Nationwide SNAP Violation Lawyers

Columbus Snap Violation Attorneys

As a retailer, you are probably quite satisfied with how the SNAP program has benefited your business. Most experts agree that the SNAP program is an integral part of our nation’s social safety net. This program allows low-income people to purchase food and beverage items at public expense. Before this government program was created, too many low-income people with caloric deficits and malnutrition.

Although the SNAP program has been successful from a public health perspective, there’s no doubt that the program could be managed in a more effective way. At this time, a relatively large proportion of retailers accept EBT cards. These are the government-issued bank cards SNAP participants use to pay for merchandise. Traditionally, EBT acceptance is a mainstay of the grocery industry. Over time, this program has grown in scope. Tens of millions of people use SNAP to feed their families each year.

As more and more people have become eligible for the SNAP program, new types of retailers have started accepting EBT cards on a daily basis. Nowadays, people routinely redeem their SNAP benefits at gas stations, restaurants and even stalls at farmers’ markets. When you receive a USDA letter alleging you have committed one or more SNAP violations, this event can cause quite a shock. In far too many cases, these accusations are made erroneously. To provide you with needed context, this notice should come with identifying information for each transaction associated with an alleged violation. Once you receive your notice from the USDA, time is truly of the essence. The government only gives you 10 days to respond to the allegations contained in the letter. In the event that you do not respond to dispute the alleged violations, the USDA will automatically suspend your ability to accept EBT payments.

As one might easily imagine, even one suspension of this type can cause significant damage to your bottom line. Strict in their expectations, some customers won’t return to your store soon if they are turned away with their EBT cards. Multiple violations can lead to the permanent loss of your store’s EBT privileges. Besides losing your company important sales, a catastrophe like this can be quite embarrassing. Keep in mind that your neighborhood reputation is on the line in situations like these. Immediately after receiving your violation notice from the government, you should secure legal representation. With a qualified attorney on your side, you have improved chances of successfully fighting the USDA. Because SNAP violation law is fairly complex, you’ll want to patronize a law office with a reputation for integrity and efficacy. Fortunately, SNAP violation lawyers have proven their mettle in a large number of historical cases.

For buyers and retailers alike, SNAP usage is bound by a number of strict rules. As a retailer, you cannot knowingly accept stolen benefits, which is sometimes called SNAP trafficking. It is forbidden to accept SNAP benefits in return for proscribed items like beer, tobacco products and nonfood merchandise. Because the SNAP program was sold to the public as a way to prevent malnutrition, the USDA zealously watches for signs of EBT fraud and misuse.

Though you can hardly blame the government for monitoring retailers who accept EBT, there’s no question that innocent people occasionally find themselves saddled with accusations of of wrongdoing. If you’ve been labeled as a SNAP violator, you deserve to have the very legal representation. The SNAP program is operated by a bloated, complex government bureaucracy. Large bureaucracies are known for becoming set in their ways and unresponsive to the need for change. Sometimes, it takes a brave person with a lawyer to break through the inertia that can keep a system dysfunctional.

A qualified attorney can help you draft your organization’s answer to the USDA’s initial letter of accusation. If your response is prompt and properly written, it may convince the USDA to drop all disciplinary measures immediately. Supposing that the USDA continues to penalize your store, your attorney can help you file for an orderly judicial review of your case. Every participating retailer has the right to appeal a SNAP penalization before a federal judge.