The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced fiscal year 1996 error rates for the Food Stamp program, and Kansas was honored with an award for error rates below the national average during 1996.

Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services in the Department of Agriculture, presented an award to Kansas earlier this month during a meeting of the American Association of Food Stamp Directors. The award, presented to Pam Jacob, Social and Rehabilitation Services food stamp policy specialist, reads: "Certificate of Appreciation awarded to the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services for superior management as demonstrated by a food stamp payment accuracy rate well below the national average."

The national average error rate during 1996 was 9.22 percent; the error rate in Kansas during the same year was 7.49 percent. During fiscal year 1996, the average monthly food stamp program caseload in Kansas was 72,795 persons and the average monthly expenditures was $11.7 million.

"SRS field staff should be proud of their efforts at providing accurate food stamp benefits to qualifying Kansans," said SRS Commissioner of Income Maintenance and Employment Preparation Services Connie Hubbell. She pointed out that states with high error rates receive fiscal sanctions.

"Because the incorrect issuance of benefits is costly both in the loss of federal funds and the erosion of public trust in the Food Stamp program, effort will continue to be made to provide correct benefits," Hubbell said. "Kansas SRS workers who determine benefits have done an excellent job."

A total of 25 states face possible fiscal sanctions because error rates in those states were above the national average. Six other states will receive enhanced funding because of low error rates. Kansas was not among those states, but is ranked 17th out of the 50 states and the Virgin Islands, Guam and the District of Columbia.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001