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New SFAs and SFAs that had less than 80 percent response rate to verification in the prior school year MUST use the Error Prone (Standard) Sampling Method to conduct verification in the current school year. SFAs coming off Provision 2 or CEP must also use the error prone sampling method.

For Error Prone (Standard) Sampling Method, SFAs must verify the lesser of three percent (3%) or 3,000 of the approved applications on file as of October 1. The applications to be verified must be selected randomly from applications that meet the definition of an Error Prone application.

*Error prone applications are those with a reported income within $24 per week, $100 per month, or $1,200 per year of the applicable Income Eligibility Guidelines.

If the SFA does not have enough error prone applications to produce a three percent (3%) sample, the SFA must use income applications and/or applications that report a SNAP/TANF/FDPIR number selected at random to meet the required sample size under the error prone sampling method.

SNAP/TANF/FDPIR applications will not be selected unless there are too few applications that meet the error prone criteria.

Note: When approving applications, SFAs should flag those that meet the error prone definition (see definition above) in order to facilitate this process.

Last updated
September 22, 2023

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. Emailprogram.intake@usda.gov.

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

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