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Arkansas: COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities

Breadcrumb

  1. Programs
  2. FNS Disaster Assistance
  3. FNS Responds to COVID-19
  4. COVID-19 Waivers by State
  5. Arkansas
Resource type
Waivers
Resource materials

USDA intends to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve our program participants across our 15 nutrition programs. We have already begun to issue waivers to ease program operations and protect the health of participants.

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Emergency Allotments

Request Received 3/23/2020 | Initial Approval 3/23/2020 | May Extension Approved | June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | September Extension Approved | October Extension Approved | November Extension Approved | December Extension Approved | January 2021 Extension Approved | February Extension Approved | April Extension Approved

Pandemic EBT

Approved 5/21/2020

Application Processing
  • Extended Certification Periods
    Initial Request Received 3/19/2020 | Initial Request Approved 3/25/2020 |
  • Adjustment to Interview Requirements
    Note: Approvals for April through June included waiving initial and recertification interviews, waiving face-to-face interviews, and postponing expedited service interviews.
    Offered to All States 3/26/2020 | June Extension Approved
  • Telephonic Signature
    Initial Request Received 3/19/2020 | Approved 3/27/2020 |June Extension Approved | July Extension Approved | August Extension Approved | October Extension Approved
  • Abbreviated SNAP Application
    Received 3/26/2020 | Denied 4/30/2020
  • Continuing Resolution
    Arkansas has taken options in accordance with the Continuing Resolution. Click here for more information.
Claims
  • Temporary Suspension of Claims Collections
    Approved | June Extension
  • Waive Penalties for Non-Response to RFC
    Denied 4/30/2020
Fair Hearing
  • Waive Fair Hearing Timelines
    Approved | June Extension

Quality Control
  • QC Case Review Extension
    Offered to All States 3/19/2020 | Offered for All States for June Cases 9/02/2020
  • SNAP Flexibility for Quality Control Interviews
    Offered to All States 3/13/2020 | June Extension Approved
  • Suspend Face to Face QC Interviews
    Offered to all States 8/31/2020
Other
  • Adjust Verification Requirements
    Received 3/19/2020 | Mass Denial Issued 4/10/2020

 


Child Nutrition Programs

Nationwide Waivers and Flexibilities
  • Meal Times
    Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Approved for 2020-2021 School Year 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021
  • Non-congregate Feeding
    Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020 | Extended through May 31 |Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for 2020-2021 School Year 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended in SFSP/SSO through June 2021
  • Nationwide Meal Pattern Waiver
    Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through May 31 | Extended through June 30 | Extended through July 31 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended through December 31
    - Approved for School, After-school and Day Care Programs for 2020-2021 School Year 6/25/2020 | Extended in School After-School and Day Care Programs through June 2021
  • Nationwide Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Waiver
    Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extended through August 31 | Extended through September 30 | Approved for 2020-2021 School Year 6/25/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
  • Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools for the School Year 2020-2021
    Nationwide Waiver Issued 6/25/2020
  • Afterschool Activity
    Nationwide Waiver issued 3/20/2020
  • Nationwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Data Waiver
    Offered to All States 3/25/2020
  • Nationwide Waivers of Child Nutrition Monitoring
    Offered to All States 3/25/2020 | Extension for Sponsors in CACFP | Extension for States in CACFP | Extensions for Schools | Extensions for Sponsors in SFSP | Extensions for States in SFSP | Extended through Aug 31
  • SFSP/SSO Area Eligibility Waiver
    Offered to All States 5/6/2020 | Extended through Aug 31 | Extended through September 30 | Extended Through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
  • SFSP/SSO extension
    Offered to All States 8/31/2020 | Extended through June 2021
  • 60 Day Reporting Requirement Waiver
    Offered to All States 4/1/2020
  • CACFP State Agency Monitoring (Annual Review)
    Offered to All States 4/27/2020
  • Food Service Management Company Contract
    Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through June 2021
  • Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment
    Offered to All States 4/27/2020
  • Extended Unanticipated School Closures
    Offered to All States 4/30/2020
  • SFSP/SSO Meal Service Times (Regular Summer)
    Offered to All States 4/27/2020
  • SFSP/SSO Closed Enrolled Sites (Regular Summer)
    Offered to All States 4/27/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
  • SFSP Offer Versus Serve (Regular Summer)
    Offered to All States 5/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
  • SFSP First Week Site Visits (Regular Summer)
    Offered to All States 6/1/2020 | Extended through December 31 | Extended through June 2021
  • Pre-approval Flexibility
    Offered to All States 9/11/2020 | Extended through June 2021
  • Nationwide At-risk Afterschool Area Eligibility Waiver
    Nationwide Waiver issued 9/18/2020 | Extended through June 2021
  • SSO Monitoring Waiver
    Approved 10/9/2020
  • Nationwide Waiver for Selected Child Nutrition Program Reporting Requirements
    Offered to All States 1/7/2021
  • Nationwide Waiver of Community Eligibility Provision Deadlines in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
    Offered to All States 3/26/2021
  • Nationwide Waiver to Allow Sponsors that Successfully Participated in the Summer Food Service Program in FY 2019 to Operate as Experienced Sponsors in FY 2021
    Offered to All States 4/1/2021
Additional Waivers and Flexibilities
  • Pandemic EBT
    See above under SNAP
  • Provision 2 Base Year
    Approved 7/30/2020
  • Oversight Plan Waiver
    Waiver Response 12/17/2020

 


USDA Foods Programs

  • Entitlement Waiver for SY 20-21
    Approved 6/17/2020
  • Entitlement Waiver for SY 2021-22
    Approved 1/15/2021

 


WIC Program

  • Extension of Approved Waivers
    Extended through June 30 | Extension 2 | Extension 3
  • Compliance Investigations
    Approved 4/8/2020
  • Extended Certification
    FNS Response 4/21/2020
  • FMNP Training
    Approved 5/28/2020
  • FMNP Monitoring
    Approved 6/11/2020
  • Food Package Substitutions Waiver
    Approved 3/26/2020
  • Four-Month Issuance Waiver
    Approved 4/17/2020
  • Minimum Stock Waiver
    Approved 3/30/2020
  • Physical Presence Waiver (includes lab work)
    Approved 3/20/2020
  • Remote Benefit Issuance Waiver
    Approved 3/25/2020
  • Medical Documentation
    Approved 3/26/2020
  • Routine Monitoring
    Approved 4/15/2020
  • Separation of Duties
    Approved 3/30/2020
  • Voter Requirements
    FNS Response 4/17/2020
  • Non-Retail 2 Month Issuance
    Approved 4/22/2020
  • Local Agency Monitoring
    Approved 9/29/2020
  • Vendor Onsite Routine Monitoring
    Approved 9/29/2020
04/16/2021
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