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2024-2025 School Year Income Verification Procedures

Prior to conducting any verification activity, an individual other than the original reviewing official must review each approved application selected for verification to ensure that the initial determination was accurate. The confirmation review must be done by an individual other than the individual who made the initial eligibility determination. A confirmation review is not required if the SFA uses a technology-based system that demonstrates a high level of accuracy in processing an initial eligibility determination.  

If an SFA is using “eligibility determining” software, it is the SFA’s responsibility to ensure that the "eligibility determining" software conforms to USDA regulations.

Depending on the outcome of each confirmation review, the SFA must take one of the following actions:

No Change in Status
  • Verifies the application
Status Change From Reduced Price to Free
  • Make the increased benefits available immediately
  • Notify the Household of change in benefits
  • Verify the application
Status Change From Free to Reduced Price
  • Do not change the child’s status
  • Verify the application
  • Notify the household of the correct eligibility status after verification is completed and, if required, sends the household a notice of adverse action.
Status Change From Free or Reduced Price to Paid
  • Immediately send the household a notice of adverse action
  • Do not verify the application
  • Select a similar application (example- another error prone application) to verify
  • Begin the verification process with the newly selected application. The second reviewing official must review the application.
Last updated
September 23, 2022

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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