Search Results for agency_names:"Food and Nutrition Service"

In a notice from the Food and Nutrition Service, under the Department of Agriculture, public comments are invited on a new information collection named Waivers and State Plans (WiSP). This initiative aims to streamline the process for state agencies by transitioning from individual collections to a single application for requesting program waivers and submitting state plans. It supports programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and aims to enhance efficiency and compliance with legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the Access to Baby Formula Act. The public is encouraged to comment on the utility and burden of this collection effort by February 28, 2025.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is proposing a change to better reflect the cost of food in Hawaii, impacting the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Currently, SNAP benefit calculations for Hawaii are based solely on food prices in Honolulu, but the proposed rule seeks to include prices from across the entire state. This change aims to provide a fairer and more accurate distribution of SNAP benefits to residents in all parts of Hawaii, acknowledging that food costs can be higher in areas outside of Honolulu. The public is invited to comment on this proposed rule until February 3, 2025.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule that modifies work requirements and exemptions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in response to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This rule expands work requirements to include adults aged 50 to 54, but also provides new exemptions for homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults who have aged out of foster care. These changes are expected to affect federal spending and administrative processes while impacting SNAP eligibility for some participants. The rule will take effect on January 16, 2025, with certain provisions expiring on October 1, 2030.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new income eligibility guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), effective from July 1, 2025. These guidelines will help State agencies determine if someone can get help from WIC by comparing their family's income to federal poverty levels. The guidelines are updated every year and are linked to the standards set for reduced-price school meals. The notice includes tables with income limits for different areas, such as Alaska, Hawaii, and the 48 contiguous States.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the USDA is seeking public comments on a new proposed information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection, known as the Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings II (SNACS-II), aims to gather comprehensive data on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and update information following new meal pattern requirements introduced in 2017. The study will analyze various aspects, such as the nutritional quality of meals, children's dietary intakes, and the costs involved in providing meals. Public input is requested by April 19, 2021, and all comments will contribute to the final request for approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

The final rule published by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) modifies SNAP's Employment and Training (E&T) program following the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act. The rule aims to strengthen support systems for SNAP participants by introducing several changes: it replaces traditional job search activities with supervised job search, requires case management for all participants, adds apprenticeships and subsidized employment activities, and enforces a minimum period for job retention services. The rule also mandates more robust state accountability measures, including detailed participant notifications about their work requirements and better data collection on participant outcomes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting feedback on the development of Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects. These projects, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, will allow Tribes and Tribal organizations to take on roles traditionally held by State agencies in administering school meal programs. The USDA is seeking input from Tribes, Tribal organizations, State agencies, and others on topics like eligibility criteria and the selection process for these pilot projects. Written comments are being accepted until March 24, 2025, to help shape the application process and evaluate potential challenges and support needs.

The Agriculture Department and Food and Nutrition Service issued a correction to a previously published proposed rule concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control Review Handbook. The original document, dated January 3, 2025, erroneously listed the date "March 4, 2024" under the DATES section. This has been corrected to read "March 4, 2025". This change ensures that readers have the correct information regarding important dates in the proposed rule.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has announced a reestablished computer matching program with State agencies that manage the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program allows these agencies to access the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS), which is a national database that keeps track of individuals disqualified from SNAP due to intentional program violations. By accessing this system, State agencies can verify an individual's SNAP eligibility and determine the appropriate length of disqualifications. The program aims to maintain program integrity and reduce errors in SNAP benefit distribution.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing a rule to incorporate the FNS Handbook 310, a manual for conducting quality control reviews of SNAP cases, into SNAP regulations. This incorporation ensures public notice and comment before implementing any revisions to the handbook. The rule also seeks to remove references to another manual, the FNS Handbook 311, until it can be officially incorporated later. The Department is inviting public feedback on these changes until March 4, 2024.