FNS and state agencies share a common goal to improve payment accuracy. However, attempts to achieve this goal must not compromise the objective nature of the food stamp quality control (QC) process. The specific purpose of QC is to obtain an accurate measure of error rates. A state agency administering the Food Stamp Program is responsible for insuring that its QC sample and reviews remain free from unacceptable bias.
FDD has received several complaints recently about dried fruit and grain products that became infested in storage. Therefore, it is imperative that dried fruit and grain products are distributed to the end user as soon as possible after receipt from the vendor to avoid problems with infestation.
In July of 1999, President Clinton announced several new initiatives to improve access to the Food Stamp Program. One of these initiatives was an expansion of the existing authority for quarterly reporting waivers.
The memorandum clarifies policy on quarterly reporting, and expands the kinds of changes that states can allow recipients to report quarterly, rather than when they occur.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 made a number of changes to the National School Lunch Act which governs the waiver process in the child nutrition programs. This memorandum identifies the changes and provides guidance to be used in developing and submitting waiver requests to the child nutrition division.