A SNAP charge letter (also called a notice of charges or notice of violations) is a formal letter from the USDA alleging that your store has violated SNAP rules. It usually follows an investigation based on transaction data, undercover visits, or both.
The charge letter will typically:
- Describe the specific SNAP violations USDA believes occurred
- Identify dates, transactions, or patterns the agency considers suspicious
- Attach schedules or exhibits listing EBT transactions
- Explain the potential penalties, such as civil money penalties or disqualification
Common allegations in SNAP charge letters include:
- SNAP trafficking (buying or selling benefits for cash or ineligible items)
- Allowing ineligible items to be purchased with SNAP benefits
- Exchanging SNAP benefits for store credit, lottery, alcohol, or tobacco
- Improperly handling EBT cards, PINs, or authorizations
Even if you disagree with the allegations, you must treat a SNAP charge letter as a serious legal matter. Your response will shape what happens to your license and your business.
SNAP charge letters come with strict, short deadlines. In most cases, you must send a complete written response within 10 days of receiving the letter (or within the time stated in the notice). If you miss that deadline, USDA can move forward and impose penalties without considering your side of the story.
Timing matters because:
- You need enough time to review the transaction data and allegations carefully
- Evidence must be collected and organized before you submit your response
- Once USDA issues a final decision, some options may no longer be available
Do not wait until the last day to seek help. Contacting an attorney quickly can help preserve your options, avoid rushed or incomplete responses, and give you a better chance of protecting your SNAP authorization.
Our attorneys focus on building thorough, well-documented responses tailored to the specific charges in your letter. A typical SNAP charge letter response strategy includes:
- Careful review of the charge letter and exhibits. We analyze each allegation, schedule, and transaction example cited by USDA, looking for errors, assumptions, and gaps.
- Understanding your business operations. We ask detailed questions about your store, customers, inventory, staffing, and processes so we can explain legitimate reasons for transaction patterns.
- Collecting and organizing supporting evidence. Depending on your case, this may include register records, invoices, bank statements, photos, training materials, and written policies.
- Developing your legal and factual arguments. We identify which allegations to contest, how to explain unusual transactions, and whether to raise issues related to procedure or proof.
- Drafting a clear, professional written response. We prepare a letter that responds to the USDA’s charges point by point, attaches supporting documents, and requests appropriate relief.
- Advising you on next steps. We discuss possible outcomes, appeal rights, and how to prepare for what may follow your response.
Throughout this process, our goal is to protect your ability to continue accepting SNAP benefits and to put your store in the strongest possible position if further review or appeals become necessary.
What you do in the first few days after receiving a SNAP charge letter can have a major impact on your case. We generally recommend that retailers:
- Read the entire letter and all attachments carefully. Make sure you understand the alleged violations, dates, and deadlines.
- Preserve all relevant records. Save point-of-sale data, receipts, invoices, bank records, employee schedules, training materials, and any other documents that may relate to the allegations.
- Limit internal discussions. Avoid guessing about what happened or assigning blame; simply note who might have relevant information.
- Contact an attorney experienced in SNAP cases. Early legal guidance can prevent missteps and help you use the limited response time wisely.
At the same time, there are important things you should not do:
- Do not ignore the letter or hope it will go away. USDA will act even if you do not respond.
- Do not send a quick, emotional, or incomplete response. Statements made in haste can be misunderstood or used against you later.
- Do not alter or destroy records. Doing so can create additional problems beyond the original allegations.
If you contact us early, we can help you prioritize the most important steps, coordinate evidence collection, and begin drafting an appropriate response.
After you submit a SNAP charge letter response, USDA will review your materials along with its own evidence and issue a written decision. Depending on the facts and strength of your response, possible outcomes may include:
- No action or case closure. In some cases, USDA may decide not to impose a penalty.
- Warning or lesser sanction. The agency may issue a warning or a limited sanction instead of the most severe penalty requested in the charge letter.
- Civil money penalty (CMP). In certain situations, USDA may offer or impose a CMP instead of disqualifying your store.
- Temporary or permanent disqualification. For serious or repeated violations, USDA may suspend or permanently disqualify your store from SNAP.
If you receive an unfavorable decision, you may have the right to request administrative review or appeal. Our firm also assists retailers with SNAP disqualification and appeals, and can advise you about whether and how to challenge the agency’s decision.
Do I really need a lawyer to respond?
While you are not required to have an attorney, SNAP charge letters involve serious legal and financial risks. An experienced SNAP attorney can help you understand the allegations, organize evidence, and present your position clearly and persuasively.
What if I think USDA’s data is wrong?
If you believe the transaction data or assumptions are inaccurate, it is important to explain why and provide documentation when possible. We often help clients show legitimate business reasons for unusual transaction patterns.
Can I fix problems by changing store practices now?
Improving training and procedures is always helpful, but it does not erase past allegations. However, showing that you have taken corrective steps can be important in arguing for reduced penalties or a civil money penalty instead of disqualification.
Will responding guarantee that I keep my SNAP authorization?
No attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, but a careful, well-supported response generally gives you a better chance than ignoring the letter or sending a brief, unsupported reply.
Does your firm help retailers nationwide?
Yes. SNAP is a federal program, and we represent retailers around the country in responding to charge letters, trafficking allegations, and SNAP disqualification actions.
If you have received a SNAP charge letter, your next steps can determine whether your store remains in the program. You do not have to navigate this process alone.
Our SNAP Defense Attorneys draw on years of experience with SNAP matters, including prior USDA experience, to help retailers respond effectively and protect their businesses. Before you send any response to USDA, we encourage you to speak with an attorney about your options.
You can also review related pages about trafficking allegations defense, disqualification and appeals, and additional resources for SNAP retailers.
To discuss your specific situation, contact us for a confidential consultation.