Sec. 101 Amendments to the food and nutrition act of 2008
“(k) Administrative cost for increasing access—Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary is authorized to pay to each State agency an amount equal to 75 percent of the administrative costs incurred by the State agency in carrying out new activities not previously funded by the State—
“(1) to increase the number of hours that supplemental nutrition assistance offices are open on weekends and nights if there is neither a decrease in the total number of supplemental nutrition assistance offices that are open in the State nor a decrease in the number of hours such offices are open during regular work week;
“(2) to conduct verifiable activities to reduce the average wait time that applicants spend at supplemental nutrition assistance offices or to reduce the average number of office visits required of applicants;
“(3) to accept applications for supplemental nutrition assistance benefit by means of the Internet;
“(4) to upgrade computer systems and technology in ways that specifically increase access to the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
“(5) at the time of application, to provide applicants with a checklist listing all documents required for a complete supplemental nutrition assistance application.”
“(C) that the State agency shall inform households, at the time of application, that—
“(i) household members are not required to appear in person at the time of application, or at any other time, unless—
“(I) expressly required by this Act; or
“(II) in accordance with clause (ii); and
“(ii) if the State agency has a basis to reasonably believe that information provided by a household is incorrect or that a household has failed to provide information required for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, then the State agency shall—
“(I) provide to the household a written statement notifying the household of such belief; specifying the factual basis of such belief, informing the household of the applicable information that is believed to be incorrect or missing, and instructing the household how to correct or to provide the appropriate information; and
“(II) not require any member of such household to appear in person unless either the household fails to provide the appropriate information or the State agency cannot verify the accuracy of information the household provides in response to the request made under this subparagraph by the State agency;”