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Resource | Policy Memos SNAP FY 2025 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS is committed to increasing access to SNAP, one of the most powerful tools available to ensure low-income people have access to healthy food. Program informational activities, or SNAP outreach activities, are a critical tool to ensure vulnerable populations are aware of the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of SNAP.

02/01/2024
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2024 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS strongly recommends that all states develop a SNAP outreach plan. In addition to increasing enrollment among eligible non-participating households, SNAP outreach can help reduce churn by encouraging existing SNAP households to recertify. 

02/01/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP Emergency Allotments (EA) Provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023

On Dec. 29, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Division HH, Title IV, Section 503(b), of the Act ends SNAP EA that were provided by Section 2302(a)(1) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The law terminates EA after the issuance of February 2023 benefits. Therefore, the last benefit month that may include EA is February 2023.

01/06/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP and TANF Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Skimming Prevention– Tools and Resources

USDA's FNS and ACF at the Department of Health and Human Services are aware of increasing reports of benefit theft by criminal actors through EBT card skimming schemes. After discussions with EBT processors and fraud prevention stakeholders, FNS and ACF have identified prevention measures that can be adopted to improve card security while we work towards longer-term strategies.

10/31/2022
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP – End of Temporary Student Exemptions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

This memorandum provides guidance to SNAP state agencies on the end of the temporary student exemptions as described in Section 702(e) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). This expands upon the SNAP Student Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 - Questions and Answers – Section 702(e) memorandum issued on Feb. 2, 2021. 

10/12/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit and SNAP

As we enter tax filing season this year, I ask you to encourage all SNAP applicants and recipients to file taxes. Even if a family did not earn enough to be required to file taxes, they are eligible for the CTC and potentially thousands of additional dollars in benefits. Filing taxes will mean many families who are eligible for CTC will also get thousands of dollars in additional tax relief through the Earned Income Tax Credit.

02/24/2022
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-2021-0033 SNAP – Emergency Allotments

FNS intends to issue updated SNAP – Emergency Allotments guidance to provide benefits to certain eligible households, including those receiving SNAP benefits at the statutory maximum, that were previously deemed ineligible for emergency allotments by USDA.

04/01/2021
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP - Changes in Combined Application Project Benefit Allotments due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 increases SNAP benefits by raising maximum allotments to 115 percent of the June 2020 value of the Thrifty Food Plan; effective from Jan. 1, 2021 until June 30, 2021.

01/29/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0191 Use of Employment and Training Funds for SNAP Recipients Who Are Attending High School

This memo provides guidance on the use of SNAP E&T funds to pay for services for individuals who are attending high school. In most cases, it is likely neither legal nor appropriate to use E&T funds to pay for services for individuals are attending high school.

12/21/2020
Page updated: October 14, 2021