FNS Documents & Resources

This policy memorandum outlines the requirements for the revised WIC Advance Planning Document process and provides additional guidance to state agencies that are interested in the transfer of a SAM system.

This is to advise you that we are revising conditions associated with waivers of 7 CFR 273.10(f)(4) which would allow state agencies to shorten the certification periods of food stamp households

This is to advise you that we are expanding our criteria for the approval of waivers of the face-to-face interview at both initial and recertification. We also wish to note that since state agencies already may waive the face-to-face interview on an individual case basis based on a finding of hardship, we are now categorizing these waivers as waivers of the requirement that state agencies document hardship prior to utilizing alternatives to the face-to-face interview.

Attached is a Q&A fact sheet that answers questions and provides further guidance on the new racial/ethnic data collection and the new FNS-101 reporting. The July 31, 2006, memorandum offers further policy guidance on this regulation.

Protecting the confidentiality of food stamp applicants and participants has been an important component of the Food Stamp Program since its inception. While FNS has been aware for some time that a number of state agencies have been making use of group interviews in order to simplify office operations, recently regional pffices also have asked for guidance on various ways that group interviews might be conducted in their states. 

On May 18, 2006, FNS published the attached final rule entitled, "Civil Rights Data Collection" in the Federal Register. The final rule implements the new racial and ethnic data collection and reporting for the Food Stamp Program to comply with the l 997 data collection standards issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

This rule finalizes the proposed provisions of a rule published on March 19, 2004 to amend Food Stamp Program regulations to codify Food Stamp Employment and Training program provisions of section 4121 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

At the request of the state agencies, SNAP offered a two-year ABAWD waiver under limited circumstances.

The US Department of Health and Human services published its annual update of poverty income guidelines in the Federal Register of Jan. 24, 2006.