B-1410, Discrimination Complaints

Body

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

All Programs

Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Circular C-001 found at www.hhsc.state.tx.us/news/circulars/c-001.shtml describes general discrimination complaint procedures.

SNAP

Explain the following procedures to individuals who feel they have been discriminated against in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and want to complain about it.

  • Individuals may submit their complaint to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), any Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) certification office, or both. Individuals may submit complaints to, or obtain information from, USDA at either of these addresses:

    Food and Nutrition Service
    United States Department of Agriculture
    Washington, D.C. 20250

    or

    Food and Nutrition Service
    United States Department of Agriculture
    1100 Commerce Street
    Suite 5-C-30
    Dallas, TX 75242

  • Individuals must file their complaints in writing within 180 days of the incident that caused the complaint.

If submitting a complaint to HHSC, individuals use Form H4870, Client Complaint of Discrimination. For verbal or hotline complaints, staff accepting the complaint complete Form H4870 for the individual. Advisors and other staff handle hotline complaints the same as any other complaints.