About every 7 years, FNS performs a nationally representative study to examine the extent of error and abuse among food vendors authorized to accept WIC vouchers. The last bookend study was the 2005 WIC Vendor Management Study, which used fiscal year 2005 expenditure data to derive an estimate for 2004. Between bookend studies, there is a need to derive annual estimates of the level of improper payments for compliance with the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002. The purpose of the subsequent annual studies was to provide annual updates to the bookend studies using the developed aging methodology.
School Budget - Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424A)
The Access, Participation, Eligibility, and Certification study found that one in five children certified for free or reduced- price meals in school year 2005-2006 was erroneously certified or incorrectly denied benefits. This study builds on APEC with three objectives: Develop an econometric model to identify indicators of local education authorities with high risk of certification error. Identify the key relationships between certification error and local characteristics. Provide a Web-based monitoring tool that will apply model parameters to annual Verification Summary Report data.
As the time for reauthorization of SNAP again approaches, it is useful to take stock of its accomplishments, identify those features that have contributed to its success, and look for new opportunities to strengthen operations to achieve program goals more fully. To that end, this is a summary of past research on program operations and outcomes.
This is the third study that provides national estimates of the type, quantity, dollar value and unit price of food acquisitions by public school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The study examines the overall changes in the composition of the entire school food market basket including foods purchases for a la carte sales and the relative importance of donated USDA Foods. It also provides insight into the relationship between district characteristics, purchasing practices, and food costs.
This letter is to follow-up on our earlier correspondence in which we requested that Craigslist post a notice regarding the illegality of selling SNAP benefits on its website and/or that SNAP benefits be added to its prohibited items list.
The USDA has determined that the sale or offer to sell SNAP benefits in public or online is an intentional program violation and has issued policy guidance to that effect. We have received complaints that individuals are using Facebook accounts to post advertisements and make offers to buy or sell SNAP benefits.
This letter is to follow-up on conversations the USDA Office of General Counsel had with your legal team in 2010, in which we requested that eBay post a notice regarding the illegality of selling SNAP benefits on its website and/or that SNAP benefits be added to its prohibited items list.
This report, the first of three, addresses the first objective of the study, which is to explore the characteristics and experiences of WIC participants.