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Resource | Research and Data Understanding Risk Assessment in SNAP Payment Accuracy

This study provides an overview of the risk assessment tools currently used by the state agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to categorize those program applications more likely to incur payment errors and allocate resources to improve the accuracy of benefit payments to families participating in SNAP. 

12/30/2025
Data Visualization
SNAP Retailer Management Year End Summary FY 2024

This dashboard was created to share information about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program retailer participation during fiscal year 2024. 

07/10/2025
Resource | Research and Data Erroneous Payments In Childcare Centers Study (EPICCS)

The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 requires federal agencies, like FNS, to give Congress information about payment errors for federal programs, like CACFP. FNS planned this study to estimate payment errors in CACFP child care centers. However, after completing the study, FNS found an error in the method used to estimate nationwide findings from the study data. Because of the error, FNS is not publishing the full study, and will instead present key findings that relate to broad trends instead of specific estimates.

01/14/2025
Resource | Research and Data Feasibility Study: Calculating Meal Claiming Error in Family Day Care Homes That Participate in CACFP Using State Monitoring Review Data

We explored the feasibility of using existing data from state monitoring reviews – a process designed to assess operations and provide real-time technical assistance to family day care homes operating CACFP – to estimate the rate of improper payments in those operations. This study found that flexibility in these reviews and the information they report across states, while beneficial for their main purpose, made the resulting data unusable for estimating a national improper payment rate.

01/14/2025
Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost WIC Food Package Cost Report FY 2014

This report supplements FNS administrative data on food package costs by estimating the average monthly food costs for each WIC participant category and food package type. It also estimates total pre- and post-rebate dollars spent on 17 major categories of WIC-eligible foods in FY 2014. This report is an update to the previous WIC Food Package Cost Report for FY 2010.

10/11/2018
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Evaluation of the National School Lunch Program Application/Verification Pilot Projects

USDA sponsored the NSLP Application/Verification Pilot Projects to test ways to improve the process for certifying students for free or reduced-price meals. This report presents findings on the impacts of two alternatives to the current application-based certification process - Up-Front Documentation and Graduated Verification - that were tested in 12 public school districts over a three-year period.

08/01/2004
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Case Study of National School Lunch Program Verification Outcomes in Large Metropolitan School Districts

This report presents the results of a case study of verification in 21 large metropolitan SFAs around the country. The study examined outcomes of the verification process and made an independent assessment of income eligibility of households with specific verification outcomes using data from in-person interviews with families.

04/01/2004
Page updated: September 16, 2025