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Resource | Guidance Documents Revised Non-Merit System Personnel Guidance for Call Centers

Consistent with USDA's efforts to increase state flexibility within the bounds of the law, FNS is expanding allowable activities for states seeking to use non-merit system personnel in call centers. With FNS approval, states may now use non-merit personnel to provide basic case-specific information that is readily available in the system to a SNAP applicant or participant, such as application or case status, benefit issuance date, and status of submitted verifications. 

12/19/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Examination of the Effect of SNAP Benefit and Eligibility Parameters on Low-Income Households

This study examines how the policies that determine benefit levels for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program compare to current low-income spending patterns by analyzing the expenditures of low-income households across the United States in 2013 and 2014.

10/27/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents SNAP - Issues with Certification Materials Submission Instructions

This memo discusses SNAP applications and other documents being sent by clients to the USDA Office of Civil Rights instead of the appropriate state SNAP office. The memo outlines best practices states can use to make submission instructions clearer for clients.

10/11/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity The Extent of Trafficking in the SNAP: 2012–2014

Trafficking of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits occurs when SNAP recipients sell their benefits for cash to food retailers, often at a discount. Although trafficking does not increase costs to the federal government, it is a diversion of program benefits from their intended purpose of helping low-income families access a nutritious diet. This report, the latest in a series of periodic analyses, provides estimates of the extent of trafficking during the period 2012 through 2014.

09/22/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents 2018 Direct Certification Improvement Grant RFA

The fiscal year 2018 Direct Certification Improvement Grant Request for Applications are available to state agencies that administer the National School Lunch and the School Breakfast programs to fund the costs of improving your direct certification rates with SNAP, and other needs-based assistance programs.

08/15/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents 2014 Farm Bill: Cooperation with Program Research and Evaluation

The Agricultural Act of 2014 clarifies requirements for participation in evaluations and research in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the implementation of this provision.

08/04/2017
Resource | Webinars/Videos SNAP at Farmers Markets: Building Partnerships

This webinar will focus on strategies that markets and local organizations, can use to build new partnerships when it comes to SNAP at farmers markets.

08/01/2017
Resource | Webinars/Videos SNAP at Farmers Markets: Advertising and Marketing

This webinar will focus on strategies for ways to advertise and market farmers markets to SNAP clients.

07/31/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents SNAP State Outreach Plan Guidance

This document is for state agencies that administer SNAP to use in developing and submitting their SNAP outreach plan to FNS for approval.

07/06/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021