Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Dollar Threshold for Payment of Underpayments


Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin

Purpose: Policy

To: School Nutrition Program Agencies, Child and Adult Care Food Program Agencies, Summer Food Service Program Agencies

Number: USDA-CNP-05-2008

Attention: Food Service and Program Directors, Business Officials, Owners

Date: September 2008

Subject: Dollar Threshold For Payment of Underpayments from Reviews and Audits Performed for School Nutrition Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program

Reference: United States Department of Agriculture 2005 Management Evaluation Recommendation; Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, Public Law 107-300; Title 7 Code of Federal Regulation sections 210.8(b)(1), 210.9(d), 220.11(b), 226.6(e), 226.10(c) and (e), 225.9(d)(6), 225.10(c)

This Management Bulletin establishes the threshold for underpayments generated by findings discovered during reviews and audits of the School Nutrition Programs (SNP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for the prior fiscal year.

The Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-300), that was implemented in Fiscal Year 2004, requires the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify and reduce erroneous payments in various programs, including the SNP, the CACFP, and the SFSP. By definition, an improper payment can be either an overpayment or an underpayment.

The USDA reviewed the California Department of Education’s (CDE) operations and determined that the CDE must establish a dollar threshold for paying underpayments identified through review and audit findings, consistent with Title 7, Code of Federal Regulation (7 CFR) sections 210.19(e), 225.18(f), and 226.25(b). In determining its underpayment threshold, the CDE has taken into consideration the cost to process the underpayment and any conflicts with 7 CFR parts 210, 225 and 226.

Please be advised that effective immediately, the CDE will no longer pay:

  • Any SNP or CACFP agency’s prior fiscal year underpayments of $600 or less
  • Any SFSP agency’s prior fiscal year underpayments of $100 or less.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Catherine Hardin, Manager, Program Integrity Unit at 916-445-7368, or by e-mail at chardin@cde.ca.gov (The previous contact information is no longer current) Summer Nutrition Programs and Grants Unit by email at SFSP@cde.ca.gov. You may also contact your local Nutrition Services Division, Field Services Child Nutrition Consultant at 800-952-5609.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Friday, September 6, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Action Required: Excess Net Cash Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    Provides information to program operators about excess net cash resources, the budget agreement process, and long-term noncompliance.
  • SNP Reimbursement Rates for 2025-26 (added 12-Aug-2025)
    This web page provides the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) reimbursement rates for the 2025-26 school year.
  • 2024 Turnip the Beet Award Winners (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division would like to congratulate 21 California school districts for receiving a 2024 Turnip the Beet Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
  • May 27, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar May 27, 2025.
  • June 24, 2025 Tuesday at 2 Town Hall Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) hosted the monthly Tuesday @ 2 School Nutrition Town Hall webinar June 24, 2025.

  • Chef Ann Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The Chef Ann Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship Program. This fellowship supports the development of school food leaders who can support a sustainable program centered around scratch-cooked meals.
  • Webinar: Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall (added 04-Aug-2025)
    School Nutrition Town Hall webinar for School Nutrition Program Operators and Food Service Directors.
  • CNAC Minutes for the November 2, 2023 Meeting (added 31-Jul-2025)
    Meeting minutes for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) on November 2, 2023.
  • Next Steps: 2025–26 FFVP Grant Recipients (added 30-Jul-2025)
    On July 28, 2025, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2025–26 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2025–September 30, 2025.
  • Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ground Beef (added 30-Jul-2025)
    Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination