Letter to reiterate the flexibilities that USDA has made available to all WIC state agencies and to urge all states to take additional action to make it easier for families to get the formula they need.
This letter is in response to correspondence from WIC state agencies using offline Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) technology or paper food instruments, and requesting program flexibility from the WIC program federal requirements as a result of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Abbott recall of certain powder infant formula, exempt infant formula, and WIC-eligible nutritionals on the nationwide supply chain leading to both periodic location- and product-based WIC infant formula and exempt infant formula shortages.
The fiscal year 2021 TEFAP funding memorandum provides guidance on full-year FY 2021 TEFAP food and administrative funding allocations and requests the amount of food funding that states want to convert to administrative funding in FY 2021. The memo also includes information about the amended reallocation process for FY 2020 administrative funds and guidance on the prioritization of use of administrative funds from different sources.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act provides $450 million in supplemental funding for TEFAP for FY 2020, with up to $150 million of the supplemental funding is available as administrative funds and the remaining amount will be made available as food funds.