Online FNS and SNAP Change of Circumstance

You can now submit your Food and Nutrition (FNS) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) change of circumstances online through ePASS.

Frequently Asked Questions

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ePASS users with enhanced accounts now can submit their online CoCs. To submit an online CoC through ePASS, a beneficiary must meet the following criteria:

Enhancing and linking your ePASS account is a two-part process. You must first enhance your account. An enhanced account lets you report changes and view case details online in addition to submitting applications and recertifications (see Where can I find more information about enhancing my ePASS account?).

IF YOU RECEIVE FNS/SNAP, BUT NOT MEDICAID, please contact your caseworker or your county DSS office to enhance and link your account. Visit ncdhhs.gov/localDSS to find the address and contact information of your local DSS office. 

IF YOU RECEIVE BOTH FNS/SNAP AND MEDICAID, follow the steps below to enhance and link your account: 

  • If you do not have an existing ePASS account, you will be asked to enhance your account when you sign up for an ePASS account for the first time:
    1. Visit epass.nc.gov from a computer or mobile device and click ‘Sign up’
    2. Create your NCID account, username, and password (Note: you must have a working email address). Please write down your username and password so you can find it later and secure it in a safe place.
    3. Use your username and password to login to ePASS and get started!
       
  • If you have an existing ePASS account, login to your ePASS account:
    1. Under ‘Your account,’ click ‘Dashboard’ 
    2. Click the blue arrow under ‘Enhance your ePASS account’ 
    3. ‘How do I enhance my ePASS account?’ will show. Click ‘Next’ 
    4. Select the address you want to use, then click ‘Next’ 
    5. Enter your information on the ‘Information about you’ page, then click ‘Next’ 
    6. Once your information has been verified, you will be asked to set up a primary (main) way to receive confirmation codes, also called two-factor authentication. This can either be a text or email message. Two-factor authentication helps make sure your personal information is secure and only you can view and change your information.  

After you set up your primary choice to get confirmation codes, you will be asked to pick how you’d like to receive your confirmation code (text or email).  

Important: If you do not have a social security number, you will not be able to complete this step and will need to go to your local DSS with documents that verify your identity. After your identity is verified your DSS caseworker will be able to link your enhanced account.  

Visit epass.nc.gov/nfridp/qa for more information about enhancing your ePASS account, including: 

  • How long it takes to enhance your account 
  • Identity verification when enhancing your account 
  • Tips for success when enhancing your account  

You must report the following changes:

  1. Your income goes above the maximum gross income limit for your FNS/SNAP household size (visit here to view the amounts). You must add all sources of income to get the total amount of monthly income (wages, WFFA, child support, SSI, unemployment benefits (UIB), Social Security, Veterans benefits, disability payments, income of new household members, etc.).

    Note: if there are more than ten household members, begin with $6,592 and add $557 for each member.

    If your FNS/SNAP monthly household income is more than the amount in the table linked above, you must report the change by the 10th day of the month following the month your income increases.

    Please note that any change from the information given on the application that occurs after the interview (but before you receive a notice of eligibility) must be reported by the 10th of the month, following the month in which the notice of eligibility is received. At this time, you are not required to report income changes until your next recertification.

  2. If your FNS/SNAP household includes an Able-Bodied Adult without Dependents (ABAWD), you must report if the ABAWD’s work hours are reduced to under 80 hours per month. For more information, visit NCDHHS’ ABAWD webpage here.

    You must report this change by the 10th of the month following the month the work hours reduce. 

  3. If your FNS/SNAP household receives lottery or gambling winnings over $4,250. You must report this change by the 10th of the month following the month you receive the winnings. 

You can add or change any information that is relevant to your case. This includes:

  • Demographic information for yourself and household members, including date of birth and current address
  • Housing expenses
  • Dependent care expenses
  • Child support expenses
  • Utility expenses
  • Unearned income information
  • Employment status (including self-employment)
  • Current benefits
  • Liquid resources
  • Medical expenses
  • Disability information
  • Work non-participation information
  • Veteran/military status
  • Education status
  • Volunteering/work training information
  • Criminal history
  • Immigration information
  • Scholarships
  • Pregnancy
  • Adoption/foster care payment information

You should report all changes as they occur. Some changes have strict due dates that you must meet (see What changes require mandatory reporting? How long do I have to report these? and What other information can I add or change for my Change of Circumstance?). 

To report a change for existing information on your case, follow the instructions below:

  1. Under ‘Your account,’ click ‘Dashboard,’ then click ‘Tell us if anything has changed.’
  2. ‘Tell us if anything has changed’ will show. Click ‘Report changes for FNS or SNAP.’ 
  3. ‘Report a change for FNS or SNAP’ will show. If you have an active FNS case, click ‘Report a change for FNS.’ If you have an active SNAP case, click ‘Report a change for SNAP.’
  4. ‘What you need to know’ will show. Review the information, then click ‘Next.’
  5. ‘Review and Submit’ will show and provide a summary of the information on your FNS or SNAP case.
  6. Review each section of information to make sure it is correct. To make a change, click ‘Change’ next to the information that needs to be updated. 
  7. Click into each box that needs to be updated and add the new information.
  8. Then click ‘Next.’
  9. You will be returned to the main screen. Scroll down to the section you updated to confirm your changes.
  10. Repeat steps 7-9 for any additional changes you would like to report. IMPORTANT: Your CoC is not submitted yet.

After changing information on your case, follow the steps below to review and submit:

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click ‘Next.’
  2. ‘Final Steps’ will show. Review the information and click ‘Next.’
  3. ‘Sign & Submit’ will show. Review the information and check the required boxes to show your agreement.
  4. Enter your name, then click ‘Submit.’
  5. ‘Your reported change has been submitted!’ will show. Write down your reference number and store it in a secure place in case you need it later. Then, click ‘Close. 

To report a change for existing information on your case, follow the instructions below:

  1. Under ‘Your account,’ click ‘Dashboard,’ then click ‘Tell us if anything has changed.’
  2. ‘Tell us if anything has changed’ will show. Click ‘Report changes for FNS or SNAP.’
  3. ‘Report a change for FNS or SNAP’ will show. If you have an active FNS case, click ‘Report a change for FNS.’ If you have an active SNAP case, click ‘Report a change for SNAP.’
  4. ‘What you need to know’ will show. Review the information, then click ‘Next.’
  5. ‘Review and Submit’ will show a summary of the information on your FNS or SNAP case.
  6. Review each section of information to make sure it is correct. To add new information, click ‘Add.’ 
  7. Add the required information into each box, then click ‘Next.’
  8. You will be returned to the main screen. Scroll down to the section you added information to and confirm your changes.
  9. Repeat steps 7 -9 for any additional information you would like to report. IMPORTANT: Your CoC is not submitted yet.

After changing information on your case, follow the steps below to review and submit:

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click ‘Next.’
  2. ‘Final Steps’ will show. Review the information and click ‘Next.’
  3. ‘Sign & Submit’ will show. Review the information and check the required boxes to show your agreement.
  4. Enter your name, then click ‘Submit.’
  5. ‘Your reported change has been submitted!’ will show. Write down your reference number and store it in a secure place in case you need it later. Then, click ‘Close. 

No, your progress will not automatically save. If you do not use ePASS for more than 30 minutes, your session will time out and you will be relocated to the homepage. Any information that you completed will not be saved. 

To view your reported changes, follow the instructions below:

  1. Under ‘Your account,’ click ‘Dashboard,’ then click ‘Your applications.’
  2. “Your applications” will show. Scroll down and click ‘View reported change (PDF)’ under the ‘FNS reported change’ section.
  3. A PDF will download. Click the downloaded PDF and review the ‘Reported Change’ section. 

If your change requires additional documentation, a message will pop-up on the ‘Your Application’ page that says, ‘You have documents that are needed to process your application or case.’ Click ‘Continue’ to see which documents are needed. You can submit documents in one of two ways: 

  1. Upload documents online through your ePASS account (see How do I upload additional documentation through my ePASS account?), or 
  2. Mail, fax, or bring documents to your local county Department of Social Services (DSS) office. Find the address and contact information of your local DSS office at ncdhhs.gov/localDSS.   

You will be able to upload multiple files for each item requiring verification, such as multiple check stubs to verify income for a date range. Click the ‘Upload documents’ link to add a file from your device for each item. The following types of files are allowed: PDF, JPG (photo), TIF, and BMP. The maximum file size is 30MB.  

Uploaded documents can be viewed or deleted. To remove a document, click ‘View/delete documents’ then click the ‘X’ next to a file to delete the document. Once all documents have been uploaded, click ‘Submit Documents’ to send the documents to your caseworker for review.  

If a submitted document meets all requirements, your caseworker will mark the document as ‘Accepted’ and the outstanding verification will no longer appear on the ‘Upload Documents’ page in ePASS.

Documents that do not meet requirements will be marked as ‘Rejected’ and those requiring additional information will be marked as ‘Partially Rejected.’ The verification will remain outstanding in ePASS until all requirements are met.  

Free language assistance and/or other aids and services are available upon request. To receive free interpreter services, call 1-866-719-0141 or your local DSS office. If you have a disability and need communication assistance, call 1-866-719-0141 or Relay Services at 711.