We have received several inquiries regarding the collection of eligibility information during a Provision 2 or Provision 3 cycle.
This rule implements the EBT provisions found in Section 825 of PRWORA which are meant to encourage implementation of EBT systems to replace food stamp coupons.
The NSLP offers free and reduced-price school meals to students from eligible households. Households with incomes at or below 130 percent of poverty are eligible for free meals, and households with incomes between 131 percent and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for reduced-price meals. Traditionally, to receive these benefits, households had to complete and submit application forms to schools or be directly certified. Direct certification, on the other hand, is a method of eligibility determination that does not require families to complete school meal applications. Instead, school officials use documentation from the local or state welfare agency that indicates that a household participates in AFDC or food stamps as the basis for certifying students for free school meals.
The purpose of this interim rule is to implement legislation requiring interoperability of Food Stamp Program Electronic Benefit Transfer Systems and portability of electronically-used benefits nationwide.
This final rule revises Food Stamp Program regulations pertaining to a state agency's ability to make an adjustment to a household's account in an Electronic Benefit Transfer system.
The purpose of this final rule is to require an annual examination of the transaction processing of organizations that provide Electronic Benefits Transfer systems or services for the Food Stamp Program.