Policy Memo (184.42 KB)
Please Note
On Dec. 29, 2022 President Biden signed the Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 into law. This law extends the period of parole under which certain individuals from Afghanistan may become eligible for SNAP benefits to Sept. 30, 2023 (see Division M, Title V, Sec. 1501 of H.R. 2617: Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023).
| DATE: | October 15, 2021 |
| SUBJECT: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP Provisions in the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act |
| TO: | All SNAP State Agencies All Regions |
On Sept. 30, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law a continuing resolution, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (PL 117-43; the Act). This memorandum describes the provisions of the Act that affect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Act continues funding for SNAP at fiscal year 2021 levels through Dec. 3, 2021, or until the enactment of the applicable fiscal year 2022 appropriations act, whichever is sooner.
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. These individuals are not subject to a waiting period and are immediately eligible for benefits as long as they meet all other SNAP financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. The Act allows these individuals to receive benefits for a limited period of time, either through March 31, 2023, or until the end of their parole term, whichever is later.
Additionally, the spouses and children of such individuals, as well as parents and legal guardians of such individuals who were unaccompanied minors, are eligible for SNAP benefits even if they are granted parole after Sept. 30, 2022, as long as they meet all other SNAP income and eligibility requirements. This eligibility lasts until March 31, 2023, or the end of the parole term, whichever is later.
Section 2502(c) requires DHS to issue administrative adjudications on asylum applications for these individuals within 150 days of receipt of an asylum application. Should these individuals transition to asylee status, they would continue to be eligible for SNAP benefits while they remain in that status and would not be subject to a waiting period.
Please note, the Act only applies to Afghan nationals, citizens, or those who habitually lived in Afghanistan who are granted parole status between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022. Refugees and special immigrants (SIV), including SIVs with parolee statuses, are not subject to the March 31, 2023, limitation and continue to be eligible for federal public benefits like SNAP, provided all other SNAP eligibility requirements are met.
State agencies with questions regarding this guidance should contact their respective regional office representatives. Regional office staff with questions should contact Jess Luna (jessica.luna@usda.gov) in the Program Design Branch.
Laura Griffin for
Jessica Shahin
Associate Administrator
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program