Attached is the fifth set of questions and answers in response to issues raised by states since the issuance of our four earlier sets of questions and answers, clarifying the certification provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
This rule finalizes the proposed provisions of a rule published on March 19, 2004 to amend Food Stamp Program regulations to codify Food Stamp Employment and Training program provisions of section 4121 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
This is a follow-up of our memorandum of Feb. 3, 2006, authorizing 2-year waivers of the work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. Since we issued the original memorandum, we have received several requests in which state agencies have requested waivers under which they proposed to include the same jurisdiction in waivers covering two different approval periods.
At the request of the state agencies, SNAP offered a two-year ABAWD waiver under limited circumstances.
Using Food Stamp Quality Control data from fiscal year 2000, this analysis suggests that the simplified reporting policies adopted by states in 2004 could have lowered error rates by 1.2 to 1.5 percentage points.
FNS published an interim rule, “Child and Adult Care Food Program; Improving Management and Program Integrity" that explains a provision in that rule requiring state agencies that administer the CACFP to share information with state agencies that administer the Food Stamp Program
Several data sources, including information on free and reduced price eligibility status changed as a result of verification, indicate that there is a significant problem with inaccurate certifications for free/reduced price meal benefits in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Therefore, it is imperative that both state agencies and FNS make every effort to validate the accuracy of eligibility determinations.
This rulemaking proposes to amend Food Stamp Program regulations to implement 11 provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 that establish new eligibility and certification requirements for the receipt of food stamps.
Questions and Answers Related to the Guidance on Medicare-approved Drug Discount Card
State agencies apply for reimbursement using Form FSA-21, submitted to the appropriate FNS regional office for approval.