• Nutrition Assistance

    • On March 14, the House passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation this week. The bill includes:
      • $500 million in emergency funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
      • $400 million for the Commodity Assistance Program for the emergency food assistance program (TEFAP), $100 million of which could be used for costs related to the distribution of goods.
    • SNAP Benefits for Kids: If a school is closed for at least five consecutive days because of a coronavirus-related public health emergency, states could adjust their SNAP to provide additional aid to households with children eligible for free or reduced price school meals.
    • SNAP Work Requirements: The bill would waive federal work requirements for SNAP eligibility. The waiver would begin the first full month after the bill is enacted and terminate at the end of the first full month after a federal coronavirus-related emergency declaration is lifted.
      • State-imposed work requirements would not be changed, but a person’s participation in SNAP during the emergency could not be counted for determining compliance with work requirements.
    • Other SNAP Benefits: States that make their own emergency or disaster declarations related to Covid-19 could request emergency allotments of food aid to support increased participation in SNAP and address temporary food needs.
    • Meal Program Waivers: The bill allows USDA to waive statutory requirements for several food programs to ensure that meals can be provided during the emergency and to implement safety measures related to preventing the spread of Covid-19. It would allow nationwide waivers of eligible National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program requirements.
      • The department could waive nutritional content requirements and rules to provide meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program in group settings.
      • Waivers related to Covid-19 that increase the cost to the federal government for school meals would be allowed.
    • WIC Waivers: The measure would allow states to request waivers for the requirement that The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recipients certify their eligibility in person and for deferring biometric and bloodwork requirements. USDA could also modify or waive WIC administrative requirements that a state can’t meet due to the Covid-19 outbreak.      
    • WIC benefits are still available and most appointments may be conducted by phone. Our offices are working on a limited schedule for in-person or walk in counseling. Our staff is working hard to ensure that WIC benefits are not interrupted. If you have a WIC appointment, you will be called to have your counseling over the phone. If you have any questions, please call our help line at 716-218-1484.