FNS has recently been reviewing its SNAP waiver processes and procedures. This memo serves to notify SNAP state agencies that FNS is no longer approving new interest income verification waivers or extending existing waivers.
FNS is issuing this memorandum in fulfillment of the commitment made in the preamble of the SNAP: Eligibility, Certification, and Employment and Training Provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 final rule to provide additional guidance for state agencies on how to carry out the exclusion of certain military combat-related pay from income for purposes of SNAP eligibility determinations.
FNS offered state agencies the opportunity to test whether using Quarterly Wage Report data was sufficiently accurate to verify and project earned income in certain SNAP cases. Two state agencies, Texas and Utah, agreed to participate and run projects that ran through 2014 and 2015.
SNAP Questions and Answers Concerning the Trafficking Controls and Fraud Investigations Final Rule
In February, 2013, FNS published final regulations revising the definition of trafficking. It subsequently came to our attention that some states were not clear that upon its effective date, federal law takes precedence and states were expected to implement the new federal trafficking definition.
The increased focus on SNAP integrity has required FNS and the states to review their procedures for responding to integrity issues, specifically a clarification of FNS' responsibility when a state employee is found guilty of fraud while administering the program.
Sale or offer to sell SNAP benefits on Facebook.
This letter is to follow-up on our earlier correspondence, dated Aug. 17, 2011, in which we requested that Craigslist post a notice regarding the illegality of selling SNAP benefits on its website and/or that SNAP benefits be added to its prohibited items list.
This letter is to follow-up on our earlier correspondence in which we requested that Craigslist post a notice regarding the illegality of selling SNAP benefits on its website and/or that SNAP benefits be added to its prohibited items list.
The USDA has determined that the sale or offer to sell SNAP benefits in public or online is an intentional program violation and has issued policy guidance to that effect. We have received complaints that individuals are using Facebook accounts to post advertisements and make offers to buy or sell SNAP benefits.