USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Emergency Allotments

January 2022 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved

January 2021 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | March Extension Approved | April Extension Approved | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved

Request Received 4/4/2020 | Initial Approval 4/6/2020| June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved

Pandemic EBT

• Pandemic EBT program during SY 2019-20
  Approved 5/8/2020
• Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-21
  P-EBT Child Nutrition Programs Combined Plan | Plan Approval 3/22/2021
  P-EBT Summer Plan | Plan Approval 8/13/2021
• Pandemic EBT program during SY 2021-22
  P-EBT Child Nutrition Programs Combined Plan | Plan Approval 2/25/2022
  P-EBT Child Nutrition Programs Plan (Amended) | Plan Approval 6/1/2022
  P-EBT Summer Program Plan | Plan Approval 8/5/2022

Application Processing

• Extended Certification Periods; Waive Periodic Reporting
  Initial Request Received 3/19/2020 | Initial Request Approved 3/23/2020
  July Extension Request 7/21/2020 | July Extension Approval 7/21/2020
  August Extension Request 7/21/2020 | August Extension Approval 7/21/2020
  September Extension Request 8/13/2020 | September Extension Denied 8/20/2020
• Adjustment to Interview Requirements
  Note: Approvals for April through June included waiving initial and recertification interviews, waiving face-to-face interviews, and postponing expedited service interviews.
  Offered to All States 3/26/2020| June Extension Approved
  - Waive Initial and Recertification Interviews
  July Extension Request 6/9/2020 | July Extension Approved 6/30/2020
  August Extension Request 7/21/2020 | August Extension Approved 7/21/2020
  September Extension Request 8/13/2020 | September Extension Denied 8/20/2020
  - Waive Face-to-Face Interviews
  July Extension Approved
• Core Verification and Interview Adjustment
  Received 8/13/2020 | Approved 8/20/2020
• Continuing Resolution
  Texas has taken options in accordance with the Continuing Resolution. Click here for more information.
• Extension of SNAP COVID-19 Administrative Flexibilities, May 2021 and Beyond
  Texas has taken options in accordance with the April 30, 2021, memo. Click here for more information.

Claims

• Temporary Suspension of Claims Collections
  June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved

Fair Hearing

• Waive Fair Hearing Timelines
  Approved 4/13/2020 | June Extension Approved

Quality Control

• SNAP Flexibility for Quality Control Interviews
  Offered to All States 3/26/2020 | June Extension Approved
• QC Case Review Extension
  Offered to All States 3/19/2020 | Offered for All States for June Cases 9/02/2020
• Suspend Face to Face QC Interviews
  Offered to all States 8/31/2020

Child Nutrition Programs

Nationwide Waivers and Flexibilities

Please contact your state agency if you have questions about the waivers they have elected.

• Afterschool Activity
  Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020
• CACFP State Agency Monitoring (Annual Review)
  Offered to All States 4/27/2020
• Extended Unanticipated School Closures
  Offered to All States 4/30/2020
• Food Service Management Company Contract
  Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through June 2021
• Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment
  Offered to All States 4/27/2020
• Meal Times
  Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021
• Nationwide At-risk Afterschool Area Eligibility Waiver
  Nationwide Waiver issued 9/18/2020 | Extended through June 2021
• Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver
  Offered to All States 3/25/2020
• Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver
  Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through May 31 | Extended through June 30 | Extended through July 31 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended through December 31
  - Approved for School, After-school and Day Care Programs for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended in School After-School and Day Care Programs through June 2021
• Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver
  Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
• Nationwide Waivers of Child Nutrition Monitoring
  Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extension for Sponsors in CACFP | Extension for States in CACFP | Extensions for Schools | Extensions for Sponsors in SFSP | Extensions for States in SFSP | Extended through Aug 31
• Nationwide Waiver for Selected Child Nutrition Program Reporting Requirements
  Offered to All States 1/7/2021
• Nationwide Waiver of Community Eligibility Provision Deadlines in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
  Offered to All States 3/26/2021
• Nationwide Waiver to Allow Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the Summer Food Service Program in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021
  Offered to All States 4/1/2021
• Nationwide Waiver to Provide Flexibility for School Meal Programs Administrative Reviews of SFAs Operating Only the SSO in SY 2021-22
  Offered to All States 5/21/2021
• Non-congregate Feeding
  Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 |Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for SY 2020-21 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021
• Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools for the SY 2020-21
  Nationwide Waiver Issued 6/25/2020
• Pre-approval Flexibility
  Offered to All States 9/11/2020 | Extended through June 2021
• SFSP/SSO Area Eligibility Waiver
  Offered to All States 5/6/2020 | Extended through Aug 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended Through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
• SFSP/SSO extension
  Offered to All States 8/31/2020 | Extended through June 2021
• SFSP/SSO Meal Service Times (Regular Summer)
  Offered to All States 4/27/2020
• SFSP/SSO Closed Enrolled Sites (Regular Summer)
  Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
• SFSP Offer Versus Serve (Regular Summer)
  Offered to All States 5/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
• SFSP First Week Site Visits (Regular Summer)
  Offered to All States 6/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
• 60 Day Reporting Requirement Waiver
  Offered to All States 4/1/2020

Additional Waivers and Flexibilities

• Pandemic EBT
  See above under SNAP
• Emergency Operational Costs Reimbursement Programs: Implementation Plans Approved
  Texas Department of Agriculture (School Programs) 6/21/21
  Texas Department of Agriculture (CACFP) 6/21/21
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent Pickup
  Approved 5/22/2020
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent Pickup SY 2020-21
  Approved 8/27/2020
• Minimum Administrative Review Flexibilities
  Response 7/7/2020
• Oversight Plan Waiver
  Waiver Response 4/5/2021

USDA Foods Programs

• Disaster Household Distribution
  Approved 4/11/2020| Revision 4/17/2020
• Entitlement Waiver for SY 2020-21
  Approved 9/11/2020
• Entitlement Waiver for SY 2021-22
  Approved 1/15/2021

WIC Program

• Extension of Approved Waivers
  Extended through June 30 | Extension 2 | Extension 3
• Extended Certification
  FNS Response 4/21/2020
• FMNP Training
  Approved 3/18/2021
  Approved 3/22/2021
• Food Package Substitution
  FNS Response 4/21/2020
  Approved 3/26/2020
• Four Month Issuance
  Approved 4/15/2020
• Local Agency Monitoring
  Approved 5/28/2020
• Medical Documentation
  Approved 3/26/2020
• Physical Presence (includes lab work)
  Approved 3/20/2020
• Separation of Duties
  Approved 3/30/2020
• Remote Benefit Issuance
  Approved 4/1/2020
• Spend Forward Authority
  FNS Response 4/17/2020
• Vendor Compliance Investigations Annual
  Approved 8/31/2021
• Vendor Onsite Preauthorization Visit
  Approved 9/30/2020
• Vendor Routine Monitoring Onsite
  Approved 9/30/2020