FNS Documents & Resources

A recently enacted law changes the treatment of the $25 supplemental weekly Unemployment Compensation payment authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2OO9 (ARRA) authorized.

It has come to FNS's attention that, due to unusual shifts in utility costs, SNAP benefits to needy families may decrease when states make annual SUA adjustments this year - even if the circumstances of those households remain constant.

For over thirty years, SNAP has deducted the cost of telephones in determining a household's eligibility and benefit amounts, either by deducting actual telephone bills or standard telephone allowances.

Recently, it has been brought to the national office's attention that there is some confusion concerning the treatment of income received from the Summer Youth Employment Opportunities element under the Workforce Investment Act.

This memo clarifies which retirement accounts the Act expressly excludes from resources.

The SNAP certification provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 go into effect on April 1, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 suspends restrictions on Able Bodied Adults Without Dependent participation in SNAP as of April 1, 2009 continuing through Sept. 30, 2010, unless state agencies choose to impose specific work requirements.

The recently-enacted Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 modified the criteria used by the Department of Labor for the extended benefits program for the duration of the legislation. As a result, some states qualify for the EB program based on the recently-revised criteria rather than the traditional criteria.