Table 6.

Recommendations for the US Department of Agriculture From State-Level SNAP Administrators and Supervisors to Improve SNAP Implementation

Theme	Recommendations
Policy response	Provide waivers that are longer and can be adapted to state contexts, such as the model authorized by the continuing resolution
	Simplify reporting requirements that are paired with waivers to reduce the administrative burden
	Allow states to continue to waive quality control reviews in the fiscal year immediately following the end of the national emergency to prevent penalties resulting from actions taken during the pandemic response
Technology needs	Prioritize the modernization of eligibility systems
	Provide timely waiver approvals to allow for technology system changes to be made
Collaboration	Reevaluate SNAP-Ed and E&T rules and guidance to allow providers to easily adapt services to best meet the needs of communities and partnering organizations
Participant communication	Provide guidance and best practices to optimize virtual services, participant engagement, and evaluation
Funding realities	Grant flexibility to reimbursable services to promote participant access to needed technology to complete job training and skill development to achieve economic well-being
	Authorize additional federal emergency administrative funding to states as soon as possible within emergency response
Equity	Establish policy mechanisms to quickly expand eligibility to people to promote benefit access and food security among those in need
	Provide a benefit increase to all SNAP households early in an emergency response linked with an economic downturn and provide a transition plan as the economy recovers and stabilizes
	Create infrastructure to quickly deploy outreach support to those challenging to reach (eg, those in the digital divide)

SNAP indicates Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; SNAP-Ed, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education; SNAP-E&T, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training.