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Resource | Policy Memos Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP and Head Start are working together to identify ways to promote early childhood education and nutrition services. Joint messaging or outreach reduces duplication and provides new ways to increase child development and nutrition security for children and families.

03/30/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2020-0093 SNAP COVID-19 Emergency Allotments Guidance

USDA has issued guidance to states in implementing FFCRA of 2020 which provides for the issuance of emergency allotments based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of HHS under the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.

03/07/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2024 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS strongly recommends that all states develop a SNAP outreach plan. In addition to increasing enrollment among eligible non-participating households, SNAP outreach can help reduce churn by encouraging existing SNAP households to recertify. 

02/01/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2023 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS strongly recommends that all states develop a SNAP outreach plan. In addition to increasing enrollment among eligible non-participating households, SNAP outreach can help maintain enrollment for existing SNAP clients through the recertification process, including households who need additional support as state agencies transition from COVID-19 federal PHE flexibilities to normal SNAP operations. 

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0087 SNAP FY 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the federal FY 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2021.

08/16/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0084 Child Tax Credit and SNAP

On March 11, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 providing support for American families, state governments, and communities to rebuild lives and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This letter discusses important opportunities to support low-income families by advising them of the Child Tax Credit.

08/10/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0082 SNAP Maximum Allotment Memo Delay

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 required USDA to re-evaluate the Thrifty Food Plan by 2022 and every 5 years thereafter based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns and dietary guidance. By law, the June TFP is the basis for SNAP maximum allotments for the following fiscal year.

08/09/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0081 SNAP FY 2022 Cost of Living Adjustments Without Maximum Allotments

This memorandum provides the FY 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to SNAP, income eligibility standards, and deductions for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2021.

08/09/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0126 SNAP - Waive Fair Hearing Timelines Guidance

FNS is allowing states flexibility regarding fair hearing timeframes. As needed, state agencies may extend the fair hearings process up to 120 days from receipt of the request for fair hearings that were already in process or for which requests are received from March 1 through May 31, 2020.

05/13/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0127 Temporary Suspension of Claims Collections Guidance

FNS will allow state agencies to suspend SNAP regulations by allowing flexibility in the time frame for establishing or disposing of new claims as well as by not requiring collection of active recoupment of SNAP overpayments, delaying collection on newly established overpayments, and not considering any payments delayed due to this suspension to be delinquent.

04/21/2021
Page updated: October 14, 2021