FNS Documents & Resources

This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This rule includes minor updates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program to better align Child Nutrition Program requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutrition quality of school meals, strengthening the Child Nutrition Programs, and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security. 

This memorandum adjusts the total number of exemptions available to each state for FY 2024. This includes adjustments in the number of exemptions available to states in which caseloads change by more than 10 percent.

This rulemaking finalizes long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, robust stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings.

Recently, FNS has received a number of questions related to buying local meat, poultry, game, and eggs; this memorandum seeks to clarify the regulatory requirements related to food safety and answer specific questions related to these products with a series of questions and answers.

Here are some resources to find out more about SNAP ABAWDs and related information. 

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.

We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. 

The purpose of this guide is to consolidate guidance and policy on serving able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2024. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.