FNS Documents & Resources

On Sept. 30, 2023, President Biden signed into law the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act, funding the federal government through Nov. 17, 2023. This memorandum is intended to clarify the impact of the continuing resolution on upcoming SNAP benefit issuance.

This communication is intended to provide states with information about a change in the FNS accounting process for obligating SNAP funds.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

FNS is providing a comprehensive list of SNAP resource materials and policy memos to equip state agencies with key information to prepare for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In preparation for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, FNS is sharing critical decision points and important resources state agencies should reference as they plan to reinstate the ABAWD time-limit. 

To help SNAP state agencies prepare for the lifting of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE) declaration on May 11, 2023, FNS is sharing the enclosed table summarizing the timelines for ending PHE flexibilities. These flexibilities include waivers of SNAP regulations, adjustments of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, temporary changes to eligibility criteria for ABAWDs and students, and the issuance of EAs during the PHE. 

This memorandum extends the Quality Control face-to-face interview waiver through Sept. 30, 2024. This waiver allows state agencies to suspend requirements to conduct face-to-face interviews for active QC case reviews.

FNS determined there are Quality Control cases in the Fiscal Year 2022 active frame with back-to-back certification period extensions that have been treated inconsistently by QC reviewers. This memo is intended to clarify the QC procedures for cases that were impacted by these extensions.

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2023. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.