FNS Documents & Resources

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extends the temporary increase to SNAP benefit, allocates new administrative funding, and provides support for SNAP online purchasing. This document provides a summary of the SNAP provisions and other provisions that affect SNAP.

This memorandum replaces the memo issued on Dec. 28, 2020, entitled SNAP – Temporary Increase in Maximum Allotments due to COVID-19. For ease of reference, FNS is reissuing the revised maximum SNAP allotment amounts by household size for the 48 states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

The 2021 CSFP Allocation Memorandum includes the 2021 caseload allocations for state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations based on FY 2020 participation and the level of funding provided in the FY 2021 appropriations. 

The Q&A describes the temporary increase to the maximum monthly allotments and exclusion of pandemic unemployment compensation payments from SNAP income. 

The fiscal year 2021 TEFAP funding memorandum provides guidance on full-year FY 2021 TEFAP food and administrative funding allocations and requests the amount of food funding that states want to convert to administrative funding in FY 2021. The memo also includes information about the amended reallocation process for FY 2020 administrative funds and guidance on the prioritization of use of administrative funds from different sources.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 increases SNAP benefits by raising maximum allotments to 115 percent of the June 2020 value of the Thrifty Food Plan; effective from Jan. 1, 2021 until June 30, 2021.

This waiver cancels selected administrative data reporting requirements in the child nutrition programs.

On Dec. 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. Attached is an information memorandum describing the SNAP provisions of that Act.