Program Improvement

As of Oct. 1, 2008, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. The new name reflects the changes we’ve made to meet the needs of our clients, including a focus on nutrition and an increase in benefit amounts. SNAP is the federal name for the program. State programs may have different names.

This page is for State and county personnel who are working to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their procedures and forms. Let us know if there is something you would like to see on the page. You can email us at PRGDEV-WEB@fns.usda.gov.

High-Performance Bonuses

USDA Recognizes States for Efforts to Provide Timely Nutrition Assistance for Americans in Need

Performance Bonuses by Year:

2010	2009	2008	2007
2006	2005	2004	2003

Payment Accuracy

2010	2009	2008	2007
2006	2005	2004	2003

Application Processing Timeliness

2010	2009	2008	2007
2006

Program Access Index

2010	2009	2008	2007
2006

Final Rule: High Performance Bonuses

(02/07/05)

Report: Calculating the Program Access Index: A Step-By-Step Guide

(10/2007)

Memo: Calculating the Program Access Index with the American Community Survey (Aug. 11, 2006)

(08/11/06)

Attachment: Estimating the Number of People in Poverty for the Program
Access Index: The American Community Survey vs. the Current
Population Survey

Promising Practices

	Program Access Toolkit 2010
	Outreach - Strategies to reach out to eligible people
	Payment Accuracy - Guide describing 10 important practices that improve and sustain payment accuracy
	Managing Workload - During time of limited resources and rising caseloads
	Negative Action Tool Box

Reviews

	State Agency Operations Review: Management Evaluation Target Areas for FY 2012
	National ME Guidance (updated January 8, 2009)
	State Agency Operations Review: Management Evaluation Target Areas for FY 2011
	State Agency Operations Review: Management Evaluation Target Areas for FY 2010
	State Agency Operations Review: Management Evaluation Target Areas for FY 2009 Attachment – A Guide for Regional Office and State Agency Review Teams
	State Agency Operations Review: Management Evaluation Target Areas for FY 2008 Attachment 1 – Regional Office & State Agency Review Team Guide Attachment 2 – Target Coverage – Regional Reviews (Review Format) Attachment 3 – Questions and Suggested Procedures to Aid Reviewers
	Revised Program Access Review (PAR) Guide July 2008
	PAR Review Tools
	Program Access Reviews for FY 2006: Guidance for Regional Offices

Combined Application Projects

	CAP Status Report (October 2009)
	Benefit Adjustments in Combined Application Projects (Aug. 14, 2008)
	Combined Application Projects: A Resource Guide (Updated March 2005)
	Combined Application Projects: Cost Neutrality Guidance for Project Approval

Grants

	FY 11 SNAP Participation Grant Request for Applications Released
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Information on FY 2011 Grant Recipients
	FY 10 Increasing SNAP Participation Among the Extra Help Population
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Press Release Announcing Award -- Information on 2010 Grant Recipients
	FY 10 Participation Grant
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Press Release Announcing Award -- Information on FY 2010 Grant Recipients
	FY 09 Participation Grant
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Information on FY 2009 Grant Recipients
	FY 08 Participation Grant
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Information on FY 2008 Grant Recipients
	FY 07 Participation Grants
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Press Release Announcing Award -- Information on FY 2007 Grant Recipients
	FY 06 Participation Grants
	-- Press Release Announcing Grant -- Cover Letter -- Grant Announcement -- Press Release Announcing Award -- Information on FY 2006 Grant Recipients
	More Information on Grant Process
	Summary of Program Participation Grants For FY 2003-2005

Technical Assistance

	Call Center / Contact Center Support for States: A Framework and Reference Guide
	Improving SNAP Application Forms: An Assessment Guide

Last Modified: 11/30/2011