The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and households via a monthly benefit on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, similar to a debit card, which can be used at authorized retailer stores to purchase food. SNAP is the largest Federal nutrition assistance program.
FNS plays a vital role in providing supplemental nutrition assistance when disasters occur by coordinating with state, local, and voluntary organizations to: (1) provide food for shelters and other mass feeding sites, (2) distribute food packages directly to households in specific situations, (3) offer flexibility in nutrition assistance programs’ design and administration to continue providing benefits to participants in need, and (4) approve eligible states’ requests to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
USDA/FNS has published in the Federal Register the Final Rule entitled “Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” The rule makes a wide range of enhancements to the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, which helps participants gain the skills and work experience necessary to move towards—and into—employment.
The Department set the QC tolerance threshold at $37 for fiscal year (FY) 2014 and adjusts the threshold each year following Section 3(u)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended. For FY 2019, the tolerance threshold is $37.
The Keys to Payment Accuracy highlight best practices and provide strategies and opportunities enabling states to improve and maintain the accuracy of SNAP payments. The 10 strategic tools included in the Keys are based on the experiences, needs, and challenges of state agencies in an effort to encourage a comprehensive approach to improving SNAP payment accuracy.
In December 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a final rule entitled “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents”. This action supports the Agency’s commitment to promoting employment by applying a common-sense policy to SNAP’s work-related program standards for able bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).
In October 2019, FNS published a proposed rule entitled “Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances.” This action modernizes the standard utility allowances used in calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in order to enhance program integrity and ensure equity among program participants.
In July 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a proposed rule entitled “Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)." This action closes a loophole that allows states to make participants in certain programs “categorically eligible” to participate in SNAP.
The attached chart lists states that have issued a request for proposals. These states remain on the chart until either a new contract with the incumbent processor is in place, or until they convert to a new vendor.