FNS Documents & Resources

Letters to various Directors of Human Services with attached Public Charge fact sheet.

This memorandum provides guidance to states regarding the repayment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from the sponsors of non-citizens who participate in the program. States are encouraged to request reimbursement if a sponsored non-citizen receives SNAP benefits and clarification is provided on the steps for requesting repayment.  States are also reminded of their obligation to comply with the requirements for counting sponsor income. 

Federal law requires State agencies to verify a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicant's identity and other critical information prior to · certifying the household to participate in SNAP. In general, SNAP State agencies verify identity based on documentary evidence, such as a driver's license, obtained through the applicant or a third party. However, over the last 6 years, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has conditionally permitted several State agencies to establish and conduct Identity Authentication Pilot projects. As a result of the projects' success in providing an innovative way for SNAP State agencies to provide maximum flexibility to utilize technology in streamlining program administration, FNS is now providing all State agencies the option to use Identity Authentication in verifying applicant identity.

This memorandum clarifies the use of third party payroll sources, such as The Work Number, for SNAP certification policy and Quality Control (QC) purposes. The first two sections of this memorandum apply to certification · policy and the section titled Quality Control Considerations provides details on how to treat verification from a third party payroll source for QC reviews.

FNS is targeting the SNAP Management Evaluations (MEs) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

On April 15, 2019, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the final rule for The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Student Eligibility, Convicted Felons, Lottery and Gambling, and State Verification Provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (84 FR 15083). Enclosed is a summary of the rule’s lottery and gambling provisions, which implement Section 4009 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. FNS may issue additional guidance, as needed, regarding the other provisions of this final rule.

In Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) served nearly 6 million households through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). As disaster responses have grown in size and scale in recent years, it is essential that FNS proactively review the D-SNAP Guidance to ensure program integrity remains high while also safeguarding the opportunity to participate for income eligible households.

To complete that review, the FNS Southwest Regional Office convened a State Workgroup comprised of seven state agencies with recent disaster experience to discuss concerns and best practices regarding D-SNAP implementation, program integrity, and program access. State representatives from across the country met with FNS leadership to review current statues, regulatory provisions, and policy guidance concerning D-SNAP, and to provide recommendations to FNS on how to improve the program at state and federal levels.

These Questions and Answers are in response to changes made by Section 4005 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, enacted on Dec. 20, 2018, to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training program and certain Able-bodied Adults without Dependents work policies. 

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is issuing this memorandum to alert all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state agencies.of the available state options and requirements related to child support cooperation, as a condition of eligibility for SNAP.

This memorandum is pursuant to the President's Executive Order, Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility, which instructed the Department to review regulations and guidance documents to ensure they are consistent with promoting economic opportunity and ensuring the most efficient use of taxpayer funds.