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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 | Policy Memos State Agency Food Safety Inspections Report for SY 2022-23

This memorandum and attachment provides guidance regarding the State Agency School Food Safety Inspections Report for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for SY 2022-23.

SP15-2023
04/27/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FD-152: Discontinuance of the High Security Seal Requirement for USDA Foods Deliveries

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. 

04/05/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Comment Request: Produce Safety University Nomination and Course Evaluation

The collection of information is necessary for people to attend Produce Safety University, a training course designed to help child nutrition professionals identify and manage food safety risks associated with fresh produce.

01/13/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Abbott Infant Formula Recall Waiver Expiration Memo

This letter extends the expiration date for certain flexibilities for WIC state agencies following the Abbott Recall and infant formula shortage. 

WPM 2023-1
11/08/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Abbott Infant Formula Recall Waiver Expiration Schedules

This letter extends the expiration date for certain flexibilities for WIC state agencies following the Abbott Recall and infant formula shortage. 

WPM 2022-7
08/23/2022
Resource | Waivers Follow-up Letter to State Health Commissioners

Follow up to letter dated May 24, 2022 and recent listening sessions with state health commissioners and WIC state agencies.

06/06/2022
Resource | Policy | General/Other Voluntary Recall of Certain Abbott Powder Formulas, including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare

FNS is committed to providing WIC participants with access to a variety of safe and healthy foods, including infant formula, and strongly encourages WIC state agencies to take expedient action to ensure that WIC participants can exchange recalled product on hand, and can use WIC benefits in their EBT balance or on paper WIC food instruments to purchase product that has not been recalled

02/18/2022
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - SNAP State Agency Options for Standard Utility Allowances and Self-Employment Income

This information collection addresses the state agency reporting burden associated with the following state agency options under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Establishing and reviewing standard utility allowances (SUAs) and establishing methodology for offsetting cost of producing self-employment income.

10/25/2019
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: SNAP Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances

The proposed rule would revise SNAP regulations to standardize the methodology for calculating standard utility allowances. 

10/03/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021