FNS Documents & Resources

This document provides information to states to assist in the development of state plans to operate Pandemic EBT for school children.

USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending the nationwide waiver to allow meal service operations outside of the standard meal service times in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) through September 30, 2022.  This waiver extends for summer 2022 the Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option – EXTENSION 3 – granted on March 9, 2021, that expired on September 30, 2021, through September 30, 2022. This extension applies to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and FNS is extending this flexibility to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

USDA has issued guidance to states in implementing FFCRA of 2020 which provides for the issuance of emergency allotments based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of HHS under the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.

Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending a nationwide waiver to allow parents and guardians to pick up meals for children in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) through September 30, 2022. This waiver extends for summer 2022 the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children – EXTENSION 6 granted on March 9, 2021, that expired on September 30, 2021— through September 30, 2022. This extension applies to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and FNS is extending this flexibility to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending a nationwide waiver to allow non-congregate meal service in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) through September 30, 2022. This waiver extends for Summer 2022 the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-congregate Feeding in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option - EXTENSION 6—granted March 9, 2021, which expired September 30, 2021— through September 30, 2022. This extension applies to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and FNS is extending this flexibility to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

Pursuant to the authority in Section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and current national supply chain constraints due to COVID-19, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is granting a waiver of certain fiscal action requirements in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). This waiver is available for any State where there is a supply chain disruption with respect to foods served under such a qualified program and such disruption is due to COVID–19. FNS is also extending this flexibility to the NSLP Seamless Summer Option (SSO) for the duration of this waiver.

Pursuant to Section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is establishing a nationwide waiver to allow school food authorities to claim National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) meals and snacks at the applicable Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reimbursement rates in summer 2022. This waiver will ensure continuity of program operations and access to nutritious meals for program participants this summer.

Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending a nationwide waiver to allow area eligibility for closed enrolled sites in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) through September 30, 2022, to ensure continuity of program operations that will provide access to nutritious meals for program participants this summer. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites in the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option - EXTENSION 3 granted on March 9, 2021, that expired on September 30, 2021. This waiver extension applies to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and FNS is extending this flexibility to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO).

Pursuant to the authority in Section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) (P.L. 116-127), as amended, and based on the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is extending a nationwide waiver for area eligibility for the purposes of providing meals under the Child Nutrition Programs and to ensure continuity of program operations. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Extend Area Eligibility Waivers – EXTENSION 4 – granted on March 9, 2021, that expired on September 30, 2021. This extension applies to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and FNS is extending this flexibility to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO) until September 30, 2022.