FNS Documents & Resources

Policy guidance, lessons learned, and toolkits to operate a successful D-SNAP program.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) periodically surveys state agencies administering SNAP about certain options to determine which options are in use. The results of these surveys have been compiled into the State Options Reports. These reports are not a comprehensive reflection of all policy and administrative options available to states.

This guidance updates previously issued Questions and Answers to clarify SFSP requirements. It supersedes SFSP 05-2017, Summer Food Service Program Questions and Answers, Dec. 1, 2016.

In order to update and streamline policy guidance for CSFP and TEFAP, FNS is cancelling Policy Memoranda FD-138 and FD-141.

FNS Handbook 501, Exhibit O shows the FDPIR monthly distribution guide rates by household size effective Sept. 1, 2023. This document is commonly referred to as the "FDPIR Guide Rate."  

The market basket costs in the Thrifty Food Plan, 2021 apply to the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. By law, the USDA must make cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect the cost of food in Alaska and Hawaii. The Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimates for Alaska and Hawaii report provides updated estimates of the June 2022 cost of the reevaluated Thrifty Food Plan in Alaska and Hawaii.

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.

The purpose of this memorandum is to advise state agencies on the steps the Food and Nutrition Service will take to monitor and engage state agencies with poor SNAP initial application processing timeliness rates.

This memorandum provides guidance to TEFAP state agencies on how to submit proposed amendments to their TEFAP state plans as discussed in existing regulations.