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Resource | Policy Memos FD-152: Discontinuance of the High Security Seal Requirement for USDA Foods Deliveries

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

04/05/2023
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP - Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents Percentage Exemption Totals for FY 23 - Not Adjusted for Carryover

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2023. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.

09/28/2022
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP - Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents Percentage Exemption Totals for FY 22

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2022. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.

10/22/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0056 SNAP - QC System Resumes Nationwide July 2021: Expectations, Special Review Procedures and Optional Face-to-Face Interview Waiver

On April 30, 2021, FNS issued a memo that SNAP Quality Control will resume nationwide starting July 2021, with special QC review procedures related to COVID-related adjustments, and provides state agencies with a blanket waiver regarding the QC face-to-face interview.

04/30/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0160 SNAP Extension of Waiver of QC Face-to-Face Interview Requirement Due to the COVID-19 – Blanket Approval

FNS will allow state agencies to suspend requirements to conduct face-to-face interviews for QC active reviews through Dec. 31, 2020.

08/25/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0064 Information from Third Party Payroll Sources

This memorandum clarifies the use of third party payroll sources for SNAP certification policy and quality control purposes. The first two sections of this memorandum apply to certification policy and the section titled Quality Control Considerations provides details on how to treat verification from a third party payroll source for QC reviews.

08/21/2019
Resource | Report USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports (2018 reports)

The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost, differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods. Another basis of the Food Plans is that all meals and snacks are prepared at home. For specific foods and quantities of foods in the Food Plans, see Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 (2007) and The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007 (2007). All four Food Plans are based on 2001-02 data and updated to current dollars by using the Consumer Price Index for specific food items.

12/03/2018
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2018-0005 SNAP Quality Control Review Handbook - Clarification of Procedures Regarding the Transmission/Release of Case Finding

This memorandum provides clarification of changes made to Section 1240 - Transmission/Release of Active Case Findings to FNS, Data Checking, and Changing Case Findings and Section 13 70 - Transmission of Negative Case Findings to FNS, Data Checking and Changing Case Findings in the October 2017 edition of the FNS Quality Control Review Handbook 310.

QC Policy Memo 18-02
01/31/2018
Resource | Report USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports (2017 reports)

The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. 

12/03/2017
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0032 Clarification on the three ways initial SNAP application processing timeliness is measured

The memorandum that follows is intended to clarify the three ways in which FNS measures timeliness of initial SNAP application processing.  This memorandum does not represent new policy, but seeks to clarify the three existing data collection and monitoring procedures.

06/02/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021