Consistent with USDA's efforts to increase state flexibility within the bounds of the law, FNS is expanding allowable activities for states seeking to use non-merit system personnel in call centers. With FNS approval, states may now use non-merit personnel to provide basic case-specific information that is readily available in the system to a SNAP applicant or participant, such as application or case status, benefit issuance date, and status of submitted verifications.
This memo discusses SNAP applications and other documents being sent by clients to the USDA Office of Civil Rights instead of the appropriate state SNAP office. The memo outlines best practices states can use to make submission instructions clearer for clients.
This memorandum provides additional guidance and questions and answers for state agencies to implement the Review of Major Changes in Program Design and Management Evaluation Systems final rule.
This memorandum provides a brief summary describing the Review of Major Changes in Program Design and Management Systems final rule's provisions and outlines the next steps in its implementation.
The purpose of this memo is to transmit national target areas and procedures for management evaluations for FY 2016. FNS, with input from the regional offices, has identified four national target areas for the ROs to review.
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide regional offices and state agencies with information that can help them examine and revise client notices of denial and termination to improve SNAP customer service and program access.
The designated FY 2011 national target areas for management evaluation reviews are listed.
The purpose of this section is to establish dialogue with SDA staff regarding corrective action(s) from the prior ME as well as any unresolved issues; state laws, policy, or legislation that would impact operation of the program under review; and the number of SDA staff, salary allocation, and vacancies.
The following review tools are provided as a convenience to FNS regional office and state agency reviewers for use with “Conducting Program Access Reviews at Local Food Stamp Offices: A Guide for FNS Regional Offices, For Adaptation by State Agencies.”
This guidance, which updates the original August 2000 guidance, is provided to assist FNS regional offices in conducting PARs. It is intended that state agencies will adapt this guidance when monitoring the program access portion of the ME reviews of their food stamp project areas (or counties).