A New Hampshire food stamps denial is issued to SNAP applicants who do not meet the program’s eligibility requirements. After having a food stamps application denied in NH, the rejected applicant may question the reasons for denial and if they are justifiable. The food stamps appeal process can be initiated by the denied applicant if he or she has reviewed SNAP program eligibility guidelines and feels the household should be eligible for benefits. A denied SNAP applicant in NH should have a solid explanation and irrefutable evidence that shows the illegitimacy of the denial before requesting an appeal. To learn more about how to appeal SNAP benefits denial in NH and potential reasons for SNAP benefit denial, review the following sections.
Common Reasons for New Hampshire Food Stamps Denial
A denial of SNAP benefits may be issued to an applicant who does not meet the income eligibility requirements of the program. To avoid a denied food stamp application, the applicant must prove the household earns a certain amount of income to qualify for program benefits. If too much income is earned or if there are not enough expenses claimed, the applicant will remain ineligible. In this case, an NH SNAP denial appeal process should only be started by a denied applicant who feels there was an income miscalculation.
To prevent a denial of food stamp benefits in New Hampshire, the applicant must also be able to prove the citizenship status and residency of all household members applying for benefits. A Department of Health and Human Services representative will request specific documentation, and it must be presented in a timely manner to avoid a SNAP food stamps application denial. Without the ability to offer documentation, identification and Social Security Numbers for household members applying for benefits, a food stamps denial may be issued to an applicant.
The Department of Health and Human Services will also deny a New Hampshire SNAP application if the applicant does not complete a mandatory interview with a representative within the given deadline. The NH food stamps appeal process may be initiated by applicants who feel they were wrongfully denied based on these factors, only if they can prove their eligibility for benefits through documentation.
Learn About Notifications for a New Hampshire Food Stamps Denial
When an NH food stamp application is denied, the Department of Health and Human Services sends out a denial notification to the applicant. This New Hampshire food stamps denial notification is important because it includes the specific reason or reasons the SNAP applicant was denied. The steps to filing a food stamps appeal are also offered on the notification, including the contact information for in-person or mail-in requests.
The denial of SNAP benefits is confirmed when the denial notification is mailed to the applicant. If the applicant decides not to file a food stamps appeal, he or she will accept a denied status in the program and no NH SNAP benefits will be issued to the applicant. Before following the steps for how to appeal SNAP benefits denial in NH, the applicant should be sure the denial reasons do not apply to the household and can be disproven during a fair hearing.
Since the NH food stamps denial notification includes contact information for the Department of Health and Human Services office, an applicant should first attempt to call the office. Before starting the SNAP denial appeal process, the applicant should thoroughly understand the reasons for denial by speaking to a representative. If the denied applicant still disagrees with the denied SNAP application after speaking with a representative, he or she may continue to pursue a reversal of the decision by requesting an appeal.
How to Appeal a SNAP Denial in New Hampshire
The first step in the New Hampshire food stamps appeal process is to request a fair hearing by mail or in person. A SNAP benefits denial fair hearing will be scheduled and the denied applicant will be notified of the location, date, time and his or her associated responsibilities. The food stamps denial hearing will be attended by the applicant, a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services and a judge. During an NH SNAP food benefits denial hearing, the applicant will need to present evidence and explanations that show the falsity of the application denial. The department representative will attempt to refute the evidence provided by the applicant. Download our free guide to review more information on how to prepare for a SNAP appeal.
Upon completion of the SNAP application denial hearing, the judge will examine all testimonies and evidence given by both parties and decide whether the denial will stand or be overturned. The food stamps appeal hearing decision is mailed to both parties involved once the judge is finished reviewing the case. If the process for how to appeal SNAP benefits denial was successful for the denied applicant, he or she has proven that the household is eligible for SNAP benefits. Then, the denial of SNAP food stamps is reversed and program benefits are issued. If the judge decides not to overturn the New Hampshire SNAP benefits denial, the applicant remains ineligible for benefits.