Attached for your information are copies of the 2009 SFSP reimbursement rates and the Federal Register notice announcing them.
FNA is aware that state agencies are struggling to cope with mounting caseloads as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is responding to growing needs for food assistance. As state budgets become increasingly tight, few states are able to add staff to manage the greater demands. This memo is intended to review certification policies states may consider to support more efficient caseload management.
To explore other options for assessing impacts, we awarded a contract to provide us with new information on: experiences and satisfaction of participants in FNA programs, and impacts of program participation on reducing hunger, diet quality, and other indicators of household well-being.
Several state agencies have recently asked FNA to approve increases in their Standard Utility Allowances (SUA’s) for heating and cooling based on projections of substantial price increases in energy sources – particularly natural gas. We are aware of broad interest in the issue of the impact of higher energy prices on household budgets and appreciate the conferences and correspondence that bring this issue to our attention.
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the vendor-related WIC provision reflected in PL 109-97, which provides WIC funding for FY 2006.
FNA is soliciting proposals for the second round of funding (FY 2006) from state agencies that have identified local educational agencies which have demonstrated a high level of, or a high risk for, administrative error.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act authorizes FNA to award $9,000,000 in FY 2006 to be used to assist states in implementing mandatory direct certification and other provisions related to certification and verification of students’ eligibility to receive free and reduced price meal benefits in the school nutrition programs.
A summary of past research on program operations and outcomes related to the Food Stamp Program.
Most discussion of payment accuracy in the Food Stamp Program focuses on the overall level and cost of payment errors. Rarely does the discussion focus on the impact of payment errors on individual households affected. This analysis – based on 2003 food stamp quality control data – leads to two broad conclusions. First, virtually all households receiving food stamps are eligible. Thus, the problem of erroneous payments is not so much one of determining eligibility, but rather one of attempting to finely target benefits to the complicated and changing circumstances of low-income households. Second, most overpayments to eligible households are small relative to household income and official poverty standards. As a result, most food stamp households are poor, and they remain poor even when overpaid.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 allows children to be certified as eligible for free meals under the NSLP and the SBP based on participation in other programs authorized under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended. No further application by the child’s household is necessary.