FNS Documents & Resources

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.

This information collection addresses the mandatory state agency information and burden estimates associated with the following state agency options under SNAP: establishing and reviewing standard utility allowances and establishing methodology for offsetting cost of producing self-employment income.

 This is a revision of currently approved information collection requirements associated with initiating collection actions against households who have received an overissuance in SNAP.

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.

The proposed rule would revise SNAP regulations to standardize the methodology for calculating standard utility allowances. 

The Office of lnspector General's 2016 Audit Report, Food and Nutrition Service Controls over SNAP Benefits for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents, recommended that FNS perform analysis to identify problematic areas for states in terms of ABAWD policy and then provide states with additional best practices to address those areas. 

This collection is a revision of currently approved information collection requirements associated with initiating collection actions against households who have received an overissuance in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Food and Nutrition Service is changing the SNAP regulations pertaining to client benefit use, participation of retail food stores and wholesale food concerns in SNAP, and SNAP client participation in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

This memorandum provides clarification of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) comparable disqualification policy.

The purpose of this memo is to transmit guidance regarding the use of data that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides to states documenting retailer disqualifications as a potent source of evidence in recipient trafficking cases.