Resources and Toolkits

Common policy missteps states may take in efforts to reduce SNAP payment error rates (PERs), such as adopting change reporting, imposing asset tests, or limiting discretionary exemptions, can have unintended effects of increasing error rates. Instead, states should make informed policy choices, such as adopting simplified reporting, waiving asset tests, allowing discretionary exemptions, and implementing…

Tracker displaying most recent federal and state agency data on SNAP participation, along with unemployment trends.

Guidance on state policy chocies that tend to increase SNAP payment error rates include requiring change reporting or monthly reporting, imposing asset tests, and limiting discretionary exemptions. In contrast, states can reduce errors by simplifying reporting requirements, using BBCE, applying exemptions, and using one-month lookbacks to minimize reassessments and ensure coverage for eligible populations.

States can simplify and streamline determinations for individuals and agenciesand, reduce administrative burden, and minimize unnecessary coverage loss by leveraging the overlap in compliance activities and exemption reasons for individuals applying for or enrolled in both programs. Strategies on aligning exemptions, sharing data, and integrating verification processes highlighted through process flows and crosswalks.

Resource explaining how SNAP’s BBCE helps working families qualify for food assistance by easing income and asset limits. It also outlines the potential negative impacts, such as increased food insecurity, if BBCE were eliminated.

Webinar featuring an in-depth walk through of the screening questionnaire, highlighting design and content decisions made based on feedback from SNAP clients and advocates. Passcode: &Hd64icK

A free resource that focuses on strategies that states can test immediately to reduce PER and lessen the burden on frontline eligibility workers

Human-centered design best practices to screen for Medicaid work requirement exemptions

Chart summary of OBBBA provisions on work and community engagement requirements across SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF, with FAQs from state administrators and advocates to support implementation.

Guide explaining automatic benefit notice generation process while walking through common underlying system errors (e.g. missing or incorrect information) providing insight on how back-end design decisions cause these issues. Provides strategies to improve notice process and output such as targeted questions on system logic, workarounds for caseworkers, and structural reform through data flow, boilerplate language,…

Repository of resources for state administrators to support the implementation of work requirement policies through overview of implications and recommendations of smart system designs and processes.

Key strategies to improve accuracy and efficiency of SNAP program delivery, including evaluating intervention impacts independently, developing strong proxy metrics, watching for unintended consequences, strategically reviewing most error-prone case elements and actions, leveraging new technology for caseworkers, and improving client communication and outreach.

Features interviews from seven states on adaptation journeys in response to SNAP and Medicaid on integrated eligibility and enrollment. Insights include states awaiting federal guidance, standing up work groups, putting technology road map placeholders, prioritizing SNAP PER, making changes to end-of-life systems, rethinking data sharing, and considering population impacts.

A central resource library for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments working to implement public benefits policy and system changes created through OBBBA, featuring Medicaid work requirements and SNAP PER topic sections.

Blueprint on how work requirement policy impacts the process of SNAP application, determination, and maintained eligibility. Provides human-centered implementation recommendations such as focused support, ease of exemptions, discovery/comprehensive interview to capture compliance.

Various templates for state and local governments to meet OBBBA requirements, including primers for program staff and state leadership, targeted flyers for populations (e.g. veterans, unhoused, older adults), and work requirements checklists.