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Replacement of USDA Foods Destroyed Due to a Household Misfortune

EO Guidance Document #
FNS-GD-2011-0048
FNS Document #
FD-117
Resource type
Policy Memos
Guidance Documents
DATE: July 12, 2011
POLICY MEMO: FD-117: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
SUBJECT: Replacement of USDA Foods Destroyed Due to a Household Misfortune

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 274.6 permit the replacement of SNAP benefits destroyed due to a household misfortune. FNS is adopting a similar policy for FDPIR.

Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and State agencies must issue replacement USDA Foods to households that: a) submit a valid request for replacement of USDA Foods originally distributed through FDPIR which were destroyed or made unfit for human consumption in a household misfortune, and b) are not receiving SNAP disaster benefits (D-SNAP benefits) issued in accordance with 7 CFR Part 280. Section 1380 of FNS Handbook 501 will be updated to reflect this policy.

A household misfortune is an event beyond the household's control (e.g., flood, fire, tornado, hurricane) that results in the destruction of USDA Foods stored at the household's residence, or the destruction of USDA Foods in transit between the distribution site and the household's residence (e.g., a vehicle accident). A household misfortune could also be an extended power outage that prevents the household from storing refrigerated or frozen foods properly.

Procedures for Replacing USDA Foods in FDPIR

1. Households must request replacement of USDA Foods destroyed due to a household misfortune within 10 days of the date of the loss.

The request for replacement of foods destroyed due to a household misfortune must be received by the FDPIR ITO or state agency within 10 days of the date of loss. If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, and a written request is received the day after that weekend or holiday, then the request is considered timely.

A written request must include a statement by the household that its USDA Foods have been destroyed, describing the misfortune (e.g., flood, fire, tornado, hurricane, extended power outage, or other cause), and its impact on foods received through FDPIR. The written request must be signed and dated by an adult member of the household or the household's designated authorized representative. Attached is a sample template that ITOs and state agencies may use to assist households in requesting replacements, but ITOs and state agencies are not required to use the sample template or develop another template for this purpose.

The FDPIR ITO or state agency may accept oral requests for replacement issuances. Oral requests may be appropriate if the household is unable to come to the FDPIR office. However, before replacement benefits are issued, the household must finalize the request in writing per the above requirements, within 10 days of making the oral request (e.g., by mailing in the request, or completing an ITO/state-provided form - this could be mailed or provided to the participant for completion during a home delivery). If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, and the written request is received the day after, then the request is considered timely.

The ITO or state agency must inform households in writing that misrepresenting household circumstances to obtain replacement USDA Foods is an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), and explain the penalties for an IPV.

2. The ITO/state agency must determine the validity of the household misfortune before issuance.

The ITO or state agency must verify that the misfortune occurred through a collateral contact, home visit, or documentation from a community agency, including but not limited to a police department, fire department, electric company, or the Red Cross. The eligibility worker's personal knowledge of the misfortune is sufficient for verification purposes.

3. The ITO/state agency must either a) replace the foods, or b) deny the household's request.

a) Replace the USDA Foods b) Deny a household's request to replace the USDA Foods

Provide written notice of eligibility for the replacement foods.

Replacement USDA Foods must be issued no later than two business/working days following the receipt of the household's written request. This timeframe may be extended with justification, if approved by the FNS Regional Office.

For all verified household misfortunes other than power outages, the household must be given the opportunity to have one full monthly food package replaced, up to the total quantity of USDA Foods issued to the household in the month that the foods were destroyed. Households, at their option, may take less than the maximum quantity made available to them.

For verified power outages, only those foods requiring refrigeration must be replaced, up to the total quantity of refrigerated/frozen USDA Foods issued to the household in the month that the foods were destroyed. Households, at their option, may take less than the maximum quantity made available to them.

Replacement foods may be the exact foods originally issued to the household or appropriate alternatives.

Provide written notice of denial of the request for replacement foods.

Reasons for denial may include:

  • The household misfortune could not be verified;
  • The request for replacement was submitted more than 10 days after the household misfortune occurred; or
  • D-SNAP benefits were received in the same calendar month that the USDA Foods were lost.

Households that are denied replacement foods have the right to request a fair hearing to appeal the denial. Replacement USDA Foods will not be issued while the denial is being appealed.

 

If a household misfortune occurs at or near the end of a calendar month (e.g., July 31), and a timely, valid request is submitted for replacement of destroyed USDA Foods, the replacement benefits may be issued in the subsequent month.

4. The ITO/state agency must document the household's case record to include the following:

  1. the request for replacement, the date of the request, and the reason for the request; and
  2. verification of the household misfortune; and
  3. if the replacement request was approved, a list of the replacement FDPIR foods and quantities provided to the household; or
  4. if the replacement request was denied, the reason why it was denied.

5. Replacement USDA Foods must be reported on the FNS-152 Report, Monthly Distribution of Donated Foods to Family Units.

In the future, the FNS-152 Report, Monthly Distribution of Donated Foods to Family Units, and the Food Programs Reporting System, will be modified to allow the reporting of replacement USDA Foods. Until this modification is completed, the FDPIR Automated Inventory System (AIS) will continue to use the current FNS-152 reporting format. When the modification is completed, AIS will be updated to reflect the reporting changes.

To report replacement of USDA Foods in AIS until FNS-152 modifications can be made:

  1. Access the AIS Inventory System Menu,
  2. Select a Commodity Transaction for each food item used to replace what has been lost,
  3. Enter the transaction date for the month in which the foods were used for replacement,
  4. Enter A for the transaction code (Adjustment),
  5. Enter C for the adjustment type code (Unfit/Condition),
  6. Enter HH REPLACEMENT in the message field,
  7. Proceed with entering the amount of foods used for replacement and saving the transaction, and
  8. Verify that the transaction entry on the FNS-152 matches the physical inventory count.

Cathie McCullough
Director
Food Distribution Division

 

Attachment
Page updated: February 09, 2023

The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.