Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information

We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. 

10/01/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2023.

08/03/2023
Resource | Notices Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2019-2020)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.

03/20/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0022 Questions and Answers: FY 2019 Homeless Shelter Deduction Memo

The attached questions and answers provide policy clarifications to address state agency concerns regarding the Food and Nutrition Service's Feb. 8, 2019, Information Memorandum which discussed Section 4004 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

03/12/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0036 SNAP – FY 2019 Cost of Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the fiscal year 2019 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2018.

10/01/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0030 SNAP – FY 2019 Cost of Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the fiscal year 2019 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2018.

07/27/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0047 SNAP - FY 2018 Cost of Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the fiscal year 2018 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2017.

07/28/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0036 Clarification of State Options for Determining Fleeing Felon Status for SNAP

FNS is issuing this policy memo to clarify state options and requirements relating to the determination of fleeing felon status under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations at 7 CFR 273.11(n).  

06/27/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0035 Changes to Martinez Fleeing Felon Test after Barry v. Lyon Decision

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  regulations at 7 CFR 273.11(n) require state agencies to choose between two tests to establish fleeing felon status: the four-part test and the alternative test, often called the Martinez test. This policy memo clarifies changes in the Martinez test necessitated by the Walter Barry, et al. v. Nick Lyon decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

06/27/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021