SNAP Briefing – PARIS Conference

1. SNAP Briefing – PARIS Conference March 14, 2012

2. Topics Covered • SNAP Client Integrity • Payment Accuracy • 2008 Farm Bill Certification Rules • Simplified Reporting

3. Focus on SNAP Client Integrity

4. SNAP Client Integrity • SNAP integrity is a long standing FNS priority. • Media attention on recipient misuse of benefits highlighted trafficking in particular. • Need for new and creative approaches to combat recipient fraud.

5. SNAP Client Integrity Troubling Activities • Advertising the sale of EBT cards on Craigslist, Facebook, etc. • Excessive EBT card replacements. • Unexplained out of State transactions.

6. SNAP Client Integrity Communication to States and Public emphasizing importance of client integrity • Letters to State Commissioners • Conferences • Visits to Individual States • New website – one stop portal http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fraud.htm

7. SNAP Client Integrity Policy Guidance and Initiative • “Intent to sell” benefits or EBT Cards • Use of FNS information on retailer actions • Data matching • Partnership Fund Pilot Project

8. Payment Accuracy

9. Reducing Improper Payments Work closely with State partners to: • Ensure that only those families who are eligible for the Program participate • Ensure that the correct amount of benefits is provided to them

10. Payment Accuracy • Currently over 98% of those receiving SNAP are eligible to participate • Payment accuracy is at 95.96%, a historic high • Payment errors are less than half of what they were 10 years ago. • Reduced improper payments by more than $3 billion in recent years.

11. 2008 Farm Bill Certification Rules

12. Eligibility, Certification, and E&T Provisions • Most 2008 farm bill certification provisions in this rule • All statutory provisions in rule effective October 1, 2008 • Published May 5, 2011 • Received 120 comments • Final rule by year’s end

13. Mandatory Provisions • New Program name! • Excluded military combat pay • Raised standard deduction and minimum benefit for small households • Eliminated dependent care caps • Assets indexed to inflation, retirement & education accounts • E&T funds limited to 1 year

14. Optional Provisions • Simplified reporting extended to all HHs • State-funded cash assistance ending qualifies for TBA • Spoken signatures allowed • Job services for E&T Clients .

15. Fleeing Felon Rule • Dates back to PWORA • Section 4112 -- Define “fleeing” and “actively seeking” • 30 comments received • Final rule expected within a year

16. Major System Failures Rule • Section 4133 -- States, not clients, responsible for over issuances caused by systemic errors related to automated eligibility systems • Rule defines “major system failure” and procedures to be followed

17. “Bottle Deposit” Rule • June 2011 proposed rule addresses important program integrity safeguards-- • Trafficking violations and dual participation issues in FDPIR/SNAP • Section 4132 -- Buying food to sell for cash or dumping beverages to get bottle deposit = trafficking • Section 4211 -- Disqualification in FDPIR = Disqualification in SNAP

18. Simplified Reporting

19. Rationale for SR • Reduced reporting benefits clients and States • Households get stable benefits • States save administrative costs • Error rates reduced • Almost all States on SR • SR benefits outweigh costs

20. SR in its Current Form • All households certified for 4 months can be assigned to SR • 2008 Farm Bill Provisions codified in January 29, 2010 final rule • States may act only on positive changes or States may act on all changes

21. Proposed Revisions to SR • Codify FNS 2009 blanket waiver to: • Not require asset reporting over SNAP limits for categorically eligible households • Not require changes in vehicle values if States use TANF vehicle asset rules

22. Questions?

23. Questions & Answers Contacts Jane Duffield, Chief State Administration Branch Program Accountability and Administration Division Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov Phone: 703 605-4385 Linda Jupin, Assistant Chief Certification Policy Branch Program Development Division Linda.Jupin@fns.usda.gov Phone: 703 305-2468