• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)
• Child Nutrition Programs
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Highlights

When the PHE ends, some of the most notable impacts will be in SNAP. By law, starting in July, the temporary benefits that were provided to certain college students during the public health emergency will begin to be phased out and work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents will once again be enforced. Separate from the public health emergency, Congress also ended the temporary boost to SNAP benefits, known as emergency allotment, beginning in March.

Key Policy Memos

• USDA and DOL Partner to Support ABAWDs (06/08/23)
• Preparing for Changes in Student Eligibility (02/15/23)
• Preparing for Reinstatement of the Time Limit for ABAWDs (02/10/23)
• Expiration of Program Flexibilities (02/10/23)
• Compilation of Resource Materials and Policy Memos (02/10/23)
• Institutions of Higher Education and Student Eligibility Rules (02/07/23)
• SNAP Workload Management Matrix (updated 02/10/23)
• EA Provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (01/06/23)
• End of Temporary Student Exemptions (10/12/22)
• Temporary Admin Waivers to Support Unwinding from the PHE (08/15/22)

Highlights

Since March 2020, Pandemic EBT, also known as P-EBT, has been helping eligible families cover food costs for kids who typically received free and reduced-priced school meals or were eligible through their child care facilities.

States may continue providing P-EBT through the end of summer 2023 for school children, but must end benefits for kids in child care when the PHE ends on May 11, 2023.

The new nationwide Summer EBT program Congress authorized at the end of 2022 will be available starting in summer 2024. This will help families in need continue to put food on the table in summer, when children aren't receiving meals in schools.

Key Policy Memos

• Pandemic EBT - Summer 2023
• P-EBT Deadline Issuance Letter (05/26/23)

Highlights

FNS offered states and child nutrition program operators extensive flexibilities during COVID to ensure they could continue to serve kids the nutrition they needed.

Two of the flexibilities currently offered – CACFP benefits for young adults in shelters and offsite monitoring – are tied to the PHE and, therefore, will be coming to an end; other flexibilities and support continue to be provided under other authorities.

Key Policy Memos

• Reimbursement for Meals and Snacks Served at CACFP Emergency Shelters after the PHE Ends (02/15/23)
• Offsite Monitoring of the CACFP and School Meal Programs After the PHE Ends (02/15/23)
• Implementation Guidance for Reimbursement for Meals and Snacks served to Young Adults in CACFP (04/09/21)

Highlights

After the public health emergency, most of the flexibilities FNS provided to WIC participants during the pandemic will continue to be available under a separate authority Congress provided FNS in the American Rescue Plan Act. With this authority, WIC state agencies can continue to offer – and build and improve upon – remote services, after the PHE ends.

Infant formula waivers are not tied to the PHE and will be phased out on a different timeline, which is expected to be complete by the end of June 2023. More information can be found in the Unwinding Infant Formula Flexibilities in WIC memo.

Key Policy Memos

• Additional Flexibilities to Support Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization Efforts through ARPA Nationwide Waivers - Supporting Remote WIC Operations (02/01/23)