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Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance SNAP EBT

Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased. EBT is in use in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

05/24/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2022 State Management Evaluation Target Areas

FNS is targeting the areas of program operation listed, for state SNAP Agency Management Evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year. State SNAP agencies are required to conduct MEs for the target areas in the upcoming fiscal year.  

07/02/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0036 Data Requests from Infant Formula Manufacturers

The purpose of this memorandum is to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the federal regulatory requirements related to the disclosure of confidential WIC vendor and participant information.

WIC Policy Memorandum #2021-6
04/07/2021
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Questions and Answers for Retailers

FNS published the SNAP: P-EBT Integrity Final Rule which requires FNS to treat P-EBT benefits the same as SNAP benefits for the purposes of identifying and sanctioning program violators.

11/04/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0104 FY 2021 State Management Evaluation Target Areas

FNS is targeting the areas of program operation listed, for state SNAP Agency Management Evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year. State SNAP agencies are required to conduct MEs for the target areas in the upcoming fiscal year.  

06/29/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0007 Revised Guidance for Use of Vendor/Private Staff in Call Centers: 2020 Update

Building on best practices to date and consistent with USDA’s efforts to improve customer service and increase state flexibility within the bounds of the law, while continuing to encourage states as laboratories of innovation, FNS is once again expanding allowable activities for states seeking to use vendor/private staff in call centers

02/06/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0019 Census 2020 Demonstration Project Policy Memo

The purpose of this memorandum is to advise you of Food and Nutrition Service’s decision to offer state agencies the opportunity to participate in a demonstration project to exclude earned income from temporary employment in the 2020 Census.

03/08/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0034 Innovation and Evaluation in SNAP Demonstration Projects

This memorandum outlines the approach FNS will begin to take to work with state agencies as they request approval for new demonstration projects or renewal of existing projects, to ensure all active demonstration projects are testing innovative approaches with appropriate evaluations. 

09/13/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0020 Clarifications on Work Requirements, ABAWDs, and E&T

The Office of lnspector General's 2016 Audit Report, Food and Nutrition Service Controls over SNAP Benefits for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents, recommended that FNS perform analysis to identify problematic areas for states in terms of ABAWD policy and then provide states with additional best practices to address those areas. 

05/25/2018
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2014-0067 Guide to Improving Notices of Adverse Action

The guide allows you to evaluate NOAAs to see how well they work for clients; and improve them using proven plain language and information design techniques. In addition, the guide contains models for general notices—providing you with some basic language and formatting examples that can be adapted to notices.

09/18/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021