FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to provide clarification regarding the effective date of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children vendor disqualification's that result from the permanent disqualification of a vendor from the Food Stamp Program.

This policy memorandum addresses the basic tools of WIC caseload management. It consolidates key provisions of previously issued FCS policy on all components of caseload management -- from food cost savings strategies and food package design, to certification strategies -- into a comprehensive scheme. 

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, restricts participation in most food assistance programs based on citizenship and alien status. WIC is specifically exempted from these restrictions, however, states have the option to limit participation to citizens and qualified aliens. 

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to clarify that women who breastfeed infants that they did not give birth to ("nonbirth mothers"), may be certified to participate in the WIC program as breastfeeding women at state option.

The attached policy memorandum clarifies the requirements WIC agencies must meet to spend federal WIC grant funds on a dietetic supervised practice program or other out-of-service training program for WIC staff and eligible in-kind staff. WIC agencies that incurred WIC-allowable training costs.

PL 103-448 requires coordination between the WIC program and state Medicaid programs that use coordinated or managed care providers under contract or under waiver authority as permitted under the Social Security Act. 

This memorandum provides policy clarification about WIC allowable costs for activities related to immunization promotion in the WIC program.

In compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Department will not approve future IFBs or contracts that include provisions that erroneously restrict competition for WIC infant formula rebates.

This policy memorandum is simply a clarification of general WIC program confidentiality principals delineated in  the Program Regulations and FCS Instruction 800-1 with special emphasis on provisions which affect immunization promotion activities.

We have concluded that neither the authorization of vendors to accept WIC food instruments, nor the exchange of a WIC food instrument between a certified WIC participant and an approved WIC vendor represents a "covered transaction." Therefore, WIC vendors are not subject to the certification requirement.