FNS Documents & Resources

USDA has issued guidance to states in implementing Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which provides for the issuance of emergency allotments (supplements) based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19 when a state has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.

FNS will allow state agencies to suspend SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(d) by allowing flexibility in the time frame for establishing or disposing of new claims as well as SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(e)(1) and (e)(5) by not requiring collection of active recoupment of SNAP overpayments, delaying collection on newly established overpayments, and not considering any payments delayed due to this suspension to be delinquent.

This webinar shows CACFP operators how to identify store-bought combination baby foods that may be served at reimbursable meals and snacks to infants.

FNS is allowing states flexibility regarding fair hearing timeframes. As needed, state agencies may extend the fair hearings process up to 120 days from receipt of the request for fair hearings that were already in process or for which requests are received from March 1 through May 31, 2020.

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 Program and School Breakfast Program. These flexibilities also apply to the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.

Under this waiver, Child and Adult Care Food Program operators in states that elect to be subject to this waiver may serve meals that do not meet specified meal pattern requirements during the public health emergency due to COVID-19. 

This memo announces a new suite of child nutrition program nationwide waivers and flexibilities to support a successful school reopening in school year 2021-2022.

FNS waives, for all CACFP sponsoring organizations, that CACFP monitoring requirements be conducted onsite. To ensure program integrity during this time, sponsoring organizations should continue monitoring activities of program operations offsite. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the CACFP granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on Sept. 30, 2021. 

FNS waives, for all state agencies, that CACFP monitoring requirements of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act be conducted onsite. To ensure program integrity during this time, state agencies should continue monitoring activities of program operations offsite. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Monitoring Requirements for State Agencies in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – EXTENSION 2 granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on Sept. 30, 2021. 

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.