FNS Documents & Resources

This document presents estimates of food stamp participation rates for states as of September 2000. These estimates can be used to assess recent program performance and focus efforts to improve performance.

The Food and Nutrition Service is proposing to revise Food Stamp Program regulations that cover the collection and reporting of racial/ethnic data by state agencies on persons receiving benefits from the FSP. The proposed changes are to comply with new racial/ethnic data collection standards issued by the Office of Management and Budget while also providing regulatory flexibility and reform for this area of the program regulations.

This action will revise Food Stamp Program regulations affecting the administrative review process available to retail and wholesale firms participating in the Food Stamp Program. It proposes to streamline and make technical corrections to this process by amending portions of current regulations. The changes will eliminate repetitious, outdated and unnecessary provisions without taking away a firm’s right to an administrative review. This rule also proposes to make technical corrections.

Many elderly individuals eligible for food stamps do not participate. While there are many possible reasons, one commonly offered explanation is that benefits are often too small to justify the effort needed to apply. This analysis suggests that most elderly are eligible for fairly substantial food stamp benefits, although a significant number are eligible only for a small benefit.

The Food and Nutrition Service, Food Distribution Division, will hold a meeting to discuss methods of value-pass-through of USDA donated commodities in food service management company fixed-rate-per- meal contracts in the National School Lunch Program. The purpose of this meeting is to offer state agencies, school food authorities, advocacy groups, food service management companies, and other interested parties the opportunity for dialogue prior to proposed rulemaking.

This memorandum provides guidance concerning allowable FMNP costs that may be covered with federal WIC funds. It is intended to promote accuracy and uniformity in the application of allowable cost principles to decisions about FMNP related costs, as state agencies seek to maximize federal funding.

A letter about the summary of state options to urge full consideration of food stamp policy options, which can improve customer service and streamline program administration.

This rule finalizes food stamp provisions to enhance state flexibility in exempting portions of a state agency's caseload from the food stamp time limit and to increase significantly the funding available to create work opportunities for recipients who are subject to the time limit, as well as finalizing significant changes to current work rules. 

This report is the latest in a series on trends in Food Stamp Program participation rates, based on the Current Population Survey. This report focuses on changes in rates from 1994 to 2000.

This is the fourth report in a series of publications presenting estimates of the percentage of eligible persons, by state, who participate in the Food Stamp Program. This issue presents food stamp participation rates for states in September 1999 and the change between September 1994 and September 1999. This information can be used to assess recent trends in program performance and focus efforts for improvement.