Subscriber Updates

FNS has announced a final rule to standardize how states calculate Standard Utility Allowances for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The rule ensures greater consistency and accuracy across the country, while allowing states to retain flexibility to reflect variations in local utility costs.  

Our latest report on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation rates highlights how vital the program remains in supporting individuals and families with low income.

USDA is hosting the Fall 2024 Healthy Meals Summit from Oct. 21-23, 2024 as part of its $100 million Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, also known as HMI.

Today, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, is awarding approximately $8.6 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to 11 states that administer the National School Lunch Program.

FNS recently released a new report on SNAP household characteristics for fiscal year 2022. 

Colorado launched their SNAP Produce Bonus program, thanks to a $7.9 million grant from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.

FNS recently announced approximately $2.3 million in funding that will allow more children to eat school breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family.

USDA is committed to modernizing WIC and ensuring it will continue to serve participants well for decades to come.

FNS is pleased to announce the launch of a new, interactive dashboard that features state, territory, and national level data for FNS nutrition programs. Site visitors will have greater insight into critical programs that touch the lives of millions of Americans daily.  

FNS recently studied the impact of child support cooperation requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  

The Food and Nutrition Service is excited to announce a new option for SNAP online purchasing. FNS is dedicated to enhancing access to nutritious food for all Americans, and this expansion of SNAP online purchasing is another step forward in achieving that goal.

FNS is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Fraud Framework Implementation Grant request for applications, aimed at curbing recipient fraud.

FNS is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants Program request for applications, aimed at supporting efforts by state agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners to develop and implement projects that use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of SNAP application and eligibility determination systems. 

USDA’s goal across all summer nutrition programs is simple: Connect children with nutritious food during the summer months to help them grow and thrive. This interim final rule is an important step forward in increasing access to these services.

USDA is publishing a final rule to implement the Access to Baby Formula Act. As part of the months-long, whole-of-government response to the recall-driven infant formula shortages in 2022, Congress passed legislation to support access to formula for WIC participants, even in unforeseen circumstances like disasters, emergencies and supply chain disruptions. President Biden signed the legislation into law on May 21, 2022. 

This week, USDA published a final rule that changes how racial and ethnic data is collected in SNAP.

Did you know there’s a way for children in Medicaid households to be automatically eligible for free and reduced price school meals without their families completing another application? It’s called the Direct Certification with Medicaid Demonstration Project and USDA recently opened applications for more states to participate.  

Applications are now open for the School Food Systems Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, which is part of USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative.  

FNS understands the unique challenges faced by smaller, independent grocery stores interested in offering SNAP online purchasing. That’s why we are excited to share the SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center, also known as SEMTAC, a valuable resource to help retailers get set up for SNAP online purchasing. 

FNS published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars.