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Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity Feasibility of Revising the SNAP Quality Control Review Process

FNA uses a two-tier system to measure errors in eligibility and benefit determination for SNAP. This feasibility study identifies all processes and components that would be required for a one-tier federal SNAP QC system, including the procedural, staffing, and organizational changes and the technological and data-sharing infrastructures.

12/19/2019
Resource | Research and Data | General/Other Identifying Program Components and Practices that Influence SNAP Application Processing Timeliness Rates

This study sought to better understand the root causes of SNAP application timeliness concerns. A comprehensive in-depth study of program components and practices adopted by the 50 states and the District of Columbia to process SNAP applications was conducted. 

02/26/2019
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations CACFP Sponsor Tiering Determination Aging Study, 2015 - 2020

This report describes the feasibility of a modeling approach to forecast tiering error rates based on prior data, in lieu of annual assessments of misclassified FDCHs. It presents estimates for forecasted rates and associated improper payments for FDCHs for each fiscal year (FY) from 2016 to 2020. Due to data limitations, the report concludes that building a reliable model is not possible with the currently available data and estimates produced by the models cannot be used for IPERIA reporting.

02/26/2019
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity NSLP/SBP Access, Participation, Eligibility, and Certification Study – Erroneous Payments in the NSLP and SBP

Program errors and the risk of erroneous payments in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) continue to be a concern. Slightly more than one in five students were certified inaccurately or erroneously denied benefits in school year (SY) 2005-06. New data estimates the gross cost of school meals erroneous payments due to certification error at about $935 million while other operational errors represent about $860 million. 

11/14/2007
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Direct Verification Pilot Study: First Year Report

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 permits direct verification of school meal applications and requires FNA to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of direct verification (instead of household verification) by school district.

06/28/2007
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity Accuracy of SFA Processing of School Lunch Applications – Regional Office Review of Applications (RORA) 2006

This is the second in a series of annual reports assessing administrative errors associated with school food authorities’ approval of applications for free and reduced-price school meals. In school year 2005/06, more than 96 percent of students who were approved for meal benefits on the basis of an application were receiving the correct level of meal benefits, based on the information in the application
files. 

05/09/2007
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity 2005 WIC Vendor Management Study

In 1991 and 1998, FNA conducted national studies of WIC vendors to determine the extent of vendor violation of program rules. After the 1998 study, FNA issued regulations to correct vendor practices. The 2005 study replicates the 1998 study to determine whether the regulations were effective, and to measure the frequency of vendor violations and the degree to which vendors charge accurate prices for WIC transactions.

04/27/2007
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Data Matching in the National School Lunch Program: 2005

This study examines the feasibility of expanding the use of computer matching for certification and verification of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals funded under the National School Lunch Program. This study provides a detailed description of how computer matching is currently used and how it could be used.

01/05/2007
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Evaluation of Food Retailer Compliance Management Demonstrations in EBT Ready States and Related Initiatives

This study evaluates the Retailer Compliance Management Demonstrations in EBT-ready States. In these demonstrations, the State food stamp agencies in New Mexico (NM) and South Carolina (SC) assumed responsibility for managing the participation of food retailers in the FSP, a task previously managed exclusively by the federal government.

04/01/1997
Page updated: July 21, 2026