COVID-19 Relief Resources – Food Assistance
In response to COVID-19 relief assistance, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service is has several programs to help serve those in need.
- Congregate Meal Waivers – regarding summer meal programs
- Pandemic EBT– children who would receive free or reduced price meals if not for school closures are eligible to receive assistance under this provision
- National Meal Times Waiver – waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus
- Nationwide Non-congregate Feeding Waiver – waiver of congregate feeding requirements to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus
- Nationwide Afterschool Activity Waiver – waiver to support access to nutritious meals and snacks while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus
- Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver – approval for states to locally waive specific meal pattern requirements as needed to support access to nutritious meals when certain foods are not available due to the novel coronavirus
- Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver – allowing states approved for non-congregate feeding to waive the rule preventing parents and guardians from picking up meals for their children
- Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver – extending CEP election, notification and reporting and deadlines for School Year 2020-21
- Physical Presence Waiver – granting waivers to offer changing requirements for WIC participants and applicants to apply and reapply in person
- Remote Benefit Issuance Waiver – granting waivers to offer changing requirements for participants and applicants about requirements of picking up WIC EBT/ coupons in person
- Flexibility for Quality Control Interviews – allowing states to conduct telephone interviews instead of face-to face interviews for SNAP Quality Control Purposes
- Pandemic EBT – children who would receive free or reduced price meals if not for school closures are eligible to receive assistance under this provision
- Emergency Allotments – waivers to states to allow for the issuance of emergency allotments (supplements)
- Time limit for Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) – temporarily and partially suspends the time limit for ABAWD participation in SNAP
- Extended Certification Periods; Waive Periodic Reporting – waivers to allow states the flexibility to adjust deadlines for participants to re-enroll for SNAP benefits
Please visit the website to learn more about specific guidelines for your state and where locally to go to apply for benefits
URL: https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19