FNS Documents & Resources

By law, certain adults without dependents can only receive SNAP benefits beyond three months in a three-year period unless they meet specific work requirements. We refer to this as the “time limit.”

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) periodically surveys state agencies administering SNAP about certain options to determine which options are in use. The results of these surveys have been compiled into the State Options Reports. These reports are not a comprehensive reflection of all policy and administrative options available to states.

From the 2022 sessions and additional conversations with presenters, we identified four approaches SNAP E&T administrators can apply in their program design and delivery of SNAP E&T services to incorporate a focus on equity

FNS monitors SNAP-authorized retailers and transaction data and investigates potential concerns as illustrated in this SNAP infographic highlighting retailer compliance.

The market basket costs in the Thrifty Food Plan, 2021 apply to the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. By law, the USDA must make cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect the cost of food in Alaska and Hawaii. The Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimates for Alaska and Hawaii report provides updated estimates of the June 2022 cost of the reevaluated Thrifty Food Plan in Alaska and Hawaii.

Infographic explaining improper payments in the SNAP program.

All those involved in nutrition assistance programs - at the federal, state and local level - are responsible for good stewardship of tax dollars.

This report presents findings from the evaluation of the first Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives project. The project tested take-up of incentives delivered through coupons issued to SNAP participants when they purchased "qualifying fluid milk" with their SNAP benefits at four pilot stores in west Texas.

Beginning in March 2020, USDA approved states to provide SNAP households with extra pandemic-related SNAP benefits known as emergency allotments (EA). Since then, a variety of state and federal changes have impacted SNAP benefit amounts as shown in this timeline graphic.

SNAP healthy incentive programs encourage healthy eating by making nutritious food more accessible and affordable through coupons, discounts, gift cards, bonus items, or extra funds.