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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 | 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 Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0043 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for SY 2021-22

FNS waives, for all states, the requirements to serve meals that meet specified meal pattern requirements during the public health emergency due to COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations operating the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. These flexibilities also apply to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #90 (Corrected)
08/27/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0050 Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver Update for SY 2021-22

This memo announces a new suite of child nutrition program nationwide waivers and flexibilities to support a successful school reopening in school year 2021-22.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #84
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0047 Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meal Programs – Revised – EXTENSION 3

FNS waives, for all state agencies and school food authorities, school meal programs onsite monitoring requirements. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs – Revised – Extension 2 granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on June 30, 2021. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #94
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0046 Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in SY 2021-22

This waiver allows schools and at-risk afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to claim all NSLP,  Afterschool Snack Service and Child and Adult Care Food Program At-risk Afterschool Program meals and snacks at the free rate. This waiver also allows day care homes participating in CACFP to claim all meals served to enrolled children at the tier 1 rate, regardless of their location.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #93
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0040 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for SY 2021-22

Under this waiver, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may provide non-congregate meals during COVID–19 operations. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #87
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0039 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in SY 2021-22

This waiver allows school food authorities to claim National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option meals and snacks at the Summer Food Service Program reimbursement rates. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option in school year 2021-22. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #86
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy FFCRA Opt-In Waiver for SY 2021-22 National School Lunch Program USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations

FNS is establishing a nationwide opt-in waiver to help minimize the impact of coronavirus related school closures on USDA Foods entitlement calculations.

01/15/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0175 Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions in the SFSP and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option – EXTENSION 2

FNS waives, for all states that elect to be subject to this waiver, the meal service time requirements allowing meals served outside of the standard meal times. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations operating the: Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #66
10/09/2020
Page updated: October 14, 2021