FNS Documents & Resources

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. This memorandum provides the revised maximum SNAP allotment amounts by household size for the 48 states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands. 

This memo provides guidance on the use of SNAP E&T funds to pay for services for individuals who are attending high school. In most cases, it is likely neither legal nor appropriate to use E&T funds to pay for services for individuals are attending high school. In some instances, however, it is allowed and encouraged to use E&T funds for individuals who are of high school age, such as for individuals aged 16-17 who are subject to SNAP work requirements.

The Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project that seeks to increase participation among the elderly low-income population by streamlining the application and certification process.

FNS is issuing the attached set of questions and answers to address inquiries received about the implementation of QC related provisions in the continuing resolution PL 116-159.

This document provides information to states to assist in the development of state plans to operate Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for school children during school year 2020-21.

The Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act extends Pandemic EBT through the end of September 2021. That means that P-EBT is now available for all of school year 2020-2021.

In September 2020, USDA awarded approximately $3.2 million in Data and Technical Assistance (DATA) grants to five states.  These grants are intended to support the full range of needs state agencies may have related to the development, collection, reporting, analysis and use of SNAP E&T participant outcome data. Among other things, funds can be used for training and capacity building, including efforts to improve E&T data quality; information technology systems development to support the collection, reporting, and analysis of SNAP E&T data; and/or continuous program improvement of SNAP E&T programs. 

The Secretary is exercising the option provided in SNAP regulations to grant states additional time to dispose of individual QC cases. States will be given an additional 45 days to report the findings of all cases selected for the June 2020 sample month, without the need to provide a separate explanation.

This memorandum defines heated foods, hot foods, and cold prepared foods in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer eligibility determinations. Only staple food products are counted toward a firm’s eligibility to participate in SNAP. Heated foods, hot foods, and cold prepared foods are not considered staple foods, and are not counted when determining if a firm meets Criterion A or Criterion B to be eligible to participate in SNAP as an authorized retail food store.

This memorandum provides the fiscal year 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2020.