In the September 28, 2016, Federal Register, USDA's FNS proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") issuance regulations in accordance with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-234 ("2008 Farm Bill"). The proposal aims to implement several provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill to: (i) clarify that monthly SNAP benefits must be issued in one lump sum; (ii) require SNAP accounts to be inactive for a minimum of six months before taking benefits offline; (iii) require benefits taken offline to be restored within 48 hours of the recipient's request; and (iv) require permanent expungement of unused benefits after 12 months of account inactivity. The proposal also addresses the requirement to notify households when benefits are taken offline. 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 systems. Comments are due November 28, 2016.
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