like toiletries or dog food, then the establishment’s owner can face strict penalties.

When the violation is severe enough, then the agency will pull the license, which means a significant loss of income.

Getting Your SNAP Privileges Revoked

You may not understand the gravity of having your license revoked.

Essentially, this is a substantial form of revenue, and it can be enough to close your business for good.

Shoppers want to know that they can use their EBT funds to pay for stuff, and if you cannot offer that assistance, then they will shop elsewhere.

USDA Violation Letters and Common Triggers

If your business has violated any policy, then you will receive a letter from the USDA regarding the infraction.

What kind of offenses will trigger such a letter?

It can be something as small as selling a bottle of wine and using SNAP benefits to pay for it.

There are times when things will slip by you, and it might have been done without being detected.

Some mishaps will occur on occasion as no system is perfect, but don’t expect the USDA to be so forgiving.

Even those honest mistakes will be punishable if they’re caught.

The government doesn’t mess around when it comes to SNAP fraud as it’s quite extensive.

Legal Activities That Can Trigger Warning Letters

Any illegal activities that are connected to your licensure can cause a warning letter to be triggered.

In some instances, the agency will allow you to make things right by paying a fine.

Don’t be wary of a hefty fine because it’s nothing as costly as it will be to lose your license altogether.

You want to avoid having your customers go elsewhere to shop for food.

Response Timeline and Consequences

You may not be able to pay such a significant fine, or you may forget about the letter and not act in a timely fashion.

These letters come with a mandate that gives you ten days to rectify the situation by paying the amount.

If you don’t take care of the balance, then you will lose your license.

Depending on the gravity of the situation, they may issue a temporary suspension, or they can put a permanent disqualification on your record.

Each instance will be evaluated to see if there are any previous instances and the severity of the issues.

The seriousness of the offense will determine how they proceed.

Contesting a Permanent Disqualification

You have an opportunity to respond to the letter, but don’t count on the USDA to rule favorably on the matter.

If they have evidence that shows that you did wrong, then they have enough to take action against you.

Perhaps you have a justifiable reason, such as equipment failure, and these are things that you need to state to show that it wasn’t a blatant act.

SNAP Permanent Disqualification Reversal Lawyers