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CA Error Checking. October, 2004 Jed Graef IPM-Software. Review of TRACS Error Checking. Two-Pass Model MAT checks Formatting and similar issues TRACS checks Business rules. Fatal Errors. MAT Record level File level Fatal. Non-Fatal Errors. Discrepancy
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CA Error Checking October, 2004 Jed Graef IPM-Software
Review of TRACS Error Checking • Two-Pass Model • MAT checks • Formatting and similar issues • TRACS checks • Business rules
Fatal Errors • MAT • Record level • File level • Fatal
Non-Fatal Errors • Discrepancy • Level-1 (Correct in 30-45 days) • Level-2 (Correct on the next certification) • Level-3 (Informational) • Level-4 (For field office use) • Informational • Status (Voucher)
Which Records are Stored? • Records with MAT errors or Fatal errors are not stored • Records without errors and with non-fatal errors are stored • The TRACS calculated values are stored
Why Level-1 Discrepancies are not Fatals • By the time TRACS checks for the level-1 and other errors the record has already been stored. • TRACS is looking into the feasibility of storing records with fatal errors
Is TRACS Error Checking Complete? • Not at all • There are many handbook rules that TRACS does not or can not audit • Rent • Utility Allowance • Income Limits
Is TRACS Error Checking Accurate? • Generally, yes • However the certification model used for error checks can introduce errors if the cert is not completely accurate and compliant
CA Requirements • CAs are required to review data submitted and send correct data on to TRACS • This means messages and instructions must be sent to sites concerning data fixes
Current Practice • CA Software may or may not do a full MAT check • CA Software probably checks some but not all TRACS errors • CA Software probably does at least some checking that TRACS does not do • Each vendor decides how and with what format to communicate errors • Vendors or CAs might modify the severity level associated with a given data condition
Problems • If the same message code (CE123) is used by the CA and TRACS it can be difficult for a site or the Helpdesk to determine who generated it • Just because a CA uses a TRACS message code, there is no assurance that the same edits have been performed • There is no central repository of non-TRACS messages and edits
Bob Wilson's Suggested Changes • Add a two- or three-character identifier to CA message codes • CA-CE123 or • CE123-CA • Consider adding a section to the MAT Guide for vendor messages
Bob’s Suggestions-2 • Each vendor message should have a unique identifier that should: • Not duplicate one used by TRACS • Not be in the same range as the numbers used by TRACS • Use numbers 800 or greater if using a TRACS prefix (CE, F, etc) • Return CA messages in the same format as is used by TRACS. Do not send unformatted reports.
Bob’s Suggestions-3 • If a TRACS message code is used, return the same message as does TRACS • Optionally add a CA addendum
Proposed Error Format • @*@ TRACM11111TRACM22222 2.0.1.B • OA Defined Data : 1234567890 • OA Software Vendor : Fly-Bi-Nite Software • OA Software Release/Version : 0.00.1 • CA Software Vendor : Sorta-Good Software • CA Software Release/Version : 1.97.3 • Agency Defined Data : Whatever • Project Name : BIG HOUSE INC. • Project No. : • Contract No. : DC44H111111 • Unit No. : 7 • SSN : 888888888 • Name : TENANT, FIRST • Tenant No. : 10000 • Effective Date 2004-07-01 • Informational : UA005-CA • NO UNIT ADDRESS FOUND IN TRACS FOR THE MAT10 SUBMITTED • CA Message: Why would you ever want to do something like this?
Getting Creative Or How a CA Can Sneak In a Report
@*@ TRACM11111TRACM22222 2.0.1.B • OA Defined Data : 1234567890 • OA Software Vendor : Fly-Bi-Nite Software • OA Software Release/Version : 0.00.1 • CA Software Vendor : Sorta Good Software • CA Software Release/Version : 1.97.3 • Agency Defined Data : Whatever • Project Name : BIG HOUSE INC. • Project No. : • Contract No. : DC44H111111 • Unit No. : • SSN : • Name : • Tenant No. : • Effective Date 2004-07-01 • Informational : CE800-CA • CA PROCESSING REPORT • CA Message: Thanks for your submission • You sent 23 Annuals. We rejected 3 of them. • You sent 4 Gross Rent certs. We liked them all. • Etc., etc., etc.
Unresolved Issues • TRACS review of level 1 errors • Possible project to make some level-1 errors fatals • Authority for CAs to deviate from the MAT Guide • Changing error levels • Adding new errors • Process for CA error review, if any • Revamping the TRACS error checks--Post-BPR
CaTRAC’r Error Checking • See handout