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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Pandemic EBT

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.

11/03/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Implementation of Summer EBT in 2024 by WIC Indian Tribal Organizations

This memorandum provides information to assist Indian Tribal Organizations (ITO) in preparing to implement Summer EBT.

SEBT 02-2023
06/13/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance SNAP EBT

Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased. EBT is in use in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

05/24/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Updates to Paper-Based Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) and Cuban Haitian Entrants

This memo clarifies processes to reflect system updates for state agencies pursuing additional verification through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program that have caused an area of SNAP regulations to become outdated and no longer applicable. This memo also explains how to request information on SNAP applicants who are claiming Cuban-Haitian Entrant designation.

04/11/2023
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0110 SNAP Provisions in the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act

This memorandum describes the provisions of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act that affect SNAP. Section 2502 of the Act provides that Afghan nationals, citizens, or those who last habitually lived in Afghanistan who are granted parole between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022, are eligible to receive resettlement assistance, entitlement programs (including SNAP), and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

01/06/2023
Resource | Policy Memos 2022 Commissioners Letter - SNAP Policy on Public Charge

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.

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Joint Letter on Public Charge

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

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0037 DHS Letter - Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

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

10/19/2022
Resource | Policy Memos DHS Letter - Update to Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Letter

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.

10/19/2022
Resource | Guidance Documents 2022 Commissioners Letter on New DHS Public Charge Final Rule

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

09/13/2022
Page updated: October 14, 2021