FNS Documents & Resources

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.

FNS intends to issue updated SNAP – Emergency Allotments guidance to provide benefits to certain eligible households, including those receiving SNAP benefits at the statutory maximum, that were previously deemed ineligible for emergency allotments by USDA.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 increases SNAP benefits by raising maximum allotments to 115 percent of the June 2020 value of the Thrifty Food Plan; effective from Jan. 1, 2021 until June 30, 2021.

SNAP Questions and Answers Concerning the Trafficking Controls and Fraud Investigations Final Rule

In February, 2013, FNS published final regulations revising the definition of trafficking. It subsequently came to our attention that some states were not clear that upon its effective date, federal law takes precedence and states were expected to implement the new federal trafficking definition.

Strengthening SNAP integrity, rooting out waste, fraud and abuse so that federal dollars are used appropriately.

It has come to Food and Nutrition Service's attention that although states have incorporated the 13.6 percent increase to SNAP maximum allotments into their systems as a mass change effective April 1, 2009 there are some states where not every household will automatically receive the increase as part of their April allotment due to the limitations of certain state systems.

Attached are the revised maximum SNAP allotment adjustments under the legislation by household size for the 48 states and DC, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

This memorandum is to reiterate and clarify current policy governing intentional program violations as set forth in the Food Stamp Program regulations.

The following memo represents our position on the question of whether the head of household may be held responsible for an IPV when the household member that committed the IPV cannot be determined.