Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Info Sheets Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)

Broad-based categorical eligibility is a policy that makes most households categorically eligible for SNAP because they qualify for a non-cash TANF or state maintenance of effort funded benefit.

11/02/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Information Collection: SNAP Reporting of Lottery and Gambling and Resource Verification

This is a revision of a currently approved collection and existing burden in use without a valid OMB control number in SNAP. This information collection captures the burden associated with the requirement that states make ineligible SNAP participants with substantial lottery or gambling winnings and establish cooperative agreements with gaming entities within their states to identify SNAP participants with substantial winnings. 

04/07/2022
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the SNAP

USDA proposes updating the regulations to refine categorical eligibility requirements based on receipt of TANF benefits. Specifically, the Department proposes: (1) to define “benefits” for categorical eligibility to mean ongoing and substantial benefits; and (2) to limit the types of non-cash TANF benefits conferring categorical eligibility to those that focus on subsidized employment, work supports and childcare. The proposed rule would also require state agencies to inform FNS of all non-cash TANF benefits that confer categorical eligibility.

10/21/2019
Resource | Comment Request Revision of Categorical Eligibility in SNAP - Reopening of Comment Period

The Food and Nutrition Service proposed to make changes to SNAP regulations to refine categorical eligibility requirements based on receipt of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. 

10/18/2019
Resource | Fact Sheets Proposed Rule: Revision of SNAP Categorical Eligibility

In July 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a proposed rule entitled “Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)." This action closes a loophole that allows states to make participants in certain programs “categorically eligible” to participate in SNAP.

07/23/2019
Resource | Final Rule Correction: SNAP Student Eligibility, Convicted Felons, Lottery and Gambling and State Verification Provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014

This document contains technical corrections to the Paperwork Reduction Act section of final rule entitled “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Student Eligibility, Convicted Felons, Lottery and Gambling, and State Verification Provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014,” published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2019.

06/21/2019
Resource | Final Rule Final Rule: SNAP Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

This final rule amends the SNAP regulations to update procedures for accessing SNAP benefits in drug addiction or alcoholic treatment centers (DAA treatment centers) and group living arrangements (GLAs) through electronic benefit transfer (EBT).

02/19/2019
Resource | Notices SNAP: Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Approval of Information Collection Request

This document announces approval of an information collection requirement regarding the final rule titled Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

11/02/2017
Resource | Interim Final Rule Interim Final Rule: Delay of Effective Date - SNAP: Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

FNS is putting a stay on the effective date of the interim final provisions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 final rule. The effective date will be delayed for 120 days to Oc. 5, 2017.

06/07/2017
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - Evaluation of Alternatives To Improve Elderly Access

This study will provide FNS with a better understanding of the barriers to serving elderly populations in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the extent to which available policy options improve program access, whether certain program models or combinations are more effective than others, and what tradeoffs exist between program simplification/access goals and ensuring benefit adequacy.

05/30/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021