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Guidance for States Preparing for the End of the Public Health Emergency

The national public health emergency put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic expired on May 11, 2023. FNS no longer has the ability to offer PHE-related benefits and flexibilities. This page contains information to help states navigate that transition.

Going forward, FNS will continue to improve program delivery, access, customer experience, and more, using the experiences from the past few years to innovate and advance the future of our programs.

Program Specific Guidance


FNS is committed to providing states with extensive technical assistance and guidance as they transition to post-public health emergency operations. Click on a program below for more information.

office assistance

SNAP

Highlights

When the PHE ends, some of the most notable impacts will be in SNAP. By law, starting in July, the temporary benefits that were provided to certain college students during the public health emergency will begin to be phased out and work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents will once again be enforced. Separate from the public health emergency, Congress also ended the temporary boost to SNAP benefits, known as emergency allotment, beginning in March.

Learn more about the SNAP response to COVID-19

 

Key Policy Memos

P-EBT

Highlights

Since March 2020, Pandemic EBT, also known as P-EBT, has been helping eligible families cover food costs for kids who typically received free and reduced-priced school meals or were eligible through their child care facilities.

States may continue providing P-EBT through the end of summer 2023 for school children, but must end benefits for kids in child care when the PHE ends on May 11, 2023.

The new nationwide Summer EBT program Congress authorized at the end of 2022 will be available starting in summer 2024. This will help families in need continue to put food on the table in summer, when children aren't receiving meals in schools.

Learn more about the P-EBT response to COVID-19

 

Key Policy Memos

Child Nutrition Programs

Highlights

FNS offered states and child nutrition program operators extensive flexibilities during COVID to ensure they could continue to serve kids the nutrition they needed.

Two of the flexibilities currently offered – CACFP benefits for young adults in shelters and offsite monitoring – are tied to the PHE and, therefore, will be coming to an end; other flexibilities and support continue to be provided under other authorities.

Learn more about the CN response to COVID-19

 

Key Policy Memos

WIC

Highlights

After the public health emergency, most of the flexibilities FNS provided to WIC participants during the pandemic will continue to be available under a separate authority Congress provided FNS in the American Rescue Plan Act. With this authority, WIC state agencies can continue to offer – and build and improve upon – remote services, after the PHE ends.

Infant formula waivers are not tied to the PHE and will be phased out on a different timeline, which is expected to be complete by the end of June 2023. More information can be found in the Unwinding Infant Formula Flexibilities in WIC memo.

Learn more about the WIC response to COVID-19

 

Key Policy Memos
Page updated: October 18, 2023