FNS Documents & Resources

States annually update Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to reflect changes in utility costs. When determining a household’s eligibility, states consider a household’s total shelter costs, including the cost of utilities. Since actual utility costs are often hard to determine, states can use a SUA, which is the average cost of utilities in the state or local area.  Different states may use different terms to describe these allowances.

We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. The fiscal year begins on October 1st. The changes are based on changes in the cost of living. Cost of living is the amount of money needed to support a basic standard of living.

Welcome to the new SNAP Certification Policy Waiver Database. This waiver database was designed to help users find the information they need quickly in a friendly format. SNAP regulations provide that waivers may be approved under certain conditions, including when approval of a waiver would result in a more effective and efficient administration of the program. 

State agencies shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining secure control over coupons and cash for which the regulations designate them accountable. Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, any shortages or losses of coupons and cash shall strictly be a state agency liability and the state agency shall pay to FNS, upon demand, the amount of the lost or stolen coupons or cash, regardless of the circumstances.

Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, each state agency is responsible for the administration of SNAP in accordance with the Act, Regulations, and the state agency's plan of operation. To fulfill the requirements of the Act, each state agency shall have a system for monitoring and improving its administration of the program. 

 State agencies shall establish issuance and accountability systems which ensure that only certified eligible households receive benefits; that program benefits are timely distributed in the correct amounts; and that benefit issuance and reconciliation activities are properly conducted and accurately reported to FNS.

Household concept: A household is composed of one of the following individuals or groups of individuals, unless otherwise specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

The coupon allotment provided any eligible household shall not be considered income or resources for any purpose under any federal, state, or local laws including, but not limited to, laws on taxation, welfare, and public assistance programs. No participating state or political subdivision shall decrease any assistance otherwise provided an individual or individuals because of the receipt of a coupon allotment.

SNAP is designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well being of the nation's population by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households.

This part describes the general terms and conditions under which grant funds shall be provided by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for the purpose of designing and conducting a nutrition assistance program for needy persons. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is authorized to establish eligibility and benefit levels for the nutrition assistance program. In addition, with FNS approval, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may employ a small proportion of the grant funds to finance projects that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico believes likely to improve or stimulate agriculture, food production, and food distribution.