Page 1
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
FNS 220 CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY
1 Section 220 Change #02-2024 October 01, 2024 FNS 220 CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY CHANGE #02-2024 OCTOBER 01, 2024
220.01 CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY Categorical eligibility simplifies the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) application process for both county agencies and households by reducing the amount of information that must be verified if a household already qualifies and has been determined eligible to receive benefits from another assistance program. 220.02 CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY TYPES FNS households are categorically eligible when they meet the criteria in one of the following categorical eligibility types: A. Work First Family Assistance (WFFA): All members of the FNS unit are authorized to receive WFFA. This includes all WFFA payment types including Benefit Diversion. B. Work First Services for Low-Income Families at or Below 200% of Poverty & Employment Services for Non-Custodial Parents: At least one member of the FNS unit is authorized to receive an available service from Work First. This includes FNS units that are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and at least one member of the FNS unit is authorized to receive Work First Services available through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant. The individual may receive services available for working low-income families or for non-custodial parents. “Authorized to receive” means that an individual has been determined eligible for benefits and has been notified of this determination, even if the benefits have been authorized but not received, authorized but not accessed, suspended, or recouped. Develop verification procedures within the agency to determine individuals that are authorized for Work First Employment Services. Document the North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (NCFAST) case file that the individual is authorized for Work First Employment Services. NOTE: This policy applies only to counties that provide these services within their agency and have submitted a Work First Plan indicating they are providing these services. Welfare-to-Work and other contracted employment services are not considered Work First Employment Services for categorical eligibility determination.