FNS Documents & Resources

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.

This policy memorandum transmits the new Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that were published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2017.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, limits the amount of resources that a household may have and still receive SNAP benefits. Resources can include, but are not limited to, cash and funds in checking or savings accounts.

The memorandum that follows is intended to update earlier guidance provided to state agencies on the treatment of gift cards in determining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility and benefits.

The memorandum that follows is intended to update earlier guidance provided to state agencies on the treatment of retirement accounts in determining SNAP eligibility.

This memorandum provides the fiscal year 2017 Cost-of-Living-Adjustments to SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2016.

FNS offered state agencies the opportunity to test whether using Quarterly Wage Report data was sufficiently accurate to verify and project earned income in certain SNAP cases. Two state agencies, Texas and Utah, agreed to participate and run projects that ran through 2014 and 2015.

This policy memorandum transmits the 2016-2017 Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) that were published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2016.

On Feb. 7, 2014, SNAP was reauthorized as part of The Agricultural Act of 2014. Attached is an implementing memorandum describing Section 4006, "Standard Utility Allowances Based on the Receipt of Energy Assistance."

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide questions and answers to help Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies implement provisions of the final rule: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Income Deductions & Resource Eligibility.