D.C.’s Office of the Attorney General is warning retailers such as grocery stores and convenience stores to not discriminate against residents who are paying for food with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The OAG has received a handful of complaints from residents who were not able to purchase food or other eligible items at their neighborhood store because the retailer imposed unnecessary requirements, skirting federal rules, according to Emily Barth, an assistant attorney general in the office of consumer protection.

It’s unclear how widespread the practice is, but Barth suspects the handful of complaints represent a larger issue as many people don’t know a retailer is breaking the law or how to report their experience. Nearly 146,000 D.C. residents — or one-fifth of the city — received assistance from SNAP last year, according the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a national think tank. Most residents on SNAP have incomes below the federal poverty line and have families with children.

Barth says residents on food assistance reported a retailer for requiring a minimum balance on their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card before being able to purchase an item, and setting a minimum transaction amount. Retailers that accept SNAP benefits are not allowed to impose requirements like these, per Barth, nor are they allowed to charge a transaction fee to customers using SNAP benefits or ask a customer to check their EBT card balance before a transaction.

The retailers that did not follow the federal rules around the food assistance program were smaller, neighborhood stores. The OAG shared the complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which enforces laws and regulations around SNAP, and federal officials told the retailers to come into compliance, according to Barth.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a business advisory Thursday to help D.C. retailers comply with federal law and prevent any more discrimination against people on SNAP. He and his team also sent a customer alert informing people of their rights.

“With residents probably engaging in more holiday shopping, preparing to host family or friends, doing holiday meals, we want to do this push now to make sure that customers, SNAP shoppers, know what rights that they have and also that retailers are aware of the requirements of the program,” Barth tells DCist/WAMU.

Barth also encouraged residents to report complaints to the OAG online or by phone at (202) 442-9828.

There are other rules governing SNAP, like that people can only purchase staple foods like fruits, vegetables, and meat as well as seeds and plants for eating. Hundreds of stores in the city, including farmers markets, accept SNAP.