Starting June 1, 2026, every Oregon household that applies for or renews Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will have to complete an interview before monthly food benefits can be approved. That includes groups that were allowed to skip this step during the pandemic, which means many older adults, people with disabilities and households with no earned income can expect a new appointment on their to-do list.
According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the shift “returns SNAP to standard federal rules” and makes completion of an interview a firm requirement before benefits are approved. “These updates help make sure people receive the correct SNAP benefits for their current situation,” Jessica Amaya Hoffman, SNAP director at ODHS, said in the agency’s release. The department notes that the temporary pandemic flexibility that let some households renew without an interview ends May 31, 2026.
Who will need to complete an interview and what it covers
Households that used to be exempt from this step will now be pulled back into the regular process. That includes situations where all adults in the home are age 60 or older or meet SNAP’s disability definition and no one has income from work, as outlined by Oregon.gov.
The standard eligibility interview focuses on basic but important details: who lives in the household, how much money comes in, and what the major expenses are. Applicants are told to have items such as identification, pay stubs, rent or mortgage and utility bills, plus any relevant immigration or medical paperwork ready to go. The state says interviews can typically be completed by phone, online through a ONE Online account, or in person, depending on what each local office offers.
How to prepare and where to get help
ODHS is urging SNAP recipients to double-check that the agency has their current phone number, mailing address and email, and to respond quickly to outreach so benefits are not delayed, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services. People can manage or schedule interviews through a ONE Online account or by calling the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075 (TTY 711). Local county offices have been spreading the word too, with notices like Clackamas County's Facebook post echoing the state’s guidance.
Why the change is happening
The reset comes as temporary pandemic interview waivers expire and Oregon shifts back to pre-pandemic verification routines, as reported by the Salem Statesman Journal. State and local coverage indicates ODHS has been rolling out updates and notices so households have time to adjust before the new requirement fully kicks in.
Where to find more information
For a full rundown on which documents to bring, how to schedule or reschedule interviews, and where to find local offices, residents can head to the state’s SNAP information hub or log in to manage their case through ONE Online. Details and contact information are available on Oregon.gov's SNAP pages.
