About the Quality Control Division
The Quality Control Division performs reviews for households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The information in the Frequently Asked Questions section below provides an overview of the Quality Control review process, as well as contact information.
Quality Control FAQ
The reviews are federally mandated to ensure the Department of Human Resources has processed SNAP cases correctly and to make sure people receive the benefits they are entitled to.
The reviews are completed by a specialized team working independently from the local county DHR offices.
Any household that received SNAP benefits may be selected at random. SNAP cases are randomly selected each month for review by the state’s computer system.
No, you are not in trouble! SNAP cases are randomly selected each month for review by the state’s computer system.
Once a case is selected for review, DHR schedules a time for you to meet with a Quality Control reviewer. During the interview, you will be asked questions pertaining to a specific month and go over the documents you brought to the interview. The Quality Control reviewer will attempt to assist with any missing documents and will let you know if additional documents may be needed.
The interview is similar to those completed by your local DHR office. The difference is that Quality Control interviews focus on a prior month, rather than the period in which the interview takes place.
If SNAP benefits were $100 or less, the interview can be done by phone. If you are concerned about providing your information over the phone, you may request an in-person interview.
For households with SNAP benefits totaling over $100, an interview with a Quality Control reviewer must be completed in person.
You will receive a letter in the mail with the date, time, and location of your scheduled interview.
For your convenience, these interviews can be done at your local DHR office, your home, or another agreed upon location.
Most importantly, yourself! Many of the required documents can be verified by showing information from online accounts using a smart phone. Here are some common documents that may be needed:
Proof of income:
- Paystubs
- Self-employment
- Social Security
- Veterans’ benefits
- Unemployment benefits
- Child support
- Pensions
- Dividends
- Interest received from a bank account(s)
Proof of expenses:
- Self-employment expenses
- Rent: Lease agreement or rent receipts
- Mortgage statements
- Homeowners association fees
- Home insurance and taxes
- Utilities: Power, gas, phone, water, etc.
- Proof of paying court-ordered child support
- Child care costs
- Medical receipts and bills for anyone in the home over the age of 60 or who is disabled
- Your landlord’s name, address, and phone number
- The names, addresses, and phone numbers of two people, not related to anyone in the home, who can provide information about the people living in the home
Still attend the interview. Don’t worry if you are missing something.
During the interview, a Quality Control reviewer will attempt to assist households with necessary verifications and will tell you what documents are still needed. After the interview, you may receive a notice requesting additional documents needed to complete the review.
Yes, of course. DHR will assist you in any way possible to obtain required verifications. Conference calls can be a safe, fast, and easy way to verify required information with sources, including:
- Landlord
- Mortgage company
- Power company
- Cell phone provider
- Pension
Your Quality Control reviewer’s contact information is conveniently located all mailed correspondence.
Yes. Households selected for Quality Control reviews must cooperate with the review to continue receiving SNAP benefits.
Yes. A Quality Control interview is a mandatory part of the review process. The interview is similar to the one conducted by the local DHR office and takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on household size and other circumstances.
Households that do not cooperate with reviews will have their SNAP cases closed and will remain ineligible until they cooperate.
No. Quality Control staff are required to continue the review process, regardless of a household’s cooperation.
This sanction will last until the household cooperates with the review process or 125 days after the end of the Quality Control annual review period. The end date of the annual Quality Control review period will be located on a notice from Quality Control.
Households must cooperate with the Quality Control review process. If you are unsure what is needed to cooperate, please contact Quality Control for assistance.
More information is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/quality-control.
The Quality Control offices are located at the following addresses:
State Office of Quality Control
50 N. Ripley St.
Montgomery, AL 36130
Birmingham Regional Office
2001 12th Ave. N.
Birmingham, AL 35234
Mobile Regional Office
2970 Cottage Hill Rd.
Mobile, AL 36606
Contact Information
Julia Norrell - Director
Mailing Address
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Office of Quality Control
50 N. Ripley St.
P.O. Box 304000
Montgomery, AL 36130-4000
WARNING: Households that fail to cooperate with Quality Control reviews may have their SNAP cases terminated and future benefits denied. In addition, these cases may be referred to the Investigations and Recovery Unit for willful misrepresentation.