DATE: | May 19, 1997 |
SUBJECT: | Memorandum for Child Nutrition State Directors Concerning the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) Program |
TO: |
Regional Directors |
Attached is a memorandum that, as a result of specific statutory requirements and review by the General Counsel’s office, must be issued, without change, to your state agencies. The memorandum explains the circumstances under which a state agency may use the automatic eligibility provisions for free school meals and milk for children from households who are receiving assistance under the state’s TANF Program. The memorandum also discusses TANF as it affects reimbursement and eligibility under the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.
Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act limits automatic eligibility for free meals and milk to children who are members of food stamp households or members of households receiving assistance under TANF in a state in which the TANF eligibility standards are comparable to or more restrictive than the standards under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program on June 1, 1995 (or the standards most recently used prior to the implementation of TANF). Because states have a lot of latitude in the way they administer TANF, we are asking state agencies to contact the state agency responsible for TANF to assist in making the comparison. They are also to notify your office of the results of this comparison and provide an explanation of the documentation used to make the comparison and determination. Automatic eligibility for TANF households may be allowed only in states in which the TANF standards arc in accordance with the statute and for which documentation has been provided to your office.
An electronic copy of the attached memorandum is being provided to you via cc:Mail so that you may copy the memorandum onto your letterhead, include a regional office contact person, if you wish, and insert your signature block. Please contact us if you have any questions.
ROBERT M. EADIE
Acting Director
Child Nutrition Division