On this page, you will find links to the policy manual, publications related to the program, job aids, as well as information and data on accuracy and many other interesting and helpful things.

We would like to encourage offices to send in best practices, tips and tricks and also your ideas.

 

 

 

Nutrition Education Links

Oregon SNAP Nutrition Education

FNS Nutrition Education

Oregon State University Extension

Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Program

 

 

THE HUB
accuracy - training - materials

The Hub

 

 

Latest News

How to Read a Tax Form (cheat sheet)


AND

Staff Use Self-Employment Questionnaire


have been added to the
Desk Tools...
Check it Out!

 

 

 

Child Support

SNAP COVID19 Frequently Asked Questions – Week of May 11th

SNAP Accuracy in Action Now Available

Income Calculation – July 2015


SNAP Tiny Trainings
Students – August 2013

ABAWD Question and Answers are located in Desk Tools - Cheat Sheets


SNAP Work Registration ABAWD STEP Management - 09.26.2019

UPDATED for 2014: SNAP Civil Rights Training; a MANDATORY class

This is a reminder to all staff to take the yearly mandatory Civil Rights Training.

 

This training is online and can be completed in about 10 minutes. To get to the training please visit the Learning Center. Once Logged in, go to Courses & Registration then to Find a Course and Register. From there, search for Course #: C03640 or keywords “civil rights”. This will take you to the start page.

 

Remember this training is MANDATORY once a calendar year!!

 

UPDATED for 2014: SNAP Civil Rights Training; a MANDATORY class

This is a reminder to all staff to take the yearly mandatory Civil Rights Training.

 

This training is online and can be completed in about 10 minutes. To get to the training please visit the Learning Center. Once Logged in, go to Courses & Registration then to Find a Course and Register. From there, search for Course #: C03640 or keywords “civil rights”. This will take you to the start page.

 

Remember this training is MANDATORY once a calendar year!!

 

Limiting what can be purchased with SNAP

Multiple times a week the policy unit is asked about limiting the foods which may be purchased with SNAP benefits. Because the SNAP program is a Federal program, Oregon is bound by the laws and regulations both Congress and FNS have set fourth. FNS has done much research around limiting purchases. Here is an article that can be found on the FNS website.

 

“Junk Food” & Luxury Items 
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) defines eligible food as any food or food product for home consumption and also includes seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by SNAP households. The Act precludes the following items from being purchased with SNAP benefits:  alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, hot food and any food sold for on-premises consumption. Nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, medicines and vitamins, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics, also are ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. 

Since the current definition of food is a specific part of the Act, any change to this definition would require action by a member of Congress. Several times in the history of SNAP, Congress had considered placing limits on the types of food that could be purchased with program benefits. However, they concluded that designating foods as luxury or non-nutritious would be administratively costly and burdensome. Further detailed information about the challenges of restricting the use of SNAP benefits can be found here:

 Implications of Restricting the use of Food Stamp Benefits  

 

Energy Drinks
When considering the eligibility of energy drinks, and other branded products, the primary determinant is the type of product label chosen by the manufacturer to conform to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines: 

 

Have you ever wondered what can be purchased with food benefits? Have you ever been asked?



Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has a web page that you can visit to find out!
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/faqs.htm. Specifically Number 10. Or at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

Eligible Food Items

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

 

Worker Guides

  • Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)
  • Determining the Value of Motor Vehicles for SNAP
  • Effective Narration
  • Forms Used in the SNAP Program
  • Processing Changes for SNAP
  • SNAP Employment Services
  • SNAP Medical Deductions
  • SNAP Reporting Systems At-A-Glance
  •