FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this notice is to update for fiscal year 2000 the maximum allotment levels, which are the basis for determining the amount of food stamps which participating households receive and the gross and net income limits for food stamp eligibility.

The Department of Justice is publishing a proposed rule in this issue of the Federal Register which proposes to establish clear standards governing a determination that an alien is inadmissible or ineligible to adjust status, or has become deportable, on public charge grounds. Before the proposed rule becomes final, the Immigration and Naturalization Service is publishing its field guidance on public charge issues as an attachment to this notice. 

The purpose of this notice is to update for fiscal year 1999 the maximum allotment levels, which are the basis for determining the amount of food stamps which participating households receive and the gross and net income limits for food stamp eligibility.

By this notice, USDA is updating for fiscal year 1999 the maximum food stamp allotments for participating households in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands. These annual adjustments, required by law, take into account changes in the cost of food and statutory adjustments since the amounts were last calculated.

The rule establishes procedures to be followed by the Inspector General and other federal law enforcement officials who conduct investigations of alleged violations of the Food Stamp Act and who may, during the course of those investigations, acquire property subject to forfeiture and denial of property rights.

This rule implements several legislative provisions from the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act Amendments of 1991, the Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act of 1993, and the Food Stamp Program Improvements Act of 1994. It finalizes provisions in a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Nov. 1, 1993.

This final rule establishes the rules of practice governing the administrative review process for state agencies challenging food stamp quality control claims and is intended to speed the resolution of the QC claims.

This final rule implements those nondiscretionary provisions pertaining to increased limits for civil money penalties for trafficking in benefit redemption instruments and for selling firearms, ammunition, explosives, or controlled substances for benefit redemption instruments. The intended effect of this rule is to raise the amounts of civil money penalties paid by authorized firms for the types of violations specified.

This action places into final form an interim Food Stamp Program rule published on June 7, 1989. The interim rulemaking implemented Food Stamp Program provisions contained in the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988.

This final rule expands the food stamp eligibility of certain blind and disabled individuals residing in group homes and excludes income of an SSI recipient necessary for the fulfillment of a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS).