Proposed Rule: SNAP 2008 Farm Bill Provisions on Clarification of Split Issuance; Accrual of Benefits and Definition Changes

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issuance regulations in accordance with the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, P.L. 110-234 (“the 2008 Farm Bill”). The proposal would implement several provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill to:

• Clarify that monthly SNAP benefits must be issued in one lump sum;
• require SNAP accounts to be inactive for a minimum of 6 months before taking benefits off-line;
• require benefits taken off-line to be restored within 48 hours of the recipient's request;
• and require permanent expungement of unused benefits after 12 months of account inactivity.

This proposal also addresses the requirement to notify households when benefits are taken off-line. Finally, FNS is updating SNAP definitions in 7 CFR part 271, to reflect the Program's new name and the issuance of benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems.