Food Stamp Program: Retailer Application Processing

This final rule implements a revised processing timeframe for retail food stores and wholesale food concerns that apply for authorization to accept and redeem food stamp benefits and clarifies verification requirements. This rule lengthens the application processing timeframe from the current period of 30 days to 45 days. In addition to lengthening the time allowed for processing applications, this rule requires specific documentation from an applicant to verify a firm's eligibility. This final rule also incorporates two provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of (PRWORA) 1996, related to the collection of tax information from firms applying for authorization or from firms being reauthorized in the program and the written permission for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to verify such information with appropriate agencies.