Food Stamps (10.551)

Program

10.551 Food Stamps

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Food and Nutrition Service

Authorization

Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95- 113, 91 Stat. 958, 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.; Public Law 95-348, Public Law 96-58, Public Law 96-249, Public Law 97-35; Public Law 97-98; Public Law 97-253, Public Law 98-204, Public Law 98-369; Public Law 99-198, Public Law 99-425; Public Law 99-498, Public Law 99-603, Public Law 100-77, Public Law 100-175, Public Law 100-232, Public Law 100-387, Public Law 100-435, Public Law 100-503, Public Law 100-707, Public Law 101-202; Public Law 101-392; Public Law 101-508; Public Law 101-624; Public Law 102-237; Public Law 102-265; Public Law 102-325; Public Law 103-31; Public Law 103-66; Public Law 103-225; Public Law 103-286; Public Law 103-296; Public Law 104-66; Public Law 104-127; Public Law 104-193; Public Law 104-208; Public Law 105-18; Public Law 105-33; Public Law 105-185; Public Law 105-379; Public Law 106-171; Public Law 106-387; Public Law 107-171; Public Law 110-161.

Program Number

10.551

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To improve the health of low-income households by increasing their food purchasing ability.

Types of Assistance

DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE

Uses and Use Restrictions

Households receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (Formally known as Food Stamp Program benefits) which vary according to household size and income. The maximum allotment is based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan adjusted for household size; household allotments are based on Thrifty Food Plan amounts reduced by 30 percent of the available income after deducting certain expenses. SNAP benefits are issued via electronic debit cards (Electronic Benefit Transfer) and for use in participating retail stores to buy food for home consumption. The program is available to a limited number of institutionalized persons: drug addicts and alcoholics who are participating in approved rehabilitation centers, disabled or blind persons receiving benefits under Titles I, II, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security Act living in certain group living arrangements, residents of shelters for battered women and children, and homeless persons living in authorized shelters. Recipients may purchase only food with their benefits; and only from authorized retailers.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The State or U.S. Territory agency responsible for Federally aided public assistance programs submits requests for funding to USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Households eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by local social service agencies. Eligibility is based on family size, income, and resources. A gross income test is based on 130 percent of the poverty line, and the net income (after expenses) test is based on 100 percent of the poverty line. Households with elderly and disabled members need only meet the net income test. The resource limit is $2,000 ($3,000 for a household with an elderly or disabled member). Able-bodied adults with certain limited exceptions must meet a work requirement. Eligibility is limited to citizens and, most but not all, immigrants granted permanent legal status.

Credentials/Documentation

Households are certified by local social service offices based on National eligibility standards. Regulations require key eligibility factors to be verified. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended (Public Law 95-113), requires each State agency to submit to the Food and Nutrition Service for approval, a plan of operation specifying the manner in which the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be conducted in every political subdivision within the State. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure

The Secretary of Agriculture approves State plans of operation submitted by the State agency that operates public assistance programs.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Full implementation of the Nationwide mandate was completed in fiscal year 1975, except for certain Indian reservations which continued in the Food Distribution Program.

Appeals

Other - Not Specified.

Renewals

Program continues once approved, unless there is a substantial failure to comply with regulations or withdrawal on the part of the State.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements. Administrative funds are matched by State agencies at a 50/50 rate.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Length of assistance period varies and time phasing is not applicable. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Monthly allotments are made available to eligible individuals and families through on line debit cards.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual budget summary statements; monthly and annual quality control reports; quarterly financial status report; quarterly report on claims against households; monthly issuance reconciliation report; monthly issuance and participation estimates; report of disqualified recipients; and cumulative totals for the fiscal year. Quarterly financial status report; quarterly report on claims against households; monthly issuance reconciliation report are all required. Monthly and annual quality control reports; quarterly financial status report; quarterly report on claims against households; monthly issuance reconciliation report; monthly issuance and participation estimates; report of disqualified recipients. Quarterly financial status report; quarterly report on claims against households; monthly issuance reconciliation report; monthly issuance and participation estimates; and cumulative totals for the fiscal year. Monthly and annual quality control reports; quarterly financial status report; quarterly report on claims against households; monthly issuance reconciliation report; monthly issuance and participation estimates; report of disqualified recipients; and cumulative totals for the fiscal year.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Programs operated by the State or on behalf of the State are subject to audit by Office of Inspector General, USDA.

Records

Records of households certified, benefits issued, and records relating to any financial transaction are required and must be maintained for 3 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: During fiscal year 2008, every area in every State operated a SNAP. Participation per month averaged 28.4 million persons. Fiscal Year 2009: Unavailable at this time. Fiscal Year 2010: $61,426,144,000.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-3505-0-1-605.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $34,524,649,214; FY 09 est $53,402,851,000; FY 10 est $61,426,144,000 - Pursuant to the Recovery Act authorization, �American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009�, Public Law 111-5 (�Recovery Act�), the SNAP funding level for Federal Fiscal Year 09 has been increased by $4,804,524,000 bringing the program�s total funding Level to $58,207,375,000. (The FY 09 ARRA total shown here includes $964,000 specifically for American Samoa Benefits.) The supplemental funding added to SNAP for Federal Fiscal Year 10 is $5,647,247,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Varies by income and family size. Averaged $101.53 per month, per person in FFY 08.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

7 CFR 271-282. Available from the national office and the regional offices: "Facts About the Food Stamp Program, "PA-1340 (English) and PA-1340-S (Spanish); "Official Food List," FNS-110 (English), FNS-110-S (Spanish), FNS-110-K (Korean), FNS-110-V (Vietnamese), FNS-110 (English/Chinese), FNS-110-Alaska; FNS-136 EBT Do's and Don'ts/Penalties for Violations of the FSP; "USDA Food Assistance" (poster) FNS-200, fns-200-S (Spanish); "USDA Food Assistance" (flyer), FNS-182 (English), FNS-182-S (Spanish); Food Stamp Rights Poster, FNS-183 (English) and FNS-183-S (Spanish); Using Food Stamps Poster, FNS-283 (English) and FNS-283-S (Spanish); Team Nutrition Series of flyers (English/Spanish); "We Accept Food Stamps" (poster), FNS-132; "We Accept Food Stamps" (decal); FNS-1325, "We Accept Food Stamps" (Spanish), (poster and decal); FNS-240 (English) Report Abuse Poster.

Additional publications related to outreach and nutrition education may be available at www. fns.usda.gov/snap.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See the Food and Nutrition Service Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Jessica Shahin Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Dr., Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Email: Jessica.Shahin@fns.usda.gov Phone: 703-305-2022 Fax: 703-305-2454

Web Site Address

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.