FNS Responds to COVID-19

Emergency Allotments: States may issue benefits to SNAP households that normally receive less than the maximum benefit.

Pandemic EBT: FNS is allowing states to provide benefits to children who normally receive free or reduced-price school meals.

SNAP Online Purchasing: FNS rapidly expanded SNAP online purchasing to support social distancing.

Additional State flexibilities: The Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 allows states to adopt certain options without FNS action.

Nationwide Meal Times Waiver: FNS is letting meals be served to kids outside traditional times to maximize flexibility for meal pick-up, through the 2020-2021 school year.

Nationwide Non-congregate Feeding Waiver: FNS is allowing meals to be served in non-group settings to support social distancing, through the 2020-2021 school year.

Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pick-Up Waiver: FNS is allowing parents/guardians to pick-up meals and bring them home to their children, through the 2020-2021 school year.

Remote Benefit Issuance Waivers: FNS is allowing WIC agencies to issue benefits remotely so participants don’t have to pick up their WIC benefits in person.

Physical Presence Waivers: FNS is allowing participants to enroll or re-enroll in WIC without visiting a clinic in person and postpone certain medical tests.

Extensions of Approved Waivers - FNS is extending waiver approvals through September 30, 2020 for all WIC state agencies that choose to continue operations under their approved waivers

Additional Funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): FNS is providing up to $850 million in additional funding for states to distribute to food banks and food pantries. Learn more about USDA support for food banks.

Disaster Household Distribution: FNS is approving state and local agency requests to provide boxes of foods directly to households in affected areas.

Supporting Participants in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR): FNS is providing an additional $100 million for COVID-19 response, increasing the monthly food package and providing administrative support.