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Resource | Policy Standard Utility Allowances

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.

10/01/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence

This information collection is mandated by section 231 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Section 231 of the HHFKA requires USDA to implement a program to recognize exemplary breastfeeding support practices at WIC local agencies and clinics.

05/03/2023
Resource | Notices Information Collection: WIC Nutrition Assessment and Tailoring Study-In-Person Data Collection

This collection is a revision of the currently approved collection for the WIC Nutrition Assessment and Tailoring Study (WIC NATS). The revision adds data collection from in-person site visits, where the data collection activities planned for the currently approved remote site visits will be replicated for use with 30 WIC clinic sites for in-person site visits once WIC clinic sites safely resume in-person operations.

08/04/2021
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence

This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for awarding local agencies for excellence in WIC breastfeeding services and support. Section 231 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, PL 111-296, requires that USDA establish a program to recognize WIC local agencies and clinics that demonstrate exemplary breastfeeding promotion and support activities.

02/05/2020
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - SNAP State Agency Options for Standard Utility Allowances and Self-Employment Income

This information collection addresses the state agency reporting burden associated with the following state agency options under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Establishing and reviewing standard utility allowances (SUAs) and establishing methodology for offsetting cost of producing self-employment income.

10/25/2019
Resource | Proposed Rule Proposed Rule: SNAP Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances

The proposed rule would revise SNAP regulations to standardize the methodology for calculating standard utility allowances. 

10/03/2019
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - WIC Participant and Program Characteristics Study 2020 and 2022

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection for the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics study.

03/22/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0015 Taking Food Components Offsite in the At-Risk Afterschool Component of CACFP

The purpose of this memorandum is to extend to the at-risk afterschool component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program the flexibility to take certain food items offsite.

CACFP10-2017
04/06/2017
Resource | Comment Request Comment Request - WIC Loving Support Award of Excellence

This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for awarding local agencies for excellence in WIC breastfeeding services and support.

08/29/2016
Resource | Guidance Documents Breastfeeding Policy and Guidance

Breastfeeding Policy and Guidance 

07/01/2016
Page updated: October 14, 2021