FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum applies only to state agencies that include the following (or similar) wording on a SNAP application: "Failure to report or verify any of the above listed expenses will be seen as a statement by your household that you do not want to receive a deduction for the unreported expense."

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify FNS policy on whether verification of a sponsor's income and resources is needed to determine if an immigrant is indigent for SNAP purposes.

Policy Household Member's Name Differs from the Name Contained on the Earnings Statement Used to Verify Income. 

Cost-of-Living adjustments to the SNAP allotments, deductions, income eligibility standards for the 48 states, D.C., Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

This memo provides guidance to state agencies how to handle the accessibility of a deployed service member's bank accounts when determining eligibility.

This memo provides guidance to state agencies regarding exclusion of combat pay given to military personnel while deployed to a combat zone.

The FY 2005 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Agriculture included a provision which excluded from consideration as income in the Food Stamp Program additional pay received by military personnel as a result of deployment to a combat zone. This provision has been extended.

The US Department of Health and Human services published its annual update of poverty income guidelines in the Federal Register of Jan. 24, 2006. 

It has recently come to our attention that under PL 104-204 and 106-419, benefits paid by the Veterans Administration to the children of Vietnam veterans born with congenital spina bifida and certain other birth defects are excludable as income for food stamp purposes.

On Dec. 8, 2004, the President signed The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005. This law contains a provision which excludes from consideration as income in the Food Stamp Program additional pay received by military personnel as a result of deployment to a combat zone.