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Resource | Policy Memos SNAP FY 2025 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS is committed to increasing access to SNAP, one of the most powerful tools available to ensure low-income people have access to healthy food. Program informational activities, or SNAP outreach activities, are a critical tool to ensure vulnerable populations are aware of the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of SNAP.

02/01/2024
Resource | Federal Register Documents Final Rule: SNAP - Revision of Civil Rights Data Collection Methods

With this final rule, FNS is revising Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations that cover collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data by state agencies on persons receiving benefits from SNAP. 

12/14/2023
Resource | Waivers Guam: COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities

USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

11/03/2023
Resource | Waivers Virgin Islands: COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities

USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

10/31/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Replacing Stolen SNAP Benefits: State Plan Approvals

Congress passed a law in late 2022 to help SNAP participants who are victims of card skimming, cloning and other similar methods. To implement this new law, states are working quickly to develop and implement processes to help people whose SNAP benefits were stolen seek and obtain relief. FNS will list plans on this page as they are approved

10/30/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Addressing Stolen SNAP Benefits

FNS is working closely with our state and federal partners, SNAP retailers, EBT processors, and other industry experts to protect SNAP benefits and combat SNAP fraud.

10/27/2023
Resource | Waivers California: COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities

USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

10/02/2023
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 | Infographics Changes to the ABAWD Work Requirements

By law, adults without disabilities or dependents in their care – referred to as ABAWDs – are limited to three months of SNAP benefits in three years unless they meet the ABAWD-specific work requirements. Recent changes, linked to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, are reshaping these rules. 

09/28/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Privacy Act of 1974: New System of Records

USDA FNS is proposing to add a new system of records, entitled USDA/FNS–13, Mercury, which is a Consumer Off the Shelf workflow system designed to automate the correspondence tracking and management process within FNS.

09/18/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021