ODHS Taking Additional Steps To Improve SNAP Payment Accuracy, Asks Households To Watch For Notices (Photo) - 11/10/26
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is taking additional steps over the coming months to further improve the accuracy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits so that people in Oregon receive the correct amount of food assistance.
As part of this work, ODHS will conduct several rounds of income accuracy checks on existing SNAP cases and begin requiring proof of housing and utility costs when people apply for or renew benefits. Some households may receive notices requesting additional information.
These efforts are part of the agency's ongoing work to reduce Oregon's SNAP payment error rate, improve benefit accuracy and help households avoid unexpected changes to their food assistance as new federal requirements take effect.
"We want every person in Oregon who qualifies for SNAP to receive the right amount of food benefits," said Jessica Amaya Hoffman, ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership interim director. "Income can be complicated, especially with gig work, changing work hours or financial help from family members. We also know that not everyone has traditional documents to show their housing expenses. Our goal is to help people understand what information is needed and connect them with support so they can keep receiving the benefits they qualify for."
What SNAP households should do
Some SNAP households may receive notices asking for additional information about their income, housing or utility costs.
ODHS encourages people to:
- Read notices carefully. Each notice will explain what information is needed and when it is due.
- Respond by the deadline. Providing requested information on time can help prevent delays or interruptions in benefits.
- Keep contact information updated. Make sure ODHS has your current mailing address and phone number so you receive important notices.
- Ask for help. If you have questions or trouble getting documents, contact ODHS as soon as possible. Staff can help you understand what is needed.
Income accuracy checks will continue over the coming months
ODHS will check income on more than 80,000 SNAP cases in November and December 2026, with additional rounds planned next year.
As part of these checks, ODHS will look at household income information to identify anything that could affect a household's SNAP benefits. If more information is needed, ODHS will contact the household or send an "Information Needed" notice explaining what information is needed.
Not every household will need to take action. However, people who receive a notice should read it carefully and respond by the deadline. Households that do not respond to a request for information may lose their SNAP benefits.
If an income accuracy check identifies information that changes a household's eligibility or benefit amount, ODHS will send a notice explaining the change.
New proof requirements for housing and utility costs begin Nov. 21
Beginning Nov. 21, 2026, people applying for or renewing SNAP benefits will need to provide proof of their housing and utility costs for those expenses to be counted when calculating benefits.
Housing and utility costs can affect how much SNAP a household receives. Reporting these expenses may help households qualify for more food benefits. For more than a decade, Oregon has generally allowed people to report these expenses without providing documentation.
People who already receive SNAP will be asked to provide proof when they renew their benefits. However, people who move, report a change in their housing or utility costs, or begin paying a new expense before their next renewal will need to provide proof of those costs, even if they don’t receive a notice requesting it.
For housing costs, people need to provide proof of how much their household pays for rent, a mortgage or other eligible housing costs. They also need to identify which utilities they pay for or help pay for, such as electricity, gas or water. They don’t need to provide the specific dollar amount they pay.
Several types of documents can be used to verify expenses, including:
- A rental agreement or mortgage bill
- A utility bill
- A rental agreement that shows how utilities are paid
- A written receipt from a landlord
- A bank statement showing a payment to a landlord, property manager or mortgage company
- A screenshot from a payment app showing your housing payment or which utility the payment was for (including Venmo, PayPal or CashApp)
- A statement from a landlord or roommate who is not part of the SNAP household.
A landlord or roommate who is not part of the SNAP household may also be able to verify expenses by phone.
ODHS staff can help people find other ways to verify expenses if they share housing costs, get help paying bills or do not have permanent housing.
People should continue to apply for SNAP, renew their benefits and complete required interviews, even if they do not have documents ready.
If ODHS does not receive proof of housing or utility costs by the deadline, the agency will determine the eligibility and benefit amounts for the household without counting those costs. This means a household could receive fewer benefits or not qualify for SNAP. However, missing proof alone will not automatically result in an application being denied or an existing case being closed.
How to get help
- Online: Apply for or manage benefits at benefits.oregon.gov.
- By phone: Call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Help is available in multiple languages.
- In person: Find a local ODHS office at oregon.gov/odhs/pages/office-finder.aspx.
- ONE Online account or Oregon ONE Mobile app: View notices, upload documents and manage benefits.
Learn more about SNAP at oregon.gov/snap.
