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Resource | Policy Standard Utility Allowances

States annually update Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to reflect changes in utility costs. When determining a household’s eligibility, states consider a household’s total shelter costs, including the cost of utilities. Since actual utility costs are often hard to determine, states can use SUAs, which are standard amounts that represent low-income household utility costs in the state or local area. SUAs may be used in lieu of the household's actual costs when determining eligibility and benefit amount.

10/01/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents SNAP: Non-Discretionary Quality Control Provisions of Title IV of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018

USDA is adopting the interim final rule on non-discretionary quality control provisions of Title IV of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, and its correction, as final.

04/18/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Comment Request - SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System

This is a new collection to consolidate and improve SNAP-Ed data collecting and reporting, as required in the 2018 Farm Bill.

06/10/2022
Resource | Federal Register Documents Information Collection: SNAP Reporting of Lottery and Gambling and Resource Verification

This is a revision of a currently approved collection and existing burden in use without a valid OMB control number in SNAP. This information collection captures the burden associated with the requirement that states make ineligible SNAP participants with substantial lottery or gambling winnings and establish cooperative agreements with gaming entities within their states to identify SNAP participants with substantial winnings. 

04/07/2022
Resource | Notices Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2022-2023)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. 

02/16/2022
Resource | Interim Final Rule SNAP 2008 Farm Bill Provisions on Clarification of Split Issuance; Accrual of Benefits and Definition Changes

This interim final rule delays the implementation date of certain provisions of the final rule entitled, “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 2008 Farm Bill Provisions on Clarification of Split Issuance; Accrual of Benefits and Definition Changes.”

07/29/2021
Resource | Notices Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines (2021-22)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

03/04/2021
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - SNAP State Agency Options for Standard Utility Allowances and Self-Employment Income

This information collection addresses the state agency reporting burden associated with the following state agency options under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Establishing and reviewing standard utility allowances (SUAs) and establishing methodology for offsetting cost of producing self-employment income.

10/25/2019
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: SNAP Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances

The proposed rule would revise SNAP regulations to standardize the methodology for calculating standard utility allowances. 

10/03/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0049 Q&As on SNAP E&T Provisions of the Farm Bill

The attached 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 SNAP Employment and Training program and certain Able-bodied Adults without Dependents work policies.

05/17/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021