Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin |
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| Purpose: Policy | |
To: Commodity Supplemental Food Program Local Agencies |
Number: USDA-CSFP-04-2012 |
Attention: Commodity Supplemental Food Program Administrator |
Date: March 2012 |
Subject: Notification of Ineligibility or Discontinuance in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program |
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| Reference: Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 247.15 and 247.17 | |
This Management Bulletin (MB) disseminates the notification of ineligibility and discontinuance requirements for participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
Notification of Ineligibility and Discontinuance
Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Section 247.15 requires that local agencies notify applicants of their ineligibility for the CSFP within 10 days from the date of application. The written notification explains why the applicant is not eligible and must include the following information:
- A statement that includes the individual’s right to a fair hearing to appeal the decision
- A statement informing the applicant that program standards are applied without discrimination by race, color, national origin, age, sex, and/or disability
In addition, 7 CFR, Section 247.17 requires that if a local agency has evidence that a current participant is no longer eligible for CSFP benefits, they must provide a written notice of discontinuance to the participant at least 15 days before the effective date of discontinuance.
Notification Procedures
Authorized staff at the local agency are responsible for determining the eligibility or ineligibility of CSFP applicants and participants. If the local agency determines that the individual is ineligible for the CSFP, or has evidence that a current participant is no longer eligible for the CSFP, the local agency is required to fill out the Notification Letter for Ineligibility or Discontinuance for the CSFP available on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/fd/csfp.asp.
Local agency staff must note the following information:
- Date of notification
- Effective date of discontinuance (for current participants)
- Applicant’s/Participant’s name
- The reason(s) for ineligibility or discontinuance
- The local agency staff’s signature and title
Applicants and participants have the right to appeal any decision made by the local agency regarding denial or termination of the CSFP through the fair hearing process. To ensure that applicants and participants understand their rights, a signature from the applicant/participant is required on the bottom of the form.
The local agency is required to keep a copy of the notification letter, which shall be retained for a period of three years, in accordance with 7 CFR, Section 247.29(a).
If you have any questions regarding this MB, please contact Brooke Asbury, CSFP Coordinator, by phone at 916‑324-0579 or by e-mail at basbury@cde.ca.gov.
