FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the implementation of this modification in CACFP.

This memorandum provides questions and answers relating to policy memorandum SP38 CACFP08 SFSP07-2009, Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household, dated Aug. 27, 2009.

This is a reminder of the statutory and regulatory requirements for categorical eligibility for the Child Nutrition Programs based on receipt of benefits from each state’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act restricts categorical eligibility to those TANF programs with standards that are comparable to or more restrictive than those in effect on June 1, 1995.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund for certain veterans, or surviving spouses of veterans, who served in the military of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II. 

It has come to our attention that there is uncertainty in determining when an income eligibility form has expired and when it needs to be excluded from claiming percentage calculations for CACFP.

Per CSFP regulations, participants are prohibited from receiving CSFP benefits and WIC benefits at the same time. However, there is no prohibition against simultaneous participation in CSFP and other FNS programs including but not limited to SNAP, TEFAP, and the SFMNP, provided the eligibility requirements for these programs are met.

This memorandum modifies the policy related to categorical eligibility for free meals or free milk for children who are members of a household receiving assistance under SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program.

Policy Memoranda FD-063, Household Eligibility Determinations for Disaster or Emergency Evacuees Residing with a Host Family (dated Dec. 4, 2006), and FD-072, FDPIR Households Displaced During a Disaster (dated Feb. 19, 2008), are cancelled.

This memorandum clarifies how SNAP benefits should be treated in determining eligibility for CSFP and TEFAP when the benefits are provided through SNAP Pilot Projects or SNAP Work Programs.

The administrators of the NAEP have asked that we remind school food authorities that they may disclose, without parent/guardian consent, children’s names and eligibility status (whether they are eligible for free meals or free milk or reduced price meals) to persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of a federal or state education program.