FNS Documents & Resources

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

USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

This memo reiterates and extends the guidance, “Use of Virtual Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) Operations in Remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and FY 2022,” issued on Aug. 2, 2021. This memo provides lessons learned and best practices for D-SNAP operations with virtual components.

State agencies have faced unprecedented challenges during the last two fiscal years while operating a D-SNAP with a virtual component. This memo clarifies the following D-SNAP policies for virtual, hybrid or in person environments: food loss alone for D-SNAP eligibility, 72-hour timeliness requirement and needs assessment.

USDA has issued guidance to states in implementing FFCRA of 2020 which provides for the issuance of emergency allotments based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of HHS under the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.

This is a letter clarifying public charge policy as it pertains to SNAP participation. The letter was sent to SNAP state commissioners in Jan. 2022.

This is a letter clarifying public charge policy as it pertains to SNAP participation. The letter is jointly signed by FNS and USCIS.

This letter provides key information about a change in the way the Department of Homeland Security is administering the public charge ground of inadmissibility.

This letter is an update to the April 12, 2021 letter that USCIS issued concerning public charge and how it interacts with the food assistance programs, including SNAP.

DUSEC letter to Commissioners on the new DHS rule on public charge (2022)