If an application is expedited, how many days must the household be able to purchase food within?

When an application for food assistance is expedited, it refers to a process that allows for faster access to food benefits for households that have urgent needs. The correct answer indicates that households must be able to purchase food within 7 days.

This timeframe is set to ensure that individuals and families facing immediate food insecurity receive necessary assistance quickly enough to meet their dietary needs. The 7-day window reflects the urgency of their situation, acknowledging that many households may be struggling with limited resources and require timely support to purchase food.

The other timeframes, while they may seem reasonable, do not align with the specific requirements established for expedited applications under the program. The choice of 3 days would be too short for proper processing and support, while the longer options like 5, 10 days do not meet the immediate need that expedited service is designed to address. Thus, the standard of 7 days effectively balances expediency with the administrative requirements of processing such applications.