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These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on April 26, 2020.

We recommend that you monitor this site, as well as the sites referenced in these resources, for updates and changes as we expect the situation and solutions to change over the coming weeks and months. For information on specific programs, we encourage you to visit the websites of the organizations or government entities that are responsible for the relief.

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Description of Program and Relief

Food and Nutrition Service

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”) makes appropriations to the Department of Agriculture to fund food and nutrition assistance programs.

During 2020, if a school is closed for five consecutive days during the COVID-19 public health emergency, each household with at least one child eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals may receive financial assistance equal to the value of meals, over the course of five school days for each eligible child. State agencies may also provide assistance through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”).

Funds appropriated include:

  • $500 million in additional funding for WIC, which state agencies administer locally through county health departments, schools, hospitals, and Indian Health Service facilities.

  • $400 million in additional funding for the “Commodity Assistance Program” as authorized by The Emergency Food Assistance Program (“TEFAP”). TEFAP authorizes the Department of Agriculture to purchase a nutritious, high-quality foods and makes these foods available to State agencies which then distribute the food to local agencies or directly to individuals.

  • $100 million for grants to the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa for nutrition assistance.

Government or Lead Agency

Department of the Treasury, through the Department of Agriculture

Dates Available

Appropriations under this Title remain available through September 30, 2021.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

WIC State agencies must submit an annual state plan to the Department of Agriculture by August 15. State agencies should contact their regional office for more information regarding state plan requirements. Persons eligible for WIC include pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who meet income eligibility and State residency requirements, in addition to being certified as “nutrition risk” by a health professional or trained health official.

Organizations interested in distributing TEFAP foods should contact their State Distributing Agency to learn how to become a TEFAP local agency. Persons may receive TEFAP foods from a local TEFAP organization by getting food from a local food pantry or eating at a soup kitchen or similar organization. Otherwise, persons may take TEFAP food home directly if they meet state-specific income eligibility requirements.

List of Additional Information

https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/wic/wic-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/state-agency

https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/applicant-recipient

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/tefap-fact-sheet

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/state-local-agency

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/applicant-recipient


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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