SECTION 340:50-1-3. Utilization of benefits

(a)   Scope and applicability. Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), households receive food benefits based on their level of need. Participating households may use their benefits to purchase eligible food at retail stores which are authorized by Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to accept benefits. State and/or local sales tax cannot be charged on eligible food purchases paid for with benefits. In specified instances, persons may use their benefits to purchase prepared meals.

(b)   Eligible food. Eligible food means:

(1)   any food or food product intended for human consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, hot foods, and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption;

(2)   seeds and plants to grow foods for the personal consumption of eligible households;

(3)   meals prepared and delivered by an authorized meal delivery service to households eligible to use benefits to purchase delivered meals;

(4)   meals served by an authorized communal dining facility to households eligible to use benefits;

(5)   meals prepared and served by a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment or rehabilitation center to eligible residents and children of residents who live with their parents in the treatment center;

(6)   meals prepared and served by a group living arrangement facility to residents who are blind or disabled as defined in OAC 340:50-5-4;

(7)   meals prepared and served by a shelter for battered women and children to its eligible residents; and

(8)   meals prepared and served by a public or non-profit homeless meal provider to eligible homeless households.

(c)   Communal dining and meal delivery services. The criteria in (1) through (2) of this subsection is used to determine whether household members can qualify to use their food benefits at communal dining facilities or for meal delivery services.

(1)   Communal dining. A person 60 years of age or over or a person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and his or her spouse, regardless of the spouse's age, may use benefits to purchase meals especially prepared at a communal dining facility authorized by FNS to accept food benefits. A communal dining facility may accept benefits only after authorization by FNS. Communal dining facility means a facility such as:

(A)   senior citizens centers;

(B)   apartment buildings occupied primarily by elderly persons;

(C)   any public or non-profit private school which prepares meals especially for elderly persons during special hours and certain other public or non-profit establishments that prepare and serve meals for the elderly; and

(D)   a private establishment under contract with a state or local agency to offer at concessional prices, meals prepared especially for the elderly or disabled.

(2)   Meal delivery service. A person 60 years of age or older or a person under age 60 who is physically or otherwise disabled to the extent that the person is unable to adequately prepare all his or her meals is eligible to purchase meals with benefits. If the household member lives with a spouse, the spouse may also purchase meals from a non-profit meal delivery service regardless of age or disability.

(d)   Social services. The worker is responsible for providing those services, within Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) policy, that the family needs and desires and for making appropriate referrals as indicated. It is mandatory that referrals be made to the Children and Family Services Division, Child Protective Services, on all situations involving suspected abuse of children.

(e)   Volunteers. Volunteers or persons other than workers may be used in program informational activities, assisting the client with applications and transportation, but may not interview the client to determine eligibility or certify households.

[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 3405, eff 5-13-92 (preemptive); Amended at 9 Ok Reg 3843, eff 8-24-92 (emergency); Amended at 10 Ok Reg 1821, eff 5-13-93; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 4587, eff 9-1-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1723, eff 6-12-95; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 872, eff 6-1-03; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 840, eff 6-1-09]