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Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations How States Safeguard USDA's SNAP Participants' Personally Identifiable Information

All applicants and participants in SNAP are required to submit personally identifiable information for verification before receiving benefits. To better understand the evolving landscape of data security, USDA conducted this study to evaluate how state agencies protect PII of SNAP recipients and compiled best practices for maintaining data security of program.

04/04/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Joint Letter on Public Charge

This is a letter clarifying public charge policy as it pertains to SNAP participation. The letter is jointly signed by FNS and USCIS.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Carta conjunta sobre la carga publica

Esta es una carta que aclara la política de carga pública en lo que respecta a la participación en SNAP. La carta está firmada conjuntamente por FNS y USCIS.

01/05/2022
Resource | Research | Participation Characteristics Characteristics of SNAP Households: FY 2019

The Characteristics report is published annually, dating back to 1976, and provides information about the demographic and economic circumstances of SNAP households. Using a sample of SNAP Quality Control data that is representative at both the state and national level, this report summarizes the characteristics of households and individuals who participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2019.  Because SNAP is available to most low-income households, participants represent a broad cross section of the Nation's poor. 

03/29/2021
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP Emergency Allotments Phase 2 Guidance

The attached is updated guidance to states in implementing Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which provides for the issuance of additional months of emergency allotments (supplements) based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.

04/21/2020
Resource | Policy Memos Request to Provide Emergency Allotments to SNAP Households

The attached is guidance to states in implementing Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which provides for the issuance of emergency allotments (supplements) based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration

03/20/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0059 SNAP - FY 2020 Cost of Living Adjustments

This memorandum provides the FY 2020 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards and deductions. COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2019.

07/24/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0016 Cases of Severely Delayed Certification due to State Agency Fault

This Food and Nutrition Service policy memo clarifies the process for calculating restored benefits in SNAP cases in which the application or recertification process of an eligible household has been delayed for more than one year due to state agency fault.

04/10/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2011-0055 SUA Annual Review and Adjustment - Option to Postpone Annual Adjustment

This memorandum provides a policy option to states to help soften the impact that reduced SUAs might have on SNAP households in certain state.

09/21/2011
Resource | Research | SNAP Benefit Use Benefit Redemption Patterns in the SNAP

This study identifies how spending patterns, such as the rate at which households spend their benefit, changed following the ARRA benefit increase and analyzes how spending patterns differed across household characteristics, time and states.

02/01/2011
Page updated: October 14, 2021