Search Results for agency_names:"Food and Nutrition Service"

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 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 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.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new reimbursement rates for meals provided under the Summer Food Service Program for 2025. These rates have been adjusted to account for inflation, resulting in an average increase of 3.6% from the previous year. The adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index and will apply to both operating and administrative costs of the program, which will take effect from January 1, 2025. The changes aim to simplify accounting procedures and ensure sponsors can manage reimbursements efficiently while maintaining nutrition standards.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA announced in a notice the types of foods that will be available through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for Fiscal Year 2021. The notice details both surplus foods, which include items like dairy, grains, meats, and fruits, and purchased foods, supported by various legislative acts and additional funding due to COVID-19 impacts. These foods are distributed to states for helping individuals in need, with allocations based on factors like poverty and unemployment rates. The availability of specific foods can change due to agricultural market conditions.

The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA announced the benefit levels for 2025 in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program. These benefits, unchanged from 2024, are adjusted annually based on the Thrifty Food Plan and include regional modifications for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories. For most areas, the monthly benefit remains at $40, while Alaska and Hawaii have higher amounts due to cost differences. These adjustments comply with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking proposals from eligible Tribal Organizations to participate in a demonstration project aimed at purchasing agricultural commodities for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This project is authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and will allow selected Tribal Organizations to enter self-determination contracts for food purchases. A total of $3 million is allocated for the project, with individual proposals not exceeding $1.5 million. Proposals should be submitted by March 15, 2021, and organizations will be selected based on various criteria, including their capacity to purchase and distribute locally grown foods.