Policy memo (285.72 KB)
| DATE: | January 17, 2024 |
| SUBJECT: | Reporting Expectations for the Certifications Section of the FNS-366B: Questions and Answers |
| TO: | All SNAP State Agencies All Regions |
This guidance clarifies reporting expectations for the Certifications Section (Section C; lines 3-6b) of the Program and Budget Summary Statement, Part B - Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B). This guidance replaces the previously issued guidance entitled Clarifications for Reporting on the Certification Section of the FNS-366B, dated Jan.11, 2017.
The Certifications Section of the FNS-366B is used to track the number of initial and recertification applications approved or denied by the state agency in the specified reporting quarter, as well as the number of applications that were approved overdue by 1 to 90 or more days. The FNS-366B is one of three ways in which the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) monitors state timeliness and can be an early indication of states with emerging backlog problems.
FNS is reissuing this memo to address questions regarding completion of the FNS-366B Certification Section—for example, on the treatment of applications filed within 30 days of the end of a certification period. Additionally, FNS revised the FNS-366B in 2023 to add a separate field for states to report on expedited services at recertification. Accordingly, FNS is using this opportunity to clarify and affirm the treatment of applications filed within 30 days of the end of a certification period as well as to clarify the definition of “overdue” for recertification applications.
All certification actions occurring in the specified reporting quarter should continue to be aggregated on the FNS-366B and reported to FNS within 1 month of the end of the reporting quarter.
States are expected to follow the guidance in this memo no later than fiscal year (FY) 2024, quarter one submission. States should also continue to refer to the form instructions when completing the FNS-366B.
For instructions on how FNS measures initial application processing timeliness (APT) and recertification application processing timeliness (RAPT) for quality control (QC), please refer to the Form FNS-380-1 instructions.
State agencies with questions should contact their respective regional office representatives.
Moira Johnston
Acting Director
Program Development Division