Restrictions on Authorized Representatives

(A) Department employees involved in the certification or issuance processes and retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits may act as authorized representatives only with the written approval of the Local Office Director when s/he determines that no one else is available to serve. (B) Individuals disqualified for fraud shall not act as authorized representatives during the period of disqualification, unless he or she is the only adult member of the household able to act on its behalf and the worker has determined that no one else is available to serve. The worker shall separately determine whether the disqualified person is needed to apply for SNAP on behalf of the household, to obtain SNAP benefits, and to purchase food. For example, the household may have an authorized representative who is not able to purchase food regularly with the SNAP benefits. If the worker cannot locate anyone else to serve as an authorized representative to purchase food regularly with the SNAP benefits, the disqualified member shall be allowed to do so.