Which condition must be met for FNS households to be considered Categorically Eligible?

For a household to be considered Categorically Eligible for the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program, it must meet specific income criteria that demonstrate financial need. Income under 200% of the federal poverty level is a standard requirement that enables households to qualify for additional assistance without having to go through the typical resource limits that would apply otherwise.

This categorization simplifies the application process for eligible individuals, allowing them to access food assistance more efficiently. If a household's income is under this threshold, it can easily be deemed eligible without delving into other conditions that could complicate the application process—like disqualifications based on IPV (intentional program violation), household size minimums, or other eligibility requirements.

Contingent qualifications, like disqualification due to IPV, or specific household compositions are not factors in establishing categorically eligible status; rather, they are considerations in determining other aspects of a household’s eligibility. Thus, the primary focus remains on ensuring that income demonstrates the need for assistance, which is why meeting the income requirement under 200% is key for categorically eligibility in the FNS program.