(X) Policy Memo
October 23, 2009
TO: Child Care Centers, and Outside-School-Hours Centers participating in the Child
and Adult Care Food Program
Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household
Effective Immediately
The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs recently received
guidance from USDA concerning extending categorical eligibility to additional children in
a household.
Effective immediately, all children who are members of a household receiving
assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families (TANF) are categorically eligible for free meals.
This guidance modifies the policy related to categorically eligibility for free meals for
children who live in a household in which a child is receiving assistance under the
SNAP, TANF or FDPIR Programs. If a child in a household is qualified for free meals
under SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits, then all children in the household qualify for
free meals without further documentation.
Sponsors must extend eligibility for free meals to all children in what would be
considered a family as defined in 7 CFR 245.2, which states, a family is defined as a
group of related or nonrelated individuals, who are not residents of an institution or
boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit.
Sponsors may use enrollment records to determine additional children who are part of
the family who were not otherwise identified on the Confidential Income Statement,
including newly-enrolled siblings. A situation where this policy might apply would be
where a household consists of non-related individuals. One child in the household may
qualify for SNAP, TANF or FDPIR, but other household members do not. In such a
case, any child living in this household and considered part of the economic unit would
be eligible for free meals.
If you have questions, please contact your assigned Child Nutrition Specialist.
Sincerely,
Lynne Reinoso
Manager, Community Nutrition
Child Nutrition Programs
Office of the Superintendent