What FNS Is Doing to Reduce Fraud and Non-Fraud Eligibility Errors
Ensuring only those individuals that should receive benefits are receiving
benefits.
The integrity of the eligibility process is paramount in the Food Stamp
Program. This includes ensuring only those individuals that should
receive benefits are receiving benefits. To address this concern,
FSP is taking a number of steps to improve household eligibility.
Quality Control System
First and foremost, FSP has a quality control (QC) system in place to
assess the degree of payment accuracy and integrity. States are
rewarded for good performance or face fiscal sanctions for poor performance.
The data compiled through the QC system is useful in identifying areas
of error concentration. Regional staff has formed combined Federal/State
partnerships to address these areas of concern. These partnerships,
or program accuracy teams, identify and correct weaknesses in State eligibility
determination. In addition, the partnerships change weak reporting
processes identified through the QC system. The teams conduct forums
and sponsor State exchanges to share best practices in the area of payment
accuracy.
Eligibility Matches – Income Checks
FNS is active in conducting State computer matches to verify eligibility.
Through the Income Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), State agencies
have the option of conducting matches to verify household income utilizing
six major databases. FNS research shows IEVS to be cost-effective.
Overall, IEVS assists caseworkers in determining correct benefits and
preventing administrative errors.
Eligibility Matches – Deceased Individuals
Occasionally, households do not report when a household member dies.
They simply continue to receive benefits for that household member.
FNS supported legislation to require State agencies to implement a match
with SSA’s Death Master File (DMF) to detect participation of deceased
individuals. A number of States are currently conducting matches
using State data. Access to the SSA’s DMF will soon provide
States with more complete national data.
Eligibility Matches – Prisoners
FNS utilizes a number of computer matching applications to enhance
program support. One such program is the matching of prisoners
(who are ineligible to participate) with the food stamp roles. Individuals
in prison are not eligible to receive benefits. FNS has worked actively
with State agencies, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the
Federal Bureau of Prisons to make prisoner data available to States and
to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of State matching programs.
Twenty-two states currently operate prisoner matching programs that match
the names of prisoners with food stamp recipients within their borders.
Some States have recently begun testing the use of SSA nationwide data.
FNS will continue to facilitate the system’s use by all States.
Eligibility Matches – Duplicate Participation
The Food Stamp Program is focusing greater attention on reducing
the potential for program abuse and fraud by individuals who present false
identification in order to obtain duplicate program benefits. Since
the mid 1990s, 24 State agencies have explored the use of biometrics
in their welfare systems to prevent duplicate participation. In
addition, FNS has developed program and funding policy to support the
implementation of finger imaging systems when these systems are shown
to be in the interest of FSP. Four States have developed and implemented
finger imaging systems in their FS programs. FNS expects four additional
States to initiate new FSP finger imaging projects within the next 12
months.
Eligibility Matches – Fleeing Felons
Recent legislation has made fleeing felons and probation/parole violators
ineligible to participate in the FSP. This additional eligibility
criterion allows the Department to support initiatives such as Operation
Talon. Operation Talon is a law enforcement (OIG) initiative in
which information of law enforcement agencies is matched with food stamp
caseload data to detect and apprehend individuals who are fleeing felons
or parole/probation violators. FNS continues to encouraged State
cooperation with the USDA OIG and local law enforcement agencies.
Program Disqualification
Recipients who commit fraud are disqualified from the FSP. Disqualification
periods range from one year to permanent depending on the number and severity
of the offense. Disqualified individuals are tracked through a central
registry known as the Disqualified Recipient Subsystem (DRS). As
of December 31, 1998, DRS contained data on 720,077 disqualified individuals.
The DRS ensures that only deserving individuals can continue to participate
in the FSP.
USDA Phone Numbers and Address
USDA Hotline
Washington Metropolitan Area 202-690-1622
Toll Free 800-424-9121
TDD 202-690-1202
Office of Inspector General
P.O. Box 23399
Washington, D.C. 20026-3399
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