CSFP Submission of Additional Caseload Requests for 2023

Submission of Additional Caseload Requests for 2023

State agencies, including Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), requesting additional caseload for the 2023 caseload cycle (January 1 through December 31) must submit their state plan amendments to FNS regional offices by Nov. 5, 2022, in accordance with program regulations at 7 CFR 247.21.¹ Only state agencies and ITOs which meet the requirements outlined in 7 CFR 247.21(a)(2) are eligible to receive additional caseload. State agencies and ITOs should determine additional caseload needs based on a projection of their 2023 base caseload. Because base caseload is calculated using participation data, state agencies and ITOs should report final participation data as early as possible for the full fiscal year (FY) ending Sept. 30, 2022.²

Below is a summary of how FNS will assign base caseload and additional caseload for 2023, in accordance with program regulations at 7 CFR 247.21. The amount, if any, of additional caseload that FNS grants to currently participating state agencies and ITOs is contingent on funds appropriated by Congress for FY 2023 as well as available program resources.

Base Caseload Calculation

To the extent that resources are available, each state agency and ITO participating in CSFP may receive 2023 base caseload up to the total number of caseload slots it was assigned in 2022. Base caseload for the 2023 caseload cycle will equal the highest of:

Average monthly participation for FY 2022; or

1. Average monthly participation for the last quarter of FY 2022; or
2. Participation during September 2022, but only if:
   • The state agency received additional caseload equal to or greater than ten percent of its base caseload in 2022; and
   • October 2022 participation is equal to or greater than 95% of September 2022 participation³

However, because a state agency or ITO’s base caseload for 2023 cannot be greater than total assigned caseload for 2022, a state may be assigned fewer base caseload slots in 2023 than its highest participation level in 2022, if the state’s participation levels during the year exceeded its 2022 caseload assignment.

Additional Caseload Requests

A state agency or ITO’s additional caseload request must be over and above its calculated base caseload. When submitting requests for additional caseload, state agencies and ITOs, at a minimum, (i) must describe plans for serving eligible participants at new sites, if applicable, and (ii) should include the actual number of additional caseload slots requested.⁴ As in previous years, in determining how much, if any, of each state agency or ITO’s additional caseload request to approve, FNS will consider the state agency or ITO’s FY 2022 caseload usage rate, program participation in previous years, and any information provided by the state agency in support of the request.

Should a state agency or ITO like to request additional caseload, but have concerns regarding the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on 2022 CSFP participation or additional caseload eligibility, the state agency or ITO may submit a written explanation of these concerns to the FNS regional office as part of their additional caseload request.

ITOs or state agencies should direct questions to their respective FNS regional offices.

Sara Olson
Director
Policy Division

¹ Burden is approved in OMB control number 0584-0293 Food Distribution Programs, Expiration: 7/31/2023 Title: State Plan Amendments (247.6(d))
² Burden is approved in OMB control number 0584-0293 Food Distribution Programs, Expiration: 7/31/2023 Title: Receipt, Disposal, and Inventory of Donated Foods (247.29(a) & (b)(2)(ii)) Recorded on the FNS-153
³ The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022,was enacted on March 15, 2022; therefore, 7 CFR 247.21(a)(1)(ii)(C)(1) applies for base caseload calculations using September-only participation data for the 2023 caseload cycle.
⁴ Burden is approved in OMB control number 0584-0293 Food Distribution Programs, Expiration: 7/31/2023 Title: State Plan Amendments (247.6(d))