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Resource | Federal Register Documents Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2024-2025)

This notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. 

02/20/2024
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Pandemic EBT

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.

11/03/2023
Resource | Federal Register Documents Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk

This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk as stated in FNS regulations.

05/08/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement Rates for the School Breakfast Program and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the National School Lunch Program in SY 2023-24

The purpose of this guidance is to clarify how to determine eligibility in SY 2023-24 for severe need reimbursement for breakfasts served through the School Breakfast Program and for the two cent differential reimbursement for lunches served through the National School Lunch Program. This guidance provides clarification to SP 11-2022, Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement for the School Breakfast Program and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the National School Lunch Program in School Years 2022-23 and 2023-24

SP 02-2023
01/30/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Nationwide Waiver of the Summer Sponsor Application Deadline and to Allow Reimbursement for Meals Served Prior to Notification of Approval for Summer 2022 Operations

Nationwide waiver of the summer sponsor application deadline and to allow reimbursement for meals served prior to notification of approval for summer 2022 operations.

Child Nutrition Response #114
07/08/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions - EXTENSION

Pursuant to the authority in Section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and current national supply chain constraints due to COVID-19, FNS is granting a waiver of certain fiscal action requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. 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 for the duration of this waiver.

Child Nutrition Response #110
06/30/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates for the Seamless Summer Option in Summer 2022

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

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #109
06/30/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Coronavirus P-EBT in Schools

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.

06/17/2022
Resource | Policy Determining Eligibility for Severe Need Reimbursement for the SBP and the Two Cent Differential Reimbursement for the NSLP in SY 2022-23 and 2023-24

This memorandum provides guidance to state agencies and school food authorities as they transition from COVID-19 nationwide waivers. This guidance applies to state agencies and school food authorities administering the NSLP and the SBP in SY 2022-23 and SY 2023-24.

SP 11-2022
06/15/2022
Resource | Policy Area Eligibility for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-23

This memorandum provides guidance to state agencies as they transition from COVID-19 nationwide waivers related to establishment of area eligibility in the child nutrition programs for summer 2022 and SY 2022-23.

SP 10-2022, CACFP 08-2022, SFSP 04-2022
05/13/2022
Page updated: October 14, 2021