New regulations are out, to implement provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill, intended to simplify the food stamps program. Highlights of the changes (many of which CA already does) includes State options to treat legally obligated child support payments to a non-household member as an income exclusion rather than a deduction; to exclude certain types of income and resources that are not counted under the State’s TANF or Medicaid programs; replace the current, fixed standard deduction with a deduction that varies according to household size and is adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases; allow States to simplify the SUA if the State elects to use the SUA rather than actual utility costs for all households; allow States to use a standard deduction from income of $143 per month for homeless households with some shelter expenses; allow States to disregard reported changes in deductions during certification periods (except for changes associated with new residence or earned income) until the next recertification; requires State agencies that have a Web site to post applications on these sites in the same languages that the State uses for its written applications….