SNAP Interviews Required for All Oregon Households Starting June 1
ODHS says the change returns food benefit applications and renewals to standard federal rules
OREGON — Starting June 1, 2026, all Oregon households applying for or renewing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be required to complete an interview before monthly food benefits can be approved or renewed.
The Oregon Department of Human Services said the change returns SNAP to standard federal rules, which require interviews for all applications and renewals. The interview requirement is intended to help confirm household information, reduce errors, and make sure benefit amounts reflect each household’s current situation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some households were allowed to skip renewal interviews under temporary federal flexibility. That flexibility ends May 31, 2026.
The change includes households that previously may not have needed an interview, including households where all adults are age 60 or older or meet the SNAP definition of disability, and where no one in the household has income from work.
For some SNAP recipients, ODHS said this may be the first time they complete an interview while renewing benefits.
According to ODHS, interviews are a standard part of the SNAP process. They help confirm information, prevent errors, ensure people receive the correct benefit amount, and connect households to other benefits and services they may qualify for.
“These updates help make sure people receive the correct SNAP benefits for their current situation,” said Jessica Amaya Hoffman, SNAP Director at ODHS. “We know adding another step may be challenging. Our staff are here to help answer questions and support people in the way that works best for them. Completing the interview and providing documents when requested helps us process benefits correctly and connect people to the full amount they qualify for.”
ODHS is encouraging people who receive or plan to apply for SNAP benefits to make sure the agency has their current contact information. Recipients should also watch for mail, email, text messages, or phone calls from ODHS about required interviews and respond to messages to avoid delays.
People can connect with ODHS online, by phone, in person, or by mail.
SNAP applicants and recipients can manage benefits through a ONE Online account, call 800-699-9075 or 711 TTY, visit a local ODHS office, or send mail to the ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309.
More information about SNAP in Oregon is available at Oregon.snap.gov.
SNAP remains one of Oregon’s primary food assistance programs. ODHS says the program helps more than one in six people in Oregon, including children, working families, older adults, and people with disabilities.
According to ODHS, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates an estimated $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity, with SNAP driving an estimated $1.6 billion into Oregon’s economy each year.
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