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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Pandemic EBT

USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

11/03/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP Improvements to Federal Financial Accounting

This communication is intended to provide states with information about a change in the FNS accounting process for obligating SNAP funds.

09/18/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using SNAP Benefits

This is a new collection for the contract Assessment of Mobile Technologies for Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (Mobile Payment Pilot evaluation). The purpose of the Mobile Payment Pilot evaluation is to assess the effects of five pilot projects that will allow SNAP participants to use mobile payments to purchase food as an alternate option to a physical electronic benefit transfer card.

05/30/2023
Resource | Policy Memos P-EBT Deadline Issuance Letter

On Jan. 30, 2023, the administration announced the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. This action has significant implications for the administration of P-EBT activities for fiscal year 2023 and 2024. This letter is intended to outline those impacts and identify ways in which FNS intends to assist state partners with the issuance of final P-EBT benefits and the orderly conclusion of the P-EBT activities.

05/26/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2020-0095 What is Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)?

Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased. EBT is in use in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

05/24/2023
Basic page Mobile Payment Pilot

The Agricultural Act of 2018 authorizes the use of mobile technologies for the purpose of accessing SNAP benefits for payment at the point-of-sale. This will allow SNAP participants to input their Electronic Benefit Transfer card into a mobile device and make SNAP purchases at the point-of-sale without the presence of the EBT card.

03/23/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Training and Presentations

The FNS State Systems team has produced a series of training presentations designed to help state agencies understand and comply with the FNS approval process. These eight on-line presentations correspond to FNS Handbook 901, with information on the key documents or phases in the process.

01/26/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP – Ensuring Timely Benefits to Eligible Households

This memorandum provides a reminder to state agencies that under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, all eligible households must have the opportunity to participate in SNAP within 30 days of application or seven days if they are entitled to expedited service.

12/02/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Pandemic EBT: Updated Guidance on Virtual Schools

FNS is updating its guidance to states on P-EBT eligibility for children who enrolled in non-NSLP-participating fully virtual institutions or began homeschooling since the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

09/08/2022
Page updated: October 14, 2021