Would using TANF funds to support Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites require that every participating child be evaluated for TANF eligibility based on individual income?
A1:No. Many SFSP sites do not require individual case eligibility determinations for participants. For example, Open Sites serve children in geographical areas where 50 percent or more of the local children are eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Enrolled Sites serve identified groups of children of which at least 50 percent are eligible for free or reduced price school meals. According to guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all the children who attend Open or Enrolled Sites are eligible to receive meals at no charge, regardless of their individual eligibility. If a SFSP site meets the criteria set by USDA to be an Open or Enrolled Site, then a jurisdiction may consider all participating children (regardless of individual family income) to be eligible for TANF-funded non-recurrent, short-term benefits related to that SFSP. On the other hand, Camp Sites receive USDA reimbursement only for meals served to children who are eligible for free and reduce
