USDA Renews Paperwork for Grocery Incentive Waivers
Published Date: 5/27/2026
Notice
Summary
SNAP stores and their partners can ask for permission to offer fun incentives that encourage shoppers to buy healthier foods. This notice renews the paperwork process for those waiver requests, with no new rules for SNAP families. If you’re involved, get your comments in by July 27, 2026, to help shape how this works!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
SNAP Households Not Surveyed
This renewal of the paperwork process only affects SNAP retailers and partners; there are no data collection activities for SNAP households in this request. The notice invites public comment with comments due on or before July 27, 2026.
Retailers Must Use Online Waiver Form
SNAP authorized retailers (and private or government partners) who want to offer incentives outside of certain grant-funded programs must submit a waiver request using a fillable form on FNS' website. FNS estimates 15 total annual respondents, 1 response per respondent, 1 hour per response, and an estimated total annual burden of 15 hours; about 800 retailer locations would be covered under roughly 15 waiver requests each year out of 267,000 authorized retailers.
Farmers' Markets Have Blanket Waiver
Farmers' markets are already authorized to provide incentives to SNAP recipients under a blanket FNS waiver specifically for farmers' markets, so they do not need to submit individual waiver requests. This authorization is distinct from waiver requirements that apply to non-grant-funded retailer incentive projects.
Grant-Funded Projects vs. Waiver Rule
Incentive projects that are part of federally funded grant programs (for example, GusNIP grants or the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive project) are generally authorized and not required to seek an FNS waiver. Incentive projects funded outside of a Federal grant (other than farmers' markets) must request an FNS waiver to provide incentives to SNAP households.
Waivers Typically Last Three Years
When FNS grants an incentive waiver to a retailer or partner, waivers are generally issued for three years. This provides multi-year authorization to operate the incentive program once the waiver is approved.
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Key Dates
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