Resource type
Technical Assistance
Resource Materials
USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Emergency Allotments
January 2023 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved
January 2022 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved
January 2021 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved
Request Received 3/23/2020 | Initial Approval 3/25/2020 | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved
Pandemic EBT
- Pandemic EBT program during SY 2019-20
Approved 4/17/2020 | Amendment | Amendment 2 | Amendment 3 - Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-21
P-EBT School Programs Plan | Plan Approval 12/15/2020
P-EBT Child Care Programs Plan | Plan Approval 3/3/2021
P-EBT Summer Plan | Plan Approval 5/25/2021 - Pandemic EBT program during SY 2021-22
P-EBT Child Care Programs Plan | Plan Approval 3/18/2022
P-EBT Child Care Programs Plan Update | Plan Approval 5/6/2022
P-EBT Summer Plan | Plan Approval 6/28/2022 - Pandemic EBT program during SY 2022-23
P-EBT Child Care Programs Plan | Plan Approval 3/1/2023
P-EBT Child Care Programs Plan Amended | Plan Approval 3/29/2023
P-EBT School Programs Plan | Plan Approval 5/8/2023 | Amendment 8/17/2023
P-EBT Summer Plan | Plan Approval 5/10/2023
Application Processing
- Extended Certification Periods; Waive Periodic Reporting
Initial Request Received 3/13/2020 | Initial Request Approved 3/20/2020 | June Extension Approval - Adjustment to Interview Requirements
Note: Approvals for April through June included waiving initial and recertification interviews, waiving face-to-face interviews, and postponing expedited service interviews.
Offered to All States 3/26/2020 | June Extension Approved
- Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews
July Extension Request 6/10/2020 | July Extension Denial 7/6/2020
July Extension 2 Request 7/27/2020 | July Extension 2 Approval 7/24/2020
August Extension Request 7/27/2020 | August Extension Request 7/24/2020 - Telephonic Signature
Approved 5/28/2020 | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September-December Extension Approved | January 2021 Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | May Extension Approved - Periodic Report Flexibility for Non-Extended Recertification Cases
Initial Request Received 8/14/2020 | Approved 8/17/2020 - Continuing Resolution
Massachusetts has taken options in accordance with the Continuing Resolution. Click here for more information. - Extension of SNAP COVID-19 Administrative Flexibilities, May 2021 and Beyond
Massachusetts has taken options in accordance with the April 30, 2021, memo. Click here for more information.
Claims
- Temporary Suspension of Claims Collection
Received 3/31/2020 | Approved 4/10/2020 | June Extension | July Extension | August Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved | January 2021 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved
Fair Hearing
- Waive Fair Hearing Timelines
Approved 4/13/2020 | June Extension | July Extension | August Extension | October Extension | November Extension | December Extension | January 2021 Extension | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved
Quality Control
- QC Case Review Extension
Offered to All States 3/19/2020 | Offered for All States for June Cases 9/02/2020 - SNAP Flexibility for Quality Control Interviews
Offered to All States 3/13/2020 | June Extension Approved - Suspend Face to Face QC Interviews
Offered to all States 8/31/2020
Other
- Process All Cases as Expedited; Postpone Expedited Service Interview
Received 6/10/2020 | Mass Denial 4/10/2020 - Suspend Student Eligibility Rules
Received 3/31/2020 | Mass Denial 4/10/2020
Child Nutrition Programs
Nationwide Waivers and Flexibilities
Please contact your state agency if you have questions about the waivers they have elected.
- Afterschool Activity
Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 - CACFP State Agency Monitoring (Annual Review)
Offered to All States 4/27/2020 - Extended Unanticipated School Closures
Offered to All States 4/30/2020 - Food Service Management Company Contract
Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through June 2021 - Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment
Offered to All States 4/27/2020 - Meal Times
Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021 - Nationwide At-risk Afterschool Area Eligibility Waiver
Nationwide Waiver issued 9/18/2020 | Extended through June 2021 - Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver
Offered to All States 3/25/2020 - Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver
Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through May 31 | Extended through June 30 | Extended through July 31 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended through December 31
- Approved for School, After-school and Day Care Programs for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended in School After-School and Day Care Programs through June 2021 - Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver
Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021 - Nationwide Waivers of Child Nutrition Monitoring
Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extension for Sponsors in CACFP | Extension for States in CACFP | Extensions for Schools | Extensions for Sponsors in SFSP | Extensions for States in SFSP | Extended through Aug 31 - Nationwide Waiver for Selected Child Nutrition Program Reporting Requirements
Offered to All States 1/7/2021 - Nationwide Waiver of Community Eligibility Provision Deadlines in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
Offered to All States 3/26/2021 - Nationwide Waiver to Allow Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the Summer Food Service Program in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021
Offered to All States 4/1/2021 - Nationwide Waiver to Provide Flexibility for School Meal Programs Administrative Reviews of SFAs Operating Only the SSO in SY 2021-22
Offered to All States 5/21/2021 - Non-congregate Feeding
Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 |Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021 - Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools for the SY 2020-21
Nationwide Waiver Issued 6/25/2020 - Pre-approval Flexibility
Offered to All States 9/11/2020 | Extended through June 2021 - SFSP/SSO Area Eligibility Waiver
Offered to All States 5/6/2020 | Extended through Aug 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended Through December 31 | Extended through June 2021 - SFSP/SSO extension
Offered to All States 8/31/2020 | Extended through June 2021 - SFSP/SSO Meal Service Times (Regular Summer)
Offered to All States 4/27/2020 - SFSP/SSO Closed Enrolled Sites (Regular Summer)
Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021 - SFSP Offer Versus Serve (Regular Summer)
Offered to All States 5/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021 - SFSP First Week Site Visits (Regular Summer)
Offered to All States 6/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021 - 60 Day Reporting Requirement Waiver
Offered to All States 4/1/2020
Additional Waivers and Flexibilities
- Pandemic EBT
See above under SNAP - Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: Implementation Plans Approved
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (School Programs) 5/21/21
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (CACFP) 5/21/21 - Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent Pickup SY 20-21
Approved 10/6/2020 - Oversight Plan Waiver
Waiver Response 3/31/2021
USDA Foods Programs
- Disaster Household Distribution
Approved 3/25/2020 | Extension 5/12/2020 - Entitlement Waiver for SY 2020-21
Approved 9/11/2020
WIC Program
- Extension of Approved Waivers
Extended through June 30 | Extension 2 | Extension 3 - FMNP Monitoring
Approved 6/11/2020 - Food Package Substitutions (whole wheat/whole grain bread)
Approved 4/6/2020 - Local Agency Monitoring
Approved 4/6/2020 | Revision - Medical Documentation
Approved 3/26/2020 - Minimum Stock Waiver
Approved 3/30/2020 - Physical Presence (includes lab work)
Approved 3/20/2020 - Remote Benefit Issuance
Approved 3/23/2020 - Separation of Duties
Approved 4/6/2020 - Transaction without Presence of Cashier
Approved 9/28/2020 - Vendor Onsite Preauthorization Visit
Approved 9/24/2020 - Vendor Routine Monitoring Onsite
Approved 9/28/2020