Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110
§2035 Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Title 7 › CHAPTER 51 — SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › § 2035
Summary
States may choose to run a simpler version of the supplemental nutrition assistance program either for the whole State or for part of it. Federal costs, for this choice, do not include any costs counted under section 2026. If a State runs the program, households where no one gets the State program under part A of title IV (the State cash-assistance program) cannot join. Households where everyone gets that State cash help are automatically eligible. Households with some but not all members on that cash program can be allowed only if the Secretary approves. A State can decide benefit rules using its part A program rules, the regular SNAP rules, or a mix of both. The State may set standard deductions (taking into account work, child care, and housing costs). No household can get benefits based on part A eligibility unless the Secretary makes sure households with income over 130 percent of the poverty line are not eligible. A State must get the Secretary’s approved plan before starting. The plan must follow this law and show it will not raise Federal costs. The Secretary will check whether the program increases Federal costs, but will not force the State to report on households outside the program. The Secretary may allow different accounting periods. If costs rise, the Secretary must notify the State within 30 days. The State then has 90 days to submit an approved fix. If it does not, the Secretary will end the State’s approval and bar the State from future programs. The State must also follow certain SNAP and related rules listed in the law.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §2035
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)“Federal costs” defined
In this section, the term “Federal costs” does not include any Federal costs incurred under section 2026 of this title.
(b)Election
Subject to subsection (d), a State may elect to carry out a simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program (referred to in this section as a “Program”), statewide or in a political subdivision of the State, in accordance with this section.
(c)Operation of Program
If a State elects to carry out a Program, within the State or a political subdivision of the State—
(1)a household in which no members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) may not participate in the Program;
(2)a household in which all members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) shall automatically be eligible to participate in the Program;
(3)if approved by the Secretary, a household in which 1 or more members but not all members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) may be eligible to participate in the Program; and
(4)subject to subsection (f), benefits under the Program shall be determined under rules and procedures established by the State under—
(A)a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
(B)the supplemental nutrition assistance program; or
(C)a combination of a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(d)Approval of Program
(1)State plan
A State agency may not operate a Program unless the Secretary approves a State plan for the operation of the Program under paragraph (2).
(2)Approval of plan
The Secretary shall approve any State plan to carry out a Program if the Secretary determines that the plan—
(A)complies with this section; and
(B)contains sufficient documentation that the plan will not increase Federal costs for any fiscal year.
(e)Increased Federal costs
(1)Determination
(A)In general
The Secretary shall determine whether a Program being carried out by a State agency is increasing Federal costs under this chapter.
(B)No excluded households
In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall not require the State agency to collect or report any information on households not included in the Program.
(C)Alternative accounting periods
The Secretary may approve the request of a State agency to apply alternative accounting periods to determine if Federal costs do not exceed the Federal costs had the State agency not elected to carry out the Program.
(2)Notification
If the Secretary determines that the Program has increased Federal costs under this chapter for any fiscal year or any portion of any fiscal year, the Secretary shall notify the State not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes the determination under paragraph (1).
(3)Enforcement
(A)Corrective action
Not later than 90 days after the date of a notification under paragraph (2), the State shall submit a plan for approval by the Secretary for prompt corrective action that is designed to prevent the Program from increasing Federal costs under this chapter.
(B)Termination
If the State does not submit a plan under subparagraph (A) or carry out a plan approved by the Secretary, the Secretary shall terminate the approval of the State agency operating the Program and the State agency shall be ineligible to operate a future Program.
(f)Rules and procedures
(1)In general
In operating a Program, a State or political subdivision of a State may follow the rules and procedures established by the State or political subdivision under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(2)Standardized deductions
In operating a Program, a State or political subdivision of a State may standardize the deductions provided under section 2014(e) of this title. In developing the standardized deduction, the State shall consider the work expenses, dependent care costs, and shelter costs of participating households.
(3)Requirements
In operating a Program, a State or political subdivision shall comply with the requirements of— (A)
(B)section 2017(a) of this title (except that the income of a household may be determined under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.));
(C)subsections (b) and (d) of section 2017 of this title;
(D)subsections (a), (c), (d), and (n) of section 2020 of this title;
(E)paragraphs (8), (12), (15), (17), (18), (22), and (23) of section 2020(e) of this title;
(F)section 2020(e)(10) of this title (or a comparable requirement established by the State under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)); and
(G)section 2025 of this title.
(4)Limitation on eligibility
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a household may not receive benefits under this section as a result of the eligibility of the household under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), unless the Secretary determines that any household with income above 130 percent of the poverty guidelines is not eligible for the program.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (f), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “carry out a simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program”. 2014—Subsec. (f)(3)(C). Pub. L. 113–79 substituted “subsections” for “subsection”. 2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(12)(A), substituted “Simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “Simplified Food Stamp Program” in section catchline. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(12)(B), which directed amendment of subsec. (b) by substituting “simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “simplified food stamp program”, could not be executed because the term “simplified food stamp program” did not appear. Subsec. (c)(4)(B), (C). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. Subsec. (f)(3)(A). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(16)(A), substituted “subsections (a) through (f)” for “subsections (a) through (g)”. Subsec. (f)(3)(E). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(16)(B), substituted “(15), (17), (18), (22), and (23)” for “(16), (18), (20), (24), and (25)”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of this title. Amendment by section 4001(b), 4002(a)(12), and 4115(b)(16) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 2035
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110