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Resource | Policy Standard Utility Allowances

States annually update Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to reflect changes in utility costs. When determining a household’s eligibility, states consider a household’s total shelter costs, including the cost of utilities. Since actual utility costs are often hard to determine, states can use SUAs, which are standard amounts that represent low-income household utility costs in the state or local area. SUAs may be used in lieu of the household's actual costs when determining eligibility and benefit amount.

10/01/2023
Resource | Policy Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information

We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. 

10/01/2023
Resource | Policy Memos TEFAP – State Plan Requests and Allocations for FY 24 Farm to Food Bank Projects

The purpose of this memo is to allocate funding for Farm to Food Bank Projects in FY 2024.

09/07/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2023.

08/03/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents SNAP: Non-Discretionary Quality Control Provisions of Title IV of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018

USDA is adopting the interim final rule on non-discretionary quality control provisions of Title IV of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, and its correction, as final.

04/18/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Agency Information Collection Activities: Waiver Requests To Offer Incentives to SNAP Recipients at SNAP Authorized Stores

This is an existing collection in use without an OMB Control Number to seek approval to establish a process for requesting a waiver from FNS to offer SNAP recipients incentives at SNAP authorized retailer locations that encourage them to purchase healthier foods.

02/08/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021