FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum transmits the first set of Questions and Answers that the Program Development Division has received about excluding the special weekly $25 Unemployment Compensation payments.

A recently enacted law changes the treatment of the $25 supplemental weekly Unemployment Compensation payment authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2OO9 (ARRA) authorized.

This memorandum provides guidance on reporting expenditures of SNAP benefits funds in order to comply with reporting requirements of Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133 and OMB guidance implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created the "Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund" for certain veterans and the spouses of veterans who served in the military of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II. SNAP will exclude these payments from income and resources when determining eligibility and allotments, and for all other purposes.

This memorandum is being issued to emphasize that states may use TEFAP administrative funds to pay for direct and indirect expenses associated with both the distribution of TEFAP foods and of foods secured from other non-federal sources. Foods secured from other sources is defined as any foods not obtained from USDA food assistance programs.

It has come to FNS's attention that, due to unusual shifts in utility costs, SNAP benefits to needy families may decrease when states make annual SUA adjustments this year - even if the circumstances of those households remain constant.

On March 6, 2009, FNS allocated the FY 2009 funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is to allocate the funds for FY 2010

Recently, it has been brought to the national office's attention that there is some confusion concerning the treatment of income received from the Summer Youth Employment Opportunities element under the Workforce Investment Act.

Attached are questions and answers in response to issues raised by the states, through various discussions, concerning SNAP provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

It has come to Food and Nutrition Service's attention that although states have incorporated the 13.6 percent increase to SNAP maximum allotments into their systems as a mass change effective April 1, 2009 there are some states where not every household will automatically receive the increase as part of their April allotment due to the limitations of certain state systems.