About 11,000 Oregonians who receive food or cash assistance are being asked to provide updated income information by Sept. 28 or risk having benefits reduced or closed beginning in October. The Oregon Department of Human Services said it began mailing the notices Sept. 16 and expects them to arrive by the end of this week, according to its Sept. 24 notice.
The request applies only to recipients who receive a “Missing Information” notice, not to every person enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Oregon reported 639,261 people receiving SNAP as of Aug. 30. A notice does not by itself mean benefits will be cut; it starts an eligibility review based on the information a household provides.
ODHS is comparing income previously reported by households with earnings data available through The Work Number, a commercial employment-verification database. Notices went to some households whose reported income was below 130% of the federal poverty level while the database indicated income may be at or above that threshold. If a household also receives TANF, the same notice covers both programs.
Recipients should read the notice, submit the requested verification and respond even if they believe the underlying information is wrong. The state says people do not need to contact an employer. They can call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075 or visit a local ODHS office. Oregon’s reporting guide also explains online, telephone, in-person and mail options.
The deadline is unusually tight: Monday, Sept. 28, is four days after the public announcement. ODHS says anyone who misses it should still contact the agency because an eligibility worker may be able to help. Without a response, however, SNAP and any applicable TANF benefits can close on the date shown in the notice.
The check is part of a broader accuracy campaign. Oregon says its federal fiscal 2025 SNAP payment error rate was 14.14%, compared with a stated goal of 6%. A payment error can be either an overpayment or underpayment and is not the same as fraud, the agency explains on its accuracy page.
That rate now carries potential budget consequences. The federal budget law enacted in July 2025 created a future state cost-sharing framework tied to SNAP payment error rates: states below 6% avoid a benefit cost share, while those at 10% or more can face the maximum 15% share. Oregon says it qualifies for a temporary delay under the federal law, but accuracy results will still influence when and how much the state may eventually pay.
ODHS expects additional income checks during the next 12 to 15 months, though it has not finalized their timing. For now, the practical distinction is simple: households that did not receive a notice have no action tied to this Sept. 28 request; those that did should respond promptly so a worker can review the case before October benefits are affected.
