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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 | Federal Register Documents Comment Request - SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System

This is a new collection to consolidate and improve SNAP-Ed data collecting and reporting, as required in the 2018 Farm Bill.

06/10/2022
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2021-0011 Q&A on Sections 702(a), (b), and (d) of The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

The Q&A describes the temporary increase to the maximum monthly allotments and exclusion of pandemic unemployment compensation payments from SNAP income. 

02/18/2021
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
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0064 Information from Third Party Payroll Sources

This memorandum clarifies the use of third party payroll sources for SNAP certification policy and quality control purposes. The first two sections of this memorandum apply to certification policy and the section titled Quality Control Considerations provides details on how to treat verification from a third party payroll source for QC reviews.

08/21/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0050 Q&As regarding Military Combat Pay

FNS is issuing this memorandum in fulfillment of the commitment made in the preamble of the SNAP: Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 final rule to provide additional guidance for state agencies on how to carry out the exclusion of certain military combat-related pay from income for purposes of SNAP eligibility determinations.

08/28/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0018 Requirements for Informing Households of ABAWD Rules

Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, limits the time able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to 3 months in any 36-month period, unless the individual meets the ABAWD work requirement or is otherwise exempt.

04/17/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0015 Taking Food Components Offsite in the At-Risk Afterschool Component of CACFP

The purpose of this memorandum is to extend to the at-risk afterschool component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program the flexibility to take certain food items offsite.

CACFP10-2017
04/06/2017
Resource | FAQs/Q&As | FNS-GD-2014-0049 Questions and Answers Concerning Section 4013 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 - National Directory of New Hires

Questions and Answers Concerning Section 4013 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 - National Directory of New Hires

06/06/2014
Page updated: October 14, 2021