The Food and Nutrition Service is adopting as a final rule, without change, a direct final rule that made changes to SNAP regulations to account for the replacement of the paper coupon issuance system with the Electronic Benefits Transfer system as the nationwide method of distributing benefits to program participants.
Due to the impact on SNAP benefits resulting from continuing fluctuations in energy prices, FNS is modifying the Standard Utility Allowance blanket waiver memorandum of Oct. 14, 2010 to allow certain states to extend fiscal year (FY) 2010 SUA amounts through March 31, 2011.
This memorandum provides additional information on the new approval process and includes sample documents that will assist state agencies with their funding requests.
Due to the impact on SNAP benefits resulting from drastically fluctuating energy prices, FNS is extending the one-time blanket SUA waiver for an additional 3 months to certain states that would otherwise be ineligible for the waiver in FY 2011.
This memorandum provides a second opportunity for state agencies to opt for a blanket waiver of the regulations at S 273.9 (d)(6)(iii)(B) which require state agencies to update SUAs annually.
This direct final rule updates and reorganizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to replace paper coupon issuance system with the Electronic Benefits Transfer system as the nationwide method of distributing benefits to program recipients.
This report responds to the charge in the explanatory statement of Chairman Obey, entered into the Congressional Record Feb. 23, 2009, regarding the request from Congress in the conference report for the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (PL 111–8). The conference report included the following directive: