FNS Documents & Resources

This rule proposes to codify several provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 affecting the integrity of the child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and state administrative expense funds.

To ensure program integrity, school districts must sample household applications certified for free or reduced-price meals, contact the households, and verify eligibility. This process (known as household verification) can be burdensome for both school officials and households. Direct verification uses information from certain other means-tested programs to verify eligibility without contacting applicants. Potential benefits include: less burden for households, less work for school officials, and fewer students with school meal benefits terminated because of nonresponse to verification requests.

This memorandum is intended to provide independent centers with information for their use in implementing the provisions of this interim rule.

On Sept. 1, 2004, FNS published an interim rule entitled, “Child and Adult Care Food Program: Improving Management and Program Integrity” (69 FR 53501). This rule puts into effect regulatory provisions that FNS had proposed on Sept. 12, 2000 as modified in response to 548 public comments received on that proposal.

This interim rule amends regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The rule adds three legislative requirements that affect the application and certification process for the WIC program. 

The purpose of this policy memorandum is to highlight and strengthen national program policy regarding integrity in the WIC certification process through existing regulatory requirements as well as through new legislative requirements mandated by PL 105-336.