FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals.
This document provides information to states to assist in the development of state plans to operate Pandemic EBT for school children and children in child care.
This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification on the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program during implementation of alternative child nutrition program operations throughout school year 2021-22 due to the continued novel coronavirus public health emergency.
FNS expects virtual Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operations may be needed through the remainder of FY 2021 and 2022. FNS will continue to review requests to use virtual operations on a case-by-case basis when a state submits a D-SNAP waiver request. States are encouraged to use the attached best practices for any future virtual D-SNAPs.
Households with a child approved to receive free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program during the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year are eligible for the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit. EBB is a federal program to help eligible families pay for internet service during the pandemic.
FNS will allow state agencies to suspend SNAP regulations by allowing flexibility in the time frame for establishing or disposing of new claims as well as by not requiring collection of active recoupment of SNAP overpayments, delaying collection on newly established overpayments, and not considering any payments delayed due to this suspension to be delinquent.
FNS is establishing a targeted waiver, for all states and local educational agencies, to extend statutory and regulatory deadlines relating to Community Eligibility Provision reporting and election during the public health emergency due to COVID–19.
In response to the COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response Act, and based on the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, USDA is establishing a nationwide waiver of congregate feeding requirements to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to COVID–19. This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.