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Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Policy Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. 

03/13/2025
Resource | Policy Summer EBT for Children Program - 2025 Benefit Levels

This notice informs the public of the annual adjustments to the levels of monthly benefits in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) Program. These adjustments reflect changes in the Thrifty Food Plan, as required under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

03/10/2025
Resource | Training and Outreach FDPIR Shelter Utility Deduction and Net Monthly Income Calculation

This webinar provides an in-depth explanation of the FDPIR shelter/utility deduction and calculation of net monthly income.

03/04/2025
Basic page SUN Bucks/Summer EBT Sample Letter to Families Who Need to Apply

Sample letter for states, Tribes, and territories to share with NSLP-participating schools for distributing to households with children who are not automatically eligible and need to apply.

02/12/2025
Basic page SUN Bucks/Summer EBT Sample Letter to Families Who Are Automatically Eligible

Sample letter for states, Tribes, and territories to share with schools for distributing to households with children who are automatically eligible and do not need to apply.

02/11/2025
Resource | Technical Assistance Summer EBT Steps for Verification of Eligibility

This resource provides the steps the Summer EBT agency should use when conducting verification to confirm eligibility.

01/14/2025
Resource | Policy FDPIR - Applying the New Shelter/Utility Deduction and Calculating Net Monthly Income

This memorandum provides FDPIR administering agencies with guidance on how to apply the new shelter/utility deduction and outlines changes in the process to calculate a household’s net monthly income to account for the new shelter/utility deduction.

12/17/2024
Resource | Policy FDPIR Guidance on Changes to Household Eligibility

This memorandum provides FDPIR administering agencies with guidance on changes to household eligibility requirements.

12/17/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance USDA Foods Decision Tree

Decision tree to help determine how to get your product considered for USDA Food distribution programs.

04/10/2024
Page updated: October 14, 2021