FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum clarifies SNAP policy regarding recertification interview scheduling.

This memorandum provides revised policy guidance on certification periods pertaining to zero income households in FDPIR. FNS Handbook 501 provides that households who report zero income month after month must be asked as to how they sustain themselves and other household members.

This memorandum provides questions and answers about state online application compliance with SNAP regulations. The attachment gives clarification about compliance issues emphasized in the Online Application Review Results and Action Items memorandum issued Dec. 17, 2010.

This rule amends the regulations affecting the determination of children's eligibility for free meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program by direct certification and categorical eligibility. Conforming changes and miscellaneous technical changes are also made, as appropriate, for the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

The purpose of this memorandum is to implement a provision affecting mandatory direct certification for children in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households.

FNS has developed the enclosed table, the Summary of Certification Interview Policy, to highlight certification interview policy and help state agencies convey the interview provisions to community-based organizations that participate in Community Partner Interviewer Demonstration Projects.

his final rule implements 11 provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) that establish new eligibility and certification requirements for the receipt of food stamps.

As more state agencies are able to offer households the option of applying for SNAP benefits online, the occurrence of households filing multiple electronic applications has become a more visible issue. FNS has been asked: must a state agency process each application submitted by a household in the application month, or may the state agency automatically deny the additional applications that follow the initial application submission? 

This memorandum transmits the first set of Questions and Answers that the Program Development Division has received about excluding the special weekly $25 Unemployment Compensation payments.

The following chart clarifies what verification requirements are mandatory at initial certification and describes the program flexibility within those requirements that may help reduce workload. The chart also lists the state options that may apply to each item of eligibility that could have workload impact.