A Maryland SNAP redetermination is the periodic review that keeps your Food Supplement benefits active: the Department of Human Services confirms you still qualify based on income, household size, and residency, and you return a completed application with updated documents before your certification period ends. Most households recertify every 12 months. Households where every member is age 60 or older or has a disability get a 24-month certification period. Miss the deadline and your case closes automatically at the end of that period.
When the Notice Arrives
Federal rules require DHS to send you a Notice of Expiration before the first day of the last month of your certification period.1eCFR. 7 CFR 273.14 – Recertification If your certification runs through September, the notice should reach you by September 1, often earlier. It tells you the certification is ending, what to submit, and the date by which to return everything.
That response date is what matters. Returning your packet by then gives DHS time to process the renewal and schedule your interview before your current benefits expire. If your certification period ends without a completed redetermination, the case closes and benefits stop until the agency finishes processing a late submission or a new application.
If DHS moves to reduce or end your benefits during this process, you’re entitled to at least 10 calendar days of advance written notice before the action takes effect.2eCFR. 7 CFR 273.13 – Notice of Adverse Action
What to Gather Before You Start
A missing document is the most common reason a case stalls. Pull these together first:
- Income proof — pay stubs covering the last 30 days, employer letters, or award letters for Social Security, SSI, unemployment, pensions, or other unearned income.
- Shelter costs — lease or mortgage statement, property tax bill, homeowner’s insurance, and utility bills. Heating and cooling costs feed the shelter deduction, which can raise your benefit.
- Residency — a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement showing your name and Maryland address.
- Household composition — birth certificates or Social Security cards for anyone added since your last review.
- Other deductions — legally obligated child support, childcare expenses, and out-of-pocket medical costs over $35 per month for elderly or disabled members. Each reduces countable income and can raise your monthly allotment.
You do not need to document bank balances or vehicle values. Maryland has eliminated the asset test for SNAP under Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, and the income threshold is 200 percent of the federal poverty level for your household size.3National Center for Children in Poverty. SNAP Profile – Maryland4Maryland Department of Human Services. Family Investment Administration Programs Income Guidelines
Filling Out the Form
The redetermination uses the same form as an initial application: DHS/FIA 9701, Application for Assistance.5Maryland Department of Human Services. Family Investment Administration Application for Assistance Complete it online through the state portal or request a paper copy from your local Department of Social Services office.
Give the shelter section extra care. Enter rent or mortgage, property taxes, heating and cooling, and any other shelter costs. Underreporting here shrinks your allotment. If you receive a utility allowance, the form asks about it separately.
Check every Social Security number and date of birth against official records. A single transposed digit can trigger an administrative hold. The form is signed under penalty of perjury, so report all income sources and household members accurately. If you don’t have an exact figure yet, a reasonable estimate with documentation to follow is better than a blank field, which reads as skipped.
Three Ways to Submit
Online at MarylandBenefits.gov
The portal is the fastest option. The DHS Express Service Center walks through it this way:6Maryland Department of Human Services. Express Service Center
- Sign in at MarylandBenefits.gov. First-time users link their account with a Head of Household PIN. If you don’t have one, call the DHS Call Center at 1-800-332-6347.
- Open “View Your Program Details” and select SNAP.
- Click “My Redetermination” for the 12-month recertification, or “My Benefits Review Forms” for a 6-month review.
- Complete the fields and upload your income verification, shelter costs, medical expenses, and childcare receipts.
You can upload scans or phone photos directly. Save the confirmation page as proof.
By Mail
Send the completed form and copies of your documents to your local Department of Social Services office. Find the address at dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices.7Maryland Department of Human Services. Local Offices Use certified mail or delivery confirmation so you have proof of arrival, and keep copies of everything you send.
In Person
You can also drop the packet off at your local DSS office. Most have a drop box that staff check daily. Ask for a date-stamped receipt so you have a record if a submission date is ever disputed.
The Interview
As of November 2024, Maryland requires a certification interview for every SNAP recertification. The prior waiver has been discontinued.8Maryland Department of Human Services. Discontinuation of Interview Waiver It’s usually done by phone. A worker calls to confirm what’s on your application, ask about discrepancies, and verify income and expenses.
The state must schedule your interview so you have at least 10 days afterward to submit any additional verification the interviewer requests.1eCFR. 7 CFR 273.14 – Recertification Make sure your phone number on file is current. If the worker can’t reach you, the redetermination may not finish before your deadline, and that puts benefits at risk.
Have your documents nearby during the call. If your circumstances have changed since you filed the form, a new job, a member moving out, mention it then instead of later.
What Happens After
You receive a written Notice of Decision saying you’re approved, denied, or approved at a different amount. The same information appears in your MarylandBenefits.gov account. If approved, the new benefit loads onto your Independence Card on your regular issuance date.
If DHS finishes your eligibility determination by the end of your current certification period, there should be no gap in benefits.1eCFR. 7 CFR 273.14 – Recertification If you submitted late but the case hadn’t fully closed, and you’re found eligible, the agency must give you access to benefits within five working days of receiving your missing verification.
If You Miss the Deadline
Your case closes at the end of the certification period, and you won’t receive benefits the following month.6Maryland Department of Human Services. Express Service Center You can still file a late redetermination or a new application, but expect a coverage gap while DHS processes it. A new application follows the standard 30-day timeline from the date the office receives it.9Maryland Department of Human Services. Applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Treat the deadline like a bill due date. If you’re still gathering documents, submit the form anyway and tell your case worker what’s coming. A partial submission that starts the clock beats a complete packet that arrives after your case closes.
Appealing a Denial or Reduced Benefit
If the outcome is a denial or a benefit amount you believe is wrong, you can request an administrative hearing. Maryland lets you appeal any adverse action within the prior 90 days, and you can dispute your current benefit level at any point during your certification period.10Maryland Department of Human Services. SNAP Manual – Section 460 Administrative Hearings
File Form DHS/FIA 334 (Appeal for Administrative Hearing) with your local DSS office. You can also request a hearing by phone or in person; the office must put a verbal request in writing within seven calendar days, and the date of the verbal request is the official filing date. The state must hold the hearing, decide, and notify you within 60 days of receiving the request.11eCFR. 7 CFR 273.15 – Fair Hearings You can represent yourself or bring a lawyer, relative, friend, or other advocate. If the decision favors you, benefits you should have received are restored retroactively.
Work Requirements at Renewal
If you’re between 18 and 54, able-bodied, and have no dependents, you’re an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents. ABAWDs must work or participate in a qualifying training program at least 20 hours per week; otherwise, SNAP is limited to three months within any 36-month period.12Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Work Requirements
At redetermination, your case worker will verify whether you’ve met the requirement during your certification period. If you haven’t, benefits can be reduced or terminated at renewal. Common exemptions include pregnancy, caring for a child under 18 in your household, a physical or mental health condition that limits your ability to work, and enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program. Bring documentation to your interview if you think you qualify for one.
A Simpler Track for Seniors
Households where every member is 60 or older with no earned income may qualify for the Elderly Simplified Application Project. ESAP extends the certification period to 36 months and waives the recertification interview.13Food and Nutrition Service. Elderly Simplified Application Project Some ESAP projects also include adults with disabilities who have no earned income. If you think your household qualifies, ask your case worker whether Maryland can move your case to that track at your next redetermination.