By Hola Iowa
Iowa families using SNAP can again buy food items that were eligible before the state’s Healthy SNAP food waiver took effect on January 1.
Iowa Health and Human Services said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Administration directed the state to return to federal SNAP guidelines. The change also applies to SUN Bucks, the summer grocery benefit that provides $120 per eligible child.
The update reverses Iowa’s Healthy SNAP food waiver, which had changed what could be purchased with SNAP benefits in the state. Iowa HHS said all food items that were eligible before January 1, 2026, are now eligible for purchase again.
Stores were told to update checkout systems
Iowa HHS directed participating retailers to update their point-of-sale systems so SNAP benefits can again be used for all items that meet the federal definition of food.
The agency said stores were instructed to make the changes as soon as possible. Families may still see differences at checkout while retailers update their systems.
Under federal SNAP guidelines, benefits can be used to buy food for the household, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, snack foods, nonalcoholic beverages, and seeds or plants that produce food for the household to eat.
SNAP benefits still cannot be used for nonfood items, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, supplements, hot prepared foods or foods meant to be eaten in the store.
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SUN Bucks will follow the same rules
SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, will follow the federal SNAP food rules as well.
Iowa HHS said the SUN Bucks program was already underway when the update took effect. Because of that, foods that were previously eligible before the waiver will be allowed under SUN Bucks.
SUN Bucks provides a one-time summer grocery benefit of $120 per eligible child. The program is meant to help families buy food while school is out and school meals are not available.
The purchasing update does not change the SUN Bucks benefit amount or the application deadline. Iowa HHS says applications for SUN Bucks 2026 must be received by August 14, 2026.
The change may reduce confusion at checkout
The reversal may affect families who had adjusted shopping habits after Iowa’s waiver took effect earlier this year.
The state’s return to federal SNAP guidelines means families using SNAP or SUN Bucks should follow the current federal food rules instead of the state’s earlier restricted list.
The practical change is at the register: items that meet the federal SNAP definition of food and were eligible before January 1, 2026, are allowed again once retailers update their checkout systems.
Families can check SNAP account information through ConnectEBT. Iowa HHS lists EBT Customer Service at 800-359-5802 for card-related issues.
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