Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance for Armed Services

This memo is to announce a change regarding the eligibility determination for those families in the Armed Forces receiving a Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) as outlined in the USDA Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual on page 37.   Previously, for purposes of Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) eligibility, the FSSA payments were counted as earned income for households.  For the Fiscal years 2005 and 2006, Congress amended the law under the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act that states any households receiving FSSA payments are eligible for CNP benefits.  Therefore, in accordance with the law any FSSA payments must not be treated as income in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and After School Snack Program. 

If you have questions regarding this information, please contact your Child Nutrition Representative at (518) 473-8781.