Verification Reporting in CNIPS

1. Verification Reporting in CNIPS SY 13-14 Division of School and Community Nutrition Kentucky Department of Education 20130916

2. Agenda and Objectives • By the end of today’s training you will be able to: • understand the purpose of verification reporting and what is new-FNS 742; • report results in CNIPS; • understand the SCN approval process and communication; • locate tips and resources for the verification process. 20130916

3. What’s New • This year, FNS is requiring the submission of SNAP direct certification data. • For this reason, the FNS-742 has been redesigned. 20130916

4. First Reporting Window: November’s Required Information • This section must be completed in CNIPS between November 1st and November 18th. • During the November Period, SFA’s must complete the following information: • Sections 1-5 (may vary depending if school is special provision) of Verification Report • This includes enrollment data, eligibility information, etc. 20130916

5. When Verification is complete after November • If the SFA had a 0% non-response rate and no applications changed to paid status during the verification process, Verification Reporting will be complete and the submission may be approved after the close of the first reporting window. 20130916

6. Second Reporting Window: February’s Required Information • February verification reporting will be required if the SFA had households that: • did not respond to verification or • had applications that changed to a paid status • The SFA will need to enter the final piece of Verification Reporting in the February period- Feb. 15th to March 1st • Guidance will be provided following the first reporting window. 20130916

7. Where to start:Verification Reporting in CNIPS • Verification Reporting is under “Applications” • Go to Applications > Verification Reporting • Select “SY 2013-2014” Note: It is not required that all areas are addressed in order to save the information entered. 20130916

8. Watch Key to see if this applies to your SFA To be completed by all SFA’s Section 1 • All SFA’s with schools or RCCI’s operating the NSLP and/or SBP must complete this section regardless if all schools are exempt from verification. • Report schools or institutions operating the NSLP and/or SBP and/or any students with access to the NSLP and/or SBP as of the last operating day in October. 20130916

9. To be completed by participating CEO and Provision 2 schools only Section 2- Special Provision Schools All SFA’s with some or all schools and/or operating under an alternative provision must complete this section. • Report students with access to NSLP and/or SBP as of the last operating day in October. • 2-1 through 2-4 should be reported only if the school operates alternate provisions for BOTH programs resulting in no collection of applications for the school. • Schools operating Provision 2/3 for only one program and collecting household applications for the other should report applicable provision data in 2-5. 20130916

10. To be completed by all SFA’s 3-2: Include students directly certified with SNAP. If a student is directly certified with SNAP as well as another program, count SNAP. Also include any student deemed eligible based on extended categorical eligibility via an eligible student in the primary household who has been directly certified with SNAP. Section 3 3-1 All SFA’s must complete this section. • If all schools and/or RCCI’s in the SFA were not required to perform direct certification with SNAP, then check box 3-1. • Direct certification is the process by which the student is certified eligible based on documentation received directly from the applicable program (e.g. SNAP or KTAP agency). This process eliminates the need for the household to submit an application. Report students approved FREE eligible as of the last operating day in October. 3-3: Include students directly certified through programs other than SNAP. Include students deemed eligible due to extended categorical eligibility via an eligible student in the primary household directly certified with KTAP/TANF, Medicaid. 3-4 Include ONLY students certified as categorically FREE eligible based on a letter submitted by family from the SNAP agency. Include students in the SFA deemed eligible due to extended categorical eligibility via an eligible student in the primary household certified as FREE categorically eligible with the letter method with SNAP. 20130916

11. To be completed by SFAs collecting applications at any site. # of students as of 10/31 Section 4 # of applicants as of 10/1 • All SFAs with schools and/or RCCIs collecting individual household applications must report this section, including schools and/or RCCIs in a Provision 2/3 base year. Report number of applications (A) approved as of October 1st. Report number of students (B) as of the last operating day in October. 4-1 Number of applications approved FREE eligible based on documentation submitted on an application (i.e., case number for SNAP or KTAP on an application) on file as of October 1stand the number of students as of the last operating day in October approved FREE eligible based on documentation submitted on an application (i.e. case number for SNAP or KTAP). Include students in the SFA deemed eligible due to extended categorical eligibility via an eligible student in the primary household categorically FREE eligible with SNAP or KTAP. 4-2Number of applications approved FREE eligible based on income information submitted by the household on file as of October 1stand the number of students as of the last operating day in October approved FREE eligible based on income Information submitted by the household. 4-3 Number of applications approved REDUCED PRICE eligible based on income information submitted by the household on file as of October 1st and the number of students as of the last operating day in October approved REDUCED PRICE eligible based on income information submitted by the household. 20130916

12. Completed by all SFA’s Section 5 • 5-1: If ALL schools and/or RCCI’s in the SFA are exempt from verification activities, check box 5-1 and no further reporting is required in Section 5. Verification activities are NOT required for: • RCCIs which do not have any day students; • schools electing the Community Eligibility Option; • schools participating only in the Special Milk Program; • all schools that are Provision 2/3 in a non base year. 20130916

13. Complete if 5-1 was NOT checked. Section5 cont. 5-2 Indicate whether verification was performed and completed by November 15th. 5-3 If verification was complete, check the type of verification process used to comply with the requirements of 7 CFR 245.6. 5-6: Check if direct verification was not conducted in the SFA (not one school in the SFA conducted direct verification). Direct verification is using records from public agencies to verify income and or program/participation. 5-4: Error-prone applications are household applications approved as of October 1st indicating monthly income within $100 of the monthly limit or annual income within $1200 of the annual limit of the applicable income eligibility guidelines. 5-7: Only report applications and students if FREE and/or REDUCED PRICE eligibility is confirmed through direct verification. Report applications and students not directly verified in the appropriate category in 5-8. 5-5: Enter the total number of applications initially selected for the verification process as indicated in 5-3. 20130916

14. Complete if 5-1 is not checked. Section5 cont. • For the purposes of this report verification is complete: • For households whose eligibility does not change as of the date of the confirmation of eligibility by a reviewing official; • For households which do not appeal a change in eligibility as of the first operating day following the last date for filing an appeal in response to a notice of change in eligibility; • For households which appeal a change in eligibility as of the first operating day following a decision by the hearing official. • Responded: The household provided sufficient documentation. This includes verbal or written notification that the households declines benefits. • NOT Responded: The household did not provide sufficient documentation or the household did not provide a response. The number of applications reported in 5-8 should include both the results of verification from verification process and the results from any applications verified for cause reported in VC-1. Applications verified for cause are NOT considered part of the required sample size. 20130916

15. Verification Reporting Approvals • SFA’s will not receive an email notification from their consultant as to whether or not they are eligible for an alternate sample size at the close of verification activities. • Notification of the SFA’s eligibility will be indicated by your consultant inside the Verification Report itself upon approval of your submission. • After submission, SFA’s should check back in the “Verification Report” to see if they will be eligible to request an alternate sample size next year based upon the information reported. 20130916

16. Verification Recap • FNS 742 now requests SNAP Direct Certification data to be submitted. • First Open Window for Reporting in CNIPS is November 1st until November 18th. • Second Open Window will open in February. More guidance to follow. 20130916

17. Verification Resources • Check the SCN website under “Verification and Reporting” for additional resources. • Questions? 20130916

18. Thank You • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) • If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. • Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). • USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 20130916