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Table of Contents
| Informing Households | 1 |
| Required Forms for Determining Eligibility | 2 |
| Foreign Language Translations | 3 |
| Electronic Applications & Scanning Paper Applications | 3 |
| Use of Application for Other Purposes | 4 |
| Determining Official’s Responsibilities | 4 |
| Duration of Eligibility | 5 |
| Effective Date of Eligibility Determinations | 5 |
| Change in Household Circumstances | 6 |
| Transferring Eligibility | 7 |
| Eligibility Based on Prior Year’s Application | 8 |
| Eligibility Based on Household Size & Income | 10 |
| Foster Child / Institutionalized Child Applications | 15 |
| Additional Guidelines for Application Approval | 16 |
| Categorical Eligibility of Homeless & Runaway Students | 19 |
| Categorical Eligibility of Migrant Students | 19 |
| Categorical Eligibility of Food Assistance/TAF/FDPIR Recipients | 21 |
| Independent Review of Applications | 22 |
| Eligibility Based on Direct Certification | 23 |
| Application Retrieval | 28 |
| Application Retention | 28 |
Related Forms
| Title | File |
| Request to Use Electronic Transactions in the Child Nutrition Program |
|
Guidance and Resources
| Title | File |
| 2025-26 Child Nutrition Program Benefit Application Guidance |
|
| Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Child Nutrition Program Benefits |
|
To keep up to date, regularly check the USDA Child Nutrition Programs' Web site for recently posted regulations, policy clarifications, prototype application
materials, and other information. Most recent changes within each chapter are highlighted in yellow. New guidance is also posted at SNP What's New or in Monthly Updates.
