How long does it take to reinstate food stamps?
If you used to get food stamps (SNAP) and your benefits stopped, you may be able to get them reinstated within a few weeks instead of having to start over and apply for SNAP from scratch.
- SNAP has specific rules for reinstating benefits when they end because of a missed deadline, paperwork issue, or temporary change
- In some cases, reinstatement is faster than a new application. In others, you may need to completely reapply
Here’s how SNAP reinstatement works, how long it usually takes, and what to do if you lose your food stamp benefits.
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What does it mean to “reinstate” food stamps?#what-does-it-mean-to-reinstate-food-stamps
Reinstating food stamps means getting your SNAP benefits turned back on after they stopped, usually because of an administrative issue, not because you became ineligible.
Common reasons SNAP benefits cases get closed include:
- Missing your food stamp recertification deadline
- Not turning in required documents on time
- Missing your SNAP interview
- Having a temporary increase in income that later ended (like seasonal work)
Reinstatement is different from applying for SNAP for the first time, but it’s not always automatic.
Who can qualify for food stamp reinstatement instead of needing to reapply?#who-can-qualify-for-food-stamp-reinstatement-instead-of-needing-to-reapply
Not everyone who used to get food stamps will qualify for reinstatement. It depends on how long ago your SNAP case was closed and why.
You may qualify for reinstatement if:
- Your SNAP case closed within the last 30 days
- You still meet all the eligibility qualifications for SNAP
- The SNAP case closure was due to missing paperwork or skipping a deadline
In these cases, your state may allow you to reopen your SNAP case by just submitting whatever was missing.
If you miss the 30 day deadline you will need to start the application process over again and you will have to wait to get benefits according to the standard SNAP application timeline.
When will I get my food stamps back with reinstatement?#when-will-i-get-my-food-stamps-back-with-reinstatement
If you missed the SNAP recertification interview or paperwork deadline, you should submit any missing documents to your case worker or reschedule your SNAP interview as soon as possible. Here’s how to get a SNAP interview if you’re having trouble.
How quickly you’ll get SNAP back depends on why your benefits stopped in the first place and how fast you act:
- If you missed a paperwork deadline and submitted everything within the reinstatement window (30 days), your SNAP benefits may restart on the same day or within a few business days, but timelines vary state to state. States can take up to 30 days to process SNAP reinstatement applications.
- If you missed the interview, most states try to schedule it within a week, and benefits can restart any time after your interview if all required documents are submitted. However, your state can take up to 30 days to process your SNAP reinstatement application.
If you need benefits earlier than this, you can ask your caseworker for expedited service, also called emergency SNAP. Emergency SNAP lets families with few options to buy food get their benefits faster.
Will I get my missing SNAP deposit back?#will-i-get-my-missing-snap-deposit-back
If your SNAP benefits stopped and you applied for reinstatement within the 30-day window, your state is required to give you benefits prorated back to the date you submit your recertification or reinstatement request.
That’s why it’s so important to contact your local SNAP office or case worker to reopen your case as soon as you notice you’ve missed a SNAP deposit.
You can use an EBT balance-checking app like Propel to keep an eye on your balance and upcoming deposits.
How do I apply to get my food stamps reinstated?#how-do-i-apply-to-get-my-food-stamps-reinstated
When your SNAP benefits are halted, you should get a closure notice in the mail.
If you get this notice, the first thing you should do is read it to understand why your SNAP case was closed and what you need to do to get your benefits back.
If you didn’t get a SNAP closure notice, that’s okay, you should still follow the steps below to reinstate your food stamp benefits:
- Contact your SNAP office or caseworker right away and ask if your SNAP case can be reopened
- Submit missing paperwork if applicable, including proof of income, rent or mortgage information, proof of utility expenses, photo ID, and/or a completed recertification form
- Schedule and complete a SNAP interview if needed
If you are outside of the 30 day window and need to start your SNAP application from scratch, here’s how to apply for food stamps.
