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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 2022 Commissioners Letter - SNAP Policy on Public Charge

This is a letter clarifying public charge policy as it pertains to SNAP participation. The letter was sent to SNAP state commissioners in Jan. 2022.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Joint Letter on Public Charge

This is a letter clarifying public charge policy as it pertains to SNAP participation. The letter is jointly signed by FNS and USCIS.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0037 DHS Letter - Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

This letter provides key information about a change in the way the Department of Homeland Security is administering the public charge ground of inadmissibility.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos DHS Letter - Update to Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Letter

This letter is an update to the April 12, 2021 letter that USCIS issued concerning public charge and how it interacts with the food assistance programs, including SNAP.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Carta de los Comisionados de 2022- Política SNAP sobre la Carga Publica

Esta es una carta que aclara la política de la carga publica en lo que se refiere a participación de SNAP. La carta fue enviada a los comisionados estatales de SNAP en enero de 2022.

01/12/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Carta conjunta sobre la carga publica

Esta es una carta que aclara la política de carga pública en lo que respecta a la participación en SNAP. La carta está firmada conjuntamente por FNS y USCIS.

01/05/2022
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP – Emergency Allotments

As long as there is a national Public Health Emergency in place and the state has a state-level emergency declaration in place, states may opt to continue to provide monthly emergency allotments to their caseload. States have the option to provide a one-month EA issuance phase-out following the end of their state emergency declaration.

12/14/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0087 SNAP FY 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the federal FY 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2021.

08/16/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0126 SNAP - Waive Fair Hearing Timelines Guidance

FNS is allowing states flexibility regarding fair hearing timeframes. As needed, state agencies may extend the fair hearings process up to 120 days from receipt of the request for fair hearings that were already in process or for which requests are received from March 1 through May 31, 2020.

05/13/2021
Page updated: October 14, 2021