States annually update Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to reflect changes in utility costs. When determining a household’s eligibility, states consider a household’s total shelter costs, including the cost of utilities. Since actual utility costs are often hard to determine, states can use SUAs, which are standard amounts that represent low-income household utility costs in the state or local area. SUAs may be used in lieu of the household's actual costs when determining eligibility and benefit amount.
We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year.
This memorandum provides the FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2023.
This webinar provided an overview of the USDA Foods Processing program and shared some tips on how to effectively manage USDA Foods diverted to processors.
This memorandum provides clarification on the value pass through methods available under 7 CFR 250.36 and on the timing of processor inventory reductions of USDA Foods under each system.
This webinar provides best practices to help you manage USDA Foods in Schools for school year 2021-22.
This webinar highlights recent updates and provides guidance on managing USDA Foods in Schools, including information on the USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and National Processing Program. We cover updates on allocating funds and adding new sites to USDA DoD Fresh, monitoring USDA Foods inventories, and details on SY 2020-2021 entitlement calculations, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Opt-In Waiver for School Year 2020- 2021 National School Lunch Program USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations.
This memorandum addresses inventory limitations and requirements that USDA Foods processors must follow when manufacturing processed end products for use in child nutrition programs.
This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
The attached questions and answers provide policy clarifications to address state agency concerns regarding the Food and Nutrition Service's Feb. 8, 2019, Information Memorandum which discussed Section 4004 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.