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Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Research and Data Benefit Redemption Patterns in SNAP - FY 2022

We periodically examine how SNAP households use their monthly EBT benefits, including number of purchase transactions per month, average purchase amount, types of retailers frequented, and rate at which households exhaust their benefits over the month. This study, the fourth in the series, was done to assess monthly EBT redemption patterns during FY 2022 when SNAP EBT benefits were much larger than usual due to pandemic funding. By FY 2022, SNAP households could also use SNAP EBT to purchase groceries from authorized online retailers, so we analyzed benefits redeemed through online purchasing.

 

05/13/2025
Basic page Report Series - Benefit Redemption Patterns in SNAP

We periodically examine SNAP benefit redemption patterns related to the timing, number, and dollar amount of transactions and the rate at which households spend down and exhaust their monthly benefits. These studies also report on the number of transactions made and the share of benefits redeemed at various types of stores.  

05/13/2025
Resource | Technical Assistance USDA Foods Decision Tree

Decision tree to help determine how to get your product considered for USDA Food distribution programs.

04/10/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance WBSCM References

References for user roles, status codes, material codes and reports, and business partners and relationships are provided to understand how WBSCM data connects with business operations.

11/03/2023
Resource | Research and Data | Impacts/Evaluations Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit Redemption Through Online Transactions

​This study evaluated the implications of online SNAP benefit redemption on program integrity. In addition, the study gathered basic information about online benefit redemption, including the use in urban and rural settings.

09/26/2023
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost Analysis of Robotic Process Automation in SNAP: Three Case Studies

​This study examines the use of robotic process automation technologies by three state agencies—Georgia, New Mexico, and Connecticut—to administer SNAP.

09/20/2023
Basic page Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBTC) Demonstration Project

On Dec. 23, 2022, Congress authorized Summer EBT as a permanent, nationwide program. FNS is quickly developing more guidance on Summer EBT, and we look forward to working with our partners in states and local communities as we implement this program.

08/24/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance USDA Foods Available List for CSFP

USDA Foods Available List for CSFP.

08/11/2023
Resource | Research and Data | Participation Characteristics SNAP Community Characteristics

Review your statewide factsheet for information about SNAP participation, food insecurity, and SNAP's economic impact in your state.

06/23/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021